Hickory – Redhawk Publications is pleased to announce the release of “I Chose the Eagle” by renowned artist Pat Viles, who has made a name for herself through her visually compelling artwork. In this book, readers will get a glimpse of her other side – a lifelong traveler who has explored the world extensively.

Viles, a longtime resident of Hickory, NC, reveals how her travels have influenced her passion for life and infused her artwork with a unique perspective. “It is my hope that this book will share with my friends and family how my travels have directly inspired my passion for living while indirectly injecting life into my artwork over these last thirty years or so,” said Viles.

Part memoir and part travel journal, “I Chose the Eagle” celebrates the importance of living well with a support system of eclectic friends from around the world. It showcases how focusing on living your best life, whether in Japan, South of France, or Hickory, NC, can be transformational.

Richard Eller, the director of Redhawk Publications, expressed his excitement about working with Viles to publish this detailed story of her lifetime of travel and friendships. He praised her vivid writing style, which transports readers to the places she has visited. Eller said, “This has truly been a passion project for her, and I think her neighbors in the Catawba Valley area and art collectors from around the world will be honored to read her book, learn her thoughts, and see how it transforms itself into the work she creates.”

Viles is not only recognized for her contribution to the world of visual art, but also for her volunteering efforts with the Hickory Museum of Art, where she served as a board member and enthusiastic fundraiser. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout the world, including in China, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, and Belgium. She had a solo exhibition at HMA in 1995 followed by a retrospective in 2016. “I feel honored to not only work in a museum which has collected her work but also to call her my dear friend,” said Clarissa Starnes, Executive Director of the Hickory Museum of Art. “We look forward to honoring Pat and her new book at a public gathering on Sunday, August 20th from 2pm – 4pm at the Hickory Museum of Art. We hope her friends, family and fans will come out and join us.

To order your copy of “I Choose the Eagle,” visit: https://tinyurl.com/PatViles