Warner & Company

24/03/2023

Thanks, RiverRun, one of the best. Glad to be a part of one of our favorite festivals.

16/12/2022

Thanks Beaufort International Film Festival. We can't wait for February at one of the "top 100 best reviewed film festivals."

06/07/2022

Many thanks Kyesha Jennings.

In late June, PBS North Carolina premiered 'Changes in the Wind', a documentary funded by the North Carolina Arts Council about the remarkable life of Vollis Simpson, one of North Carolina’s most famous self-taught artists. Directed by Gerret Warner, 'Changes in the Wind' shows how Simpson's artistic and mechanical creations became central to the effort to revive Wilson, which, like many other small towns in North Carolina and elsewhere, had been in decline.

The film drew the “Best Documentary” award at the 2022 Southern Shorts Awards and the “Best Director Short Doc” award at the Berlin Indie Film Festival. The Arts Council spoke with Warner recently about his experiences in Wilson.

Head over to our blog to read the full article: https://www.ncarts.org/blog/behind-lens-conversation-film-director-gerret-warner

25/06/2022

If you missed our film on PBS NC you can watch here:

Artist Vollis Simpson uses whirligigs to inspire his hometown of Wilson, NC.

23/06/2022

9:30 tonight.

Artist Vollis Simpson uses whirligigs to inspire his hometown of Wilson, NC.

20/06/2022

Set your dvr. It’s whirligig time this Thursday.

02/06/2022

Heads up, North Carolina. Our documentary "Changes in the Wind," "Best Documentary" at the Southern Shorts Film Festival, will be showing on PBSNC on June 23 at 9:30PM and online: https://www.pbsnc.org/watch/how-to-watch/ Whirligigs rebuild an old to***co town inspired by Vollis Simpson, native son and artist.

17/05/2022

"Changes in the Wind," our doc about Vollis Simpson and his hometown's creation of a public art park in his name can't tell the whole remarkable story of in its half hour but it's an introduction. Thanks Southern Shorts Film Festival. You can see the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/679709994

06/04/2022

A big thanks to Jessie Warner for our poster designed by Mark McGillivray.

11/01/2022

Did you know? The General Assembly of 2013 adopted the Whirligigs of Vollis Simpson as the official Folk Art of North Carolina. An internationally recognized artist who never set out to become an artist, Vollis Simpson entered the art world at an age when most people enter retirement. Simpson’s soaring sculptures (thirty to fifty-feet tall) have become iconic examples of “outsider” or visionary art. You can see many of Simpson's whirligigs at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, NC.

📷 From North Carolina Arts Council, Vollis Simpson and his whirligigs

02/07/2021

Now that we're out and about, we're catching up on our documentary about Vollis Simpson and the way his artistic and mechanical creations are helping to revive the town of Wilson, NC. Here's a sample from yesterday, where winds got up to 14 mph. We're shooting for early fall release.

02/07/2021

Glad to be back at the Whirligig Park, first time in over a year, seeing all kinds of developments, including the Museum and our short videos about Vollis Simpson, his work and the creation of the Park. Hoping we can finish up our documentary, "Changes in the Wind, Whirligigs Rebuild an Old To***co Town" this summer. Here's what 14 mph wind does to Vollis Simpson's creations.

19/06/2021

Happy Juneteenth!

The Chelsea Theater will be commemorating Juneteenth,
in partnership with the Marian Cheek Jackson Center of Chapel Hill, with a FREE event on MONDAY, JUNE 21st, 5:30 PM.

You are invited to explore
FROM THE ROCK WALL: Living Histories of Black Chapel Hill/Carrboro. View short silent films of our local Black community filmed by H. Lee Waters in the 1930s, accompanied by a live keyboard performance by Christian Foushee-Green. Moderators who are living historians from the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, our event co-sponsor, will lead us in learning more about local Black history and answer questions so we can expand our knowledge, promote justice, and grow our support. Advance reservations are recommended. Visit the Chelsea website for info. Link in bio! 🔗

(Image: The Hollywood Cinema once operated as a Black cinema in Chapel Hill, but has since been repurposed.)

17/04/2021

23/03/2021

So great to see the Park and Vollis Simpson and signs of a new spring. Time to get back to Wilson.

Have you seen the latest Our State magazine? Great cover photo and article inside featuring the park!