RALEIGH, NC.- The North Carolina Museum of Art presents Line, Touch, Trace, an exhibition of 30 hand-drawn works. Organized by Greenhill in Greensboro, N.C., the exhibition highlights 13 North Carolina artists who use graphite, ballpoint pen, conté crayon, ink, or charcoal to explore drawing in its relationship to thought processes.

In Line, Touch, Trace, artists may work with line to precisely render contours or as calligraphy on the drawing’s surface; apply touch to build tonal values or erase edges; and use traced marks to suggest elements of an imagined topography. The artists use these techniques in works to communicate mental states, project invented worlds, or portray moments of contemplation.

“We are thrilled to work with Greenhill—a fantastic North Carolina art institution—to feature local artists in Line, Touch, Trace,” says Jennifer Dasal, associate curator for contemporary art at the NCMA. “The range of approaches presented in the exhibition attests to the effervescence of drawing and its contribution to contemporary art. We’re excited to feature a show dedicated to this medium—the first drawing show we’ve presented in our North Carolina gallery.”

The exhibition includes works by Selena Beaudry, Tamie Beldue, Lori Esposito, Kiki Farish, John Gall, John Hill Jr., Fritz Janschka, Kenn Kotara, Kreh Mellick, Matthew Micca, Ippy Patterson, Isaac Payne, and Jason Watson.

This exhibition is presented in conjunction with Following Threads: Fiber Art and Drawing, on view at Greenhill from September 19 through November 9, 2014. Following Threads highlights four artists—Harriet Hoover, Becky Joye, Leigh Suggs, and Jason Watson—who investigate the drawn and stitched line in figurative and abstract works that stretch the definitions of drawing.

“The artists selected for both of these exhibitions have practiced in North Carolina for a significant part of their careers and present an array of approaches to graphic art,” says Edie Carpenter, director of curatorial and artistic programs at Greenhill. “Whether they employ figuration or abstraction, these artists produce handmade studio drawings that are not conceived of as studies but as fully realized works. Following Threads and Line, Touch, Trace offer a wonderful overview of the evolving technical and artistic exploration of drawing by contemporary artists.”