Michael Marcotte never dreamed he’d win a first-place award in an art show. After all, he hadn’t drawn or painted anything in over 20 years. But when knee surgery sidelined him a few years ago, he picked up some colored pencils and started drawing.

His fiancée, Tiffany Skimmiehorn, believed in his talent even when he was unsure, and last year she entered his lifelike drawing of a tiger in the 2025 Public Works Community Art Exhibition at the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County.

His drawing, titled “Welcome to the Jungle,” earned the show’s People’s Choice Award.

For Marcotte, art is a family affair. He inherited his talent from his mother, an oil painter who lives in Michigan. He’s serving in the U.S. Army and reckons he’ll be retiring in a few years. Right now, he has no plans to pursue a second career in art, preferring to keep it as an enjoyable hobby.

This year, he’s convinced other members of his family to enter the Art Exhibition, a long-running marquee event in Fayetteville. It’s sponsored by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission in collaboration with the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County.

His entry this year is a pencil-drawn portrait of a bald eagle with piercing eyes, so lifelike it is hard to distinguish it from a photograph.

Marcotte, who enjoys drawing images from nature, is fascinated by the kaleidoscope of colors in the irises of eyes.

“If you ever get a good view of an eye up close, you’ll see many colors, and I love bringing them out,” he says. “Because how often do you really look that closely at somebody’s eyes?”.

Marcotte embodies the spirit of the Community Art Exhibition, says Bob Pinson, the retiring Arts Council CEO.

“The exhibition is an open call for people in our community to display their art at the Arts Council, and we exhibit everyone’s work,” Pinson says.

Any artist, amateur or professional, can submit up to two pieces of art in any medium. The Arts Council charges entry fees ranging from $15 to $20.

The public is invited to vote for their favorite pieces of art in a variety of categories including amateur artist, new artist, semi-professional artist, professional artist and youth artist. The top awards go to the overall “People’s Choice” winners.

The show opened with a reception on May 29 and runs through July 5. Awards will be presented during a special celebration on  June 18 at Art After Hours. The event gets underway at 6 p.m. with a special performance by the 82nd Airborne Division Jazz Band.

This year, the Arts Council has received about 125 pieces.

For Pinson, the exhibition’s true value lies in the sense of community it brings to Fayetteville.

“It’s an opportunity for our area artists to express themselves and to have their artwork expressed to the public,” he says. ”We hope it will start conversations, and through those conversations we as a community will continue to grow stronger.”

Pinson recalls a local mom entering her three-year-old son’s refrigerator art into a past exhibition.

“She had it framed at one of the best framing shops in town,” he says. “And then she had placed titles on both pieces, listed her son’s name as the artist, and indicated that the work was not for sale by listing it as ‘NFS – Priceless.’”  

One day, the mother and son were at the Arts Council touring the gallery. Pinson remembers the little boy’s excitement when he recognized his art hanging on a wall. 

“It obviously thrilled him, but his mother was also thrilled that she was able to do this for her son by connecting him and his refrigerator art with the other artists in the show,” Pinson says. “That really resonates with what community art is all about and how it impacts people.”

Raul R. Rubiera and Saundra Smith-Rubiera are professional artists in Fayetteville who exhibit across the country. They participate regularly in the Public Works Community Art Exhibition and still get a thrill from displaying their art in the annual show.

This year, they plan to enjoy the exhibition as visitors.

Rubiera is a photographer and a 3-D sculptor, and Smith-Rubiera is a printmaker.

“Art is such an important part of the community, and it lets everyone, young and old, professional or hobbyists, participate,” says Rubiera. “It’s fun to have your work seen and have it appreciated.”

The show brings together a medley of styles, and that’s what makes it important, he adds.

Rubiera recalls a Spanish saying: “De gustos y colores no han escrito los autores,” which means everyone has different preferences and enjoys their own personal taste in art, with no need to explain.

“Somebody may look at a piece and like it, and somebody else may look at the same piece and not like it, and that’s okay,” he says.

The beauty of a community art event like this is to showcase the wide variety of talent in the Fayetteville area, says Smith-Rubiera.

“Everybody comes together – the little kids, the grandmothers, the young people, and they’re seeing what everyone is creating,” she says. “It’s a good way for them to learn and to be inspired by the work of many artists.”

Fayetteville Public Works Commission, the local utility provider for Fayetteville and much of Cumberland County, has sponsored the Community Arts Show for 21 years to demonstrate its commitment to the overall quality of life in the community, says Tyler Patton, Chief Communications & Community Relations Officer for the PWC. 

“PWC sponsors this exhibition because we believe strong communities are built through more than infrastructure alone,” Patton says. “Supporting the arts aligns with our commitment to community enrichment and engagement.”

Patton views community art as a universal language that connects people from all walks of life.

“Every year, the exhibition features artists with different experiences, perspectives, skill levels, and backgrounds, yet they all come together through creativity and self-expression,” he says. “That diversity is what makes the show so special. It reflects the richness of our community and reinforces the idea that art is for everyone.”

About a week before the 2026 Public Works Community Art Exhibition  was scheduled to open, Collyn Strother was navigating a sea of art and beginning his process of curating and designing the show. He estimates that 50-to-75 artists participated this year and the artworks are trending larger than usual.

“My job is to use these pieces of art to tell a story about our community,” he says. “My goal is to make sure visitors feel a togetherness, where the art is not just scattered about, but flows, whether that comes from color or theme or shape or form.”

Strother, an artist and photographer, is the exhibit coordinator for the Arts Council, the curator of the city’s Gallery 13, and the owner of Croo Designs.

He’s impressed with the youth artists in the Fayetteville community, particularly two 10-year-olds who have submitted self-portraits in this year’s exhibit.

“Their work is amazing,” Strother says, acknowledging that the future of art in Fayetteville is in good hands.

“I can’t recall a time when I’ve curated a show that included youth and it was not super-impressive,” he says. “At the same time, we have adult artists doing some really amazing work, and this exhibition simply brings out the best in Fayetteville.”

Marcotte views his art as a way of expressing his emotions and showcasing what is important to him. He drew his award-winning tiger portrait last year for his son Tyg, whose nicknames are “Tiger” and “Tigger.”

“What’s awesome about art is its way of speaking to people, and my award last year means the tiger I drew spoke to a lot of people,” he says. “That makes me happy because the drawing was special to me.”

In addition to demonstrating local artistic talent, the Community Art Exhibition will draw locals and visitors alike to Fayetteville’s downtown.

“Not only is Fayetteville a great place to check out some really great artwork, but visiting our art scene is also a way to immerse yourself into everything our downtown has to offer,” Strother says.

Patton points to the many ways the county’s dynamic arts scene adds to the quality of life for the entire region.

“Arts programs and exhibitions contribute to economic vitality, tourism, and education,” he says. “Communities that embrace the arts often create stronger connections among residents and foster a greater sense of pride and identity.”

Marcotte, who is excited about this year’s Exhibition, says his participation has been life-changing for his whole family.

“It’s definitely had an impact on my life, and I believe you can spread inspiration by sharing work that means something to you,” he says.