Lovely landscapes
February 28, 2024
At the historic Dunhill Hotel in uptown, guests may find travel inspiration through the artwork of North Carolina native Phillip Moose.
by Sharon Smith
It’s not a bad way to drift off to sleep, gazing at a Phillip Moose landscape centered over the headboard. Whether it’s a mountainside during sunset or a tree ablaze in fall colors, each of Moose’s paintings has the potential to unlock one’s own travel memories or prompt the next adventure.
The Dunhill, with more than 60 paintings by the artist, is home to the largest collection of Moose’s artwork. He was born in the town of Newton in 1921 and flourished as an artist at a young age. A world traveler, Moose painted scenes from Europe to Asia but always stayed connected to North Carolina.
He taught art at Davidson College and Queens College (now Queens University) and received a Pulitzer Prize for art in 1947. In the 1950s, Moose settled in Blowing Rock and founded an area with other artists, including his partner Frank Sherrill, known as Artists Alley. The Blue Ridge Mountains figure prominently in his vibrant landscapes.
Doyle Parrish, president of Summit Hospitality and owner of The Dunhill Hotel, says the paintings were commissioned by the hotel’s previous owners who appreciated Moose’s connection to Charlotte. Since Moose, who died in 2001, was a local artist, Doyle says it seems appropriate to maintain the collection. They are part of The Dunhill’s history and timeless in their appeal. SP
Photograph courtesy The Dunhill Hotel
