I’m not going to look unless somebody wants to buy a fish. And even then, I’m going to look at the newspaper and wrap the fish. Daddy plays his banjo to bring the lookers, thinking maybe that will help them decide what they want for dinner. But I have heard it all. He says, You could smile. Pretty smile. And I say, Yes, I sure could. He says, They think what they want anyway, so may as well fish around in that for what we need. Huh, I say. Just don’t bring them too close to the water where I’m at. They might learn something about fishing been right in front of them the whole time.

Break Time (1999)
Acrylic on canvas painting by Ivey Hayes

The collection of Ivey Hayes is represented by
Ivey Hayes Artworks located in Rocky Point, North Carolina.
Image appears here with kind permission from Phillip Hayes.

Ivey Hayes

(1948-2012) was born in Rocky Point and is recognized as one of North Carolina’s most beloved and prolific contemporary painters. He produced more than 4,000 artworks during his career, beginning with watercolors. As rheumatoid arthritis deformed his hands over the years, it was more difficult for him to continue the demanding precision of watercolor painting. Thus his art evolved into the sweeping acrylic works with vibrant colors and bold shapes that define his later career.

Hayes’ subjects reflected his roots: cotton pickers, fishermen, musicians, quilters, homemakers, and church ladies. He believed that his artistic talents were gifts from God and that his paintings were created by “the spirit of God working through my fingertips.” In 2006, Wilmington’s Black Arts Alliance presented him with the “Living Legend” award.

Artist’s website: https://iveyhayesartworks.com/

More on the Web: By, About, and Beyond

⚡ A Vibrant Perspective: Ivey Hayes and His Colorful Works of Art by Rachel Witte in Daily Art Magazine (24 February 2022)

⚡ Colorful Paintings by Ivey Hayes, a slide show of 31 slides with 38 paintings, posted by “maditabalnco” at SlideShare (6 April 2014)

⚡ Ivey Hayes Paints: “Discover the bold, colorful paintings of this Eastern North Carolina artist” produced by Our State Magazine and UNC-TV; a 7.5-minute video on YouTube (segment originally aired on 2 March 2006)

Daryl Scroggins

has taught creative writing and literature at The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of North Texas, and the Writer’s Garret, in Dallas. He now lives in Marfa, Texas. He is the author of This Is Not the Way We Came In, a collection of flash fiction and a flash novel (Ravenna Press), Winter Investments: Stories (Trilobite Press), and Prairie Shapes: A Flash Novel (winner of the 2004 Robert J. DeMott Prose Contest). His poems, short stories, and creative nonfictions have appeared in magazines and anthologies across the country, including Blink Ink, Cutbank, Eastern Iowa Review, New Flash Fiction Review, Star 82 Review, and Third Wednesday, among others.