Our State Magazine Holiday Campaign for Visit Alamance

Alamance County, NC | Land of the Eno, Shakori, Sissipihaw, Lumbee, Occaneechi + Saponi

December 2021

Motley Local was commissioned to write the copy text and curate Alamance-based artists and their work in the December issue of Our State Magazine. To leverage this platform and choose talented artists that were people of color—Motley offered to take photos for the artists that didn’t have high-resolution photos. This included the work of Vickie Jeffries (also known as Mihe Hetoa and as a tribal community leader of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation) and Maliyah Austria (also known as Roots Jewelry), who were both among the artists that the Alamance County Visitors Bureau had chosen (Curry Wilkerson and Duxterity). The purpose of this ad was to encourage out-of-county visitors to come shop for unique, hand-made holiday gifts in the county of Alamance.

The copy text reads:

“The act of giving a gift speaks to our personal relationships. It can symbolize our memories through a thoughtful intention while creating new ones as our family or friends use the gift.

This holiday season, give the gift of functional or wearable art made locally in Alamance County. Art that can be used and cherished everyday by our loved ones. Small surprises to remind us all of the bonds that we’ve forged—even if that love stretches thousands of miles away.

Roam the streets of our historic downtowns to discover unique hand-made gifts made by emerging artisans based here in Alamance. Nothing compares to a present that was fabricated by hand with care and detail, like Curry Wilkinson’s charming ceramics, Vickie Jeffries’s authentic indigenous Occaneechi made items, Duxterity’s intricate wood creations and carvings, or Maliyah Austria’s wearable textile creations.  These artisans can be found in our local boutiques such as BeCute Imporium, Freehand Market, Owl + Rabbit Gallery, Alamance Arts and more. 

Give the gift of art from our hometowns in Alamance, and create everlasting memories to share and celebrate. As the saying goes, “Today is the present, and that’s why we call it a gift.”

Photography by Motley Local.

Work by Vickie Jeffries (Mihe Hetoa)

Can be purchased online. These accessories could be purchased at the Muse NC in Graham during the duration of the campaign.

Work by Maliyah Austria

Can be purchased at BeCute Imporium (243 E Front St, Burlington, NC).