Otis Lee to speak about new book on August 8

Otis L. Lee, Jr. is set to speak at Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, NC on Thursday, August 8 from 10 – 11 a.m. as part of the gallery’s ongoing Coffee With the Authors series. He will be discussing and reading from The Last Train From Djibouti, which is based on the true experiences of his wife, Dr. Michelle Palmer Lee and her mentor, Dr. Harriett F. Karuhije.

Lee’s story follows the two women on a life-changing adventure as they travel separately to the Motherland, determined to find Africa and themselves. What they ultimately find is not what they expected.

Weaving entries from his wife’s journal and Karuhije’s observations together with his own research and experience, Otis depicts a microcosm of the African-American struggle to find roots in a culture that has been upended, shipped overseas, and become something new.

Lee is also the author of From South Boston to Cambridge, the Making of One Philadelphia Lawyer in which he speaks candidly about his experiences as a child in the Jim Crow South, his coming of age during the turbulent Civil Rights era and his struggles to fight stereotypes as first a young business man and later as a thriving attorney.

The presentation is free but seating is limited, so reservations are required. Call the gallery at 910.575.5999 to hold your spot. Coffee, tea and breakfast treats will be served.

About Sunset River Marketplace
Sunset River Marketplace showcases work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, and houses some 10,000 square feet of oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, art glass, fabric art, pottery, sculpture, turned and carved wood and artisan-created jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and four wheels used by students in the ongoing pottery classes offered by the gallery. There are realistic and abstract art classes as well as workshops by nationally and regionally known artists. During select months, the gallery hosts Coffee With the Authors, a series of presentations by local and regional authors. This Summer, the gallery will also be hosting a number of “demo days,” during which artists will demonstrate how they work and answer questions. They will be posted on the Events tab on the gallery website.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at www.staging.careful-crib.flywheelsites.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Upcoming Events
Exhibition: Red Hot Summer
Now through August 14
Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Red is the color of passion, adventure, heat and sunsets. Often an artist will use it for a spontaneous pop of color and sometimes a painting simply radiates red. This group show in the gallery’s front salon features work in acrylic, oil, pastel, and other media. Exhibition is free to the public.

2019 NC Watercolor Society Traveling Show
June 14 – August 14Show features 33 works in watercolor chosen to travel throughout the state. Exhibition is free to the public

Coffee With the Authors
August 8, 10 – 11 a.m.
Otis L. Lee, Jr.
The Last Train From Djibouti
Lee will speak about his book, which is inspired by the true story of his wife’s travel to Africa as a young woman in search of fulfillment. What she found was not at all what she expected. Free but limited seating. Reservations needed.

Exhibition: It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere
August 21 – Sept. 28
Reception Saturday, August 24, 2 – 5 p.m.
A light-hearted collection of wine- and bottle-themed acrylic abstracts by Ginny Lassiter. Many are unframed and specially priced for this show. Join the artist for wine and light hors d’oeuvres at the gallery reception on the 24th.

Coffee With the Authors
Sept. 12, 10 – 11 a.m.
Steve McMillen
Terror Grips the Beach
The author of Murder On the Front Nine, Cougars At the Beach, and Death On Mt. Pleasant will discuss his latest Mickke D Grand Strand murder mystery. Free but limited seating. Reservations needed.

Nuno Felt Scarf Workshop
Sept. 21, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Instructor Vasanto
Students will create their own felted wool and silk scarves by the end of the one-day class. Info on website. $95 per student. Sign up on the website or call the gallery.

Coffee With the Authors
Oct. 10, 10 – 11 a.m.
Dana Ridenour
Below the Radar
The author, a retired FBI agent and author of Beyond the Cabin and Behind the Mask, has recently completed her third book in the Lexie Montgomery series. Free but limited seating. Reservations needed.

Coffee With the Authors
Nov. 14, 10 – 11 a.m.
Thomas Kelso
Hyperion’s Fracture
In this thriller, Mark Thurman struggles to escape the tentacles of a cartel drug lord and a rogue pharmaceutical CEO when he’s called upon to recover a stolen cancer cure, save an injured Kentucky Derby contender, and find two missing scientists. Free but limited seating. RSVP.

Holiday Art Market
Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 – 5 p.m.
In time for Holiday shopping, gallery artists offer paintings, pottery, jewelry, turned and carved wood, pillows, fine art glass, garden pieces, ornaments and more. Holiday refreshments and treats, gift certificate drawings throughout the day.

Author Open House
Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 – 3 p.m.
Come by to meet your local authors and pick up a signed copy of your favorite books in time for the Holidays!