Henrietta Proffitt, born and raised in Dutch Cove, of Canton, North Carolina passed from this life on Wednesday, the 18th of April, 2018. She “graduated” to a higher place of peace and security.
As it happens, Wednesdays were Henri’s favorite day of the week. Every Wednesday she would travel the distance from her home in Newport, Tennessee, over the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the art supply and home décor shop known as ‘Mountain Home Collection’, located in downtown Waynesville, NC. Neither rain nor storm would keep her from her favorite “art day” as she liked to call it. There, Henri, (as she was affectionately known by family and friends), would settle into her favorite spot in the ‘Open Studio’ art room, unpack her oil paints, brushes, and canvas, and apply her energies to what she loved best to do – paint! Henri specialized in skillfully portraying charming genre scenes originating from her native home here in Western North Carolina.
Earlier this year, Henri was given the opportunity, along with Judy Hudson, her school mate and lifelong friend, to hang to hang her work alongside Judy’s, in the Haywood County Public Library at Canton for a four month duration exhibit. Both Henri’s and Judy’s paintings are delightful works of art with use of vibrant colors, skillfully executed details within heart-warming scenes.
While hanging her work, Henri reflected on the fact that it was likely that most of her friends and neighbors from the Canton area had no idea that she was a painter. Henri had never displayed her paintings in an exhibit prior to the exhibit in the Canton branch library. Nor had she ever displayed her works for sale.
Henri said of herself, “Being a native of Haywood County, I have always had a passion for drawing and painting. After studying art in high school, it wasn’t until many years later that I was inspired by the teaching and mentoring of a brilliant art instructor to seriously pursue my art again.”
As the viewing public, you are invited to come to the Canton library, 11 Pennsylvania Avenue, Canton, NC, 28716, and enjoy the “Art Works @ The Library” exhibit of Henri’s and Judy’s works. The exhibit will remain hanging through the end of June, 2018. If you desire to purchase any of the paintings, contact phone numbers are on the title labels and you may contact the owners by phone.
As a side note, Mollie Harrington Weaver’s beautiful paintings are also hanging in the Canton library’s meeting room, and may be viewed upon request.
Betina Morgan, HCAC/HCPL Art Works @ The Library Coordinator
