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| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: March 12, 2004 | (919) 807-6963 |
GRAND OPENING FOR ART EXHIBIT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OFFICE
RALEIGH: The largest community college art exhibit in the seven years of collections will formally open at a reception honoring the artists of the exhibit on Thursday, March 18 at 4:00 PM. The art is on display at the Caswell Building, home of the North Carolina Community College System Office. (Click here for the exhibition catalogue.)
System President H. Martin Lancaster, a former chairman of the North Carolina Arts Council, originally created exhibit to provide a visually enhanced workplace for his employees. It began in 1998 with the first collection submitted and organized at his request. His goal, he said, was to "enhance the work environment and present the excellent artwork created at our community colleges."
This year boasts the largest collection of art with 141 pieces in the exhibit. Lancaster personally selected the pieces from more than a thousand submitted from 52 community colleges. Surry Community College and Western Piedmont Community College have the largest number of pieces, with ten each.
"There are some extremely impressive pieces in this collection," said Lancaster. "Anticipating the exhibit and watching the new pieces come in has become a tremendously enjoyable experience for staff and visitors. The exhibit gives our building distinction." He decides where each piece is displayed throughout the building and personally places most of the work. "It is a pleasure for me to place the pieces and a great way to spend a few evenings!"
Almost every medium is represented in the collection. There are paintings, quilts, baskets, photographs, iron and clay sculptures, stained glass, and exquisite pottery.
In the lobby is an impressive oil painting by Shirley Vanderford Joyner, a Craven Community College alumna. Entitled "Ground Zero," the piece is a stirring memorial of September 11. (left, below)
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Wilkes Community College President Gordon Burns has two pieces in the exhibit. One is a photograph (right, above) entitled "Looking for the Madonna." This piece is located in the fifth floor suite.
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A whimsical egg basket called "Fat Lady with Curlers" is located in the AW North Carolina Conference Room. Betty Gray, on staff at Beaufort County Community College, created the piece. (left, above))
Pottery is a big part of this exhibit. A decorative bowl created by Davidson County Community College student Denny Wright is an example of the expertise on display. (right, above)
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There are several quilts in the exhibit, including an Amish Quilt (left) by Terri LaRue, on the faculty at Forsyth Technical Community College. |
The reception opens the display and honors the artists at 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 18 in the Caswell Building. The artists attend to see their work on site, meet fellow artists and bask in the appreciation of the System staff and others.
Contact Chancy Kapp, (919) 807-6962 or Peggy Beach, (919) 807-6964, for a complete list of artists and their work included in the exhibit.
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