Artwork for HFHCC’s fundraiser auction highlighted at New Bern businesses
PRESS RELEASE: New Bern, NC
For Immediate Release: October 13, 2025
Artwork for HFHCC’s fundraiser auction highlighted at New Bern businesses
The work of 11 local artists that will be featured in Habitat for Humanity of Craven County’s Chair-ity Live Auction next month are now on display in the windows of businesses across New Bern.
The hand-painted chairs, which were personally designed by each artist, will be auctioned off during HFHCC’s “Hammer it Home . . . on the Range,” fundraiser that will be held on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Pavilion in Carolina Colours from 6-9 p.m.
The artists that will be represented and the locations where their work can be seen are:
-Mayte Chavez-Baker's Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery
-Rachel Burger-Ballantyne Framing & Art
-Annalee Ash-CAG / Community Artist Gallery
-Justise Robbins-Harrison Center at Christ Church
-Bernice Abraham and Teresa Hodock-Mitchell Hardware
-Elizabeth Spotswood Spencer-Morgan's Tavern & Grill
-Joanne Gwaltney Ashton-Overman Capital Management
-Ashley McDaniel-Peacock's Plume
-Christine Flannigan-Pinky's Pub Food & Drink
-Pollie Howland-Tom's Coins and Antiques
-Katherine Ivey Hudson Wright-Twin Rivers YMCA
Two other local artists will also lend their painting skills to HFHCC’s fundraising efforts. Sally Sutton will be included in the "Hammer it Home . . . on the Range,” Silent Auction as a commissioned artist while Terrianne Maltese will be the event’s Plein Air artist and will complete her hand-painted chair on location.
Sutton, a California native who moved to North Carolina in 1989, draws her artistic inspiration from nature, a love that she traces back to her childhood. The peaceful, calming nature of Sutton’s work has led Duke University Hospital to collect 33 of her pieces for display throughout their facility
“The best thing about my art is that I have people coming back and saying,’Oh, I was in the hospital when I was sick and I walked by one of your paintings and it really just called out to me and made me feel a little better.’ How lucky am I to be able to do that with my work?” says Sutton.
Maltese grew up in Middletown, Conn. and has lived in New Bern more than 20 years. A graduate of the Ashton Art Institute, she emphasises eye-catching color in her paintings.
“I think color sets our mood for so many people,” says Maltese. “I just feel like our environment absolutely affects the moods that we’re in so I love bright pops of color everywhere."
Tickets for the “Hammer it Home . . . on the Range,” fundraiser are $80 and are now on sale at www.cravencountyhabitat.org/, or in New Bern at Mitchell Hardware, 215 Craven St., or at the Habitat ReStore, 930 Pollock St.
Habitat for Humanity of Craven County was established in 1989 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit Christian housing ministry. In 35 years, HFHCC has helped more than 80 new homeowners access safe, affordable housing—today's Habitat homeowners pay around $600 to $800 a month, covering a 0% mortgage, property taxes, and insurance.