News Release
| For Release: Immediately | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: March 14, 2003 | Telephone: 919-804-6962 |
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| Collaborative
Form, Wood and Metal Robert Gibson, Faculty Haywood Community College |
Heavenly
Voices, Painted Wood Vickie Lahman, Alumna Craven Community College |
Retired
Fisherman, Watercolor Jimmy Phillips, Staff Coastal Carolina Community College |
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| Surfside
Pier, Acrylic Gary Freeman, Faculty Gaston College |
Buzz
Light Year Digital Effects/Animation Students Piedmont Community College |
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GRAND OPENING FOR ART EXHIBIT AT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OFFICE
(Click for a complete text listing or for a Power Point presentation with sample images of the exhibit).
RALEIGH: Amazing art is on display at the Caswell Building, home of the North Carolina Community College System Office. This is the sixth year that the building has been turned into an art museum, and the "grand opening" of the exhibit is Thursday, March 20 at 4:00 PM.
The exhibit is the creation and passion of System President H. Martin Lancaster. This year boasts the largest collection of art ever. There are 129 pieces in the exhibit, which Lancaster personally selected from 1500 submissions, the greatest number ever offered from almost every community college for consideration. Surry Community College has ten pieces in the exhibit, the most of any of the 50 community colleges represented.
"Each year I am amazed by the quality of the work. The exhibit has become a very impressive collection, and everyone enjoys the experience," said Lancaster. 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 an evening!"
The art exhibit began in 1998 with the first collection submitted and organized at the request of President Lancaster. His goal was to "enhance the work environment and present the excellent artwork created at community colleges," he said. Lancaster is a former chairman of the North Carolina Arts Council and has a true passion for art and its impact on daily life.
The exhibit is quite eclectic, with an abundance of quilts, baskets, paintings, photographs and pottery.
In the lobby, an impressive wood screen entitled "Heavenly Voices," painted by Vickie Lahman, an alumna of Craven Community College, catches the eye. An untitled digital photograph submitted by Randolph Community College student Drew Morris is a real conversation piece.
A delicate untitled piece created from wood and precious metals by Robert Gibson on the faculty at Haywood Community College and "The Flower Girl," an exquisite woodcarving by Paul Nixon, on the faculty at Guilford Technical Community College, demonstrate the variety of media on display.
There are several works with a coastal or marine-life theme. "Retired Fisherman," a peaceful watercolor by Coastal Carolina Community College staff member Jimmy Phillips and "Surfside Pier," a striking acrylic by Gaston College faculty member Gary Freeman, are two such pieces.
Students in various programs at the colleges created some of the pieces. Piedmont Community College Film students have three films in the exhibit. Digital Effects students, also at Piedmont, are represented by three computer design pieces.
Most of the art will be available for purchase when the exhibit concludes at the end of the year. Several pieces from last year's exhibit are now on display in other state government buildings or have been purchased for personal collections.
The reception formally opens the display and honors the artists at 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 20 in the Caswell Building. The artists attend to bask in the appreciation of the System staff and others, to meet the other artists, and to see where their artwork has been placed in the building. Legislators, members of the State Board of Community Colleges and other community college leaders and supporters will also attend the reception.
One of the artists, Helbert Asprilla, a student at Coastal Carolina Community College, may not get the chance to attend the reception and see where his acrylic painting, "Sabado" hangs. Asprilla is in the reserves and has been called to active duty.
Contact Public Affairs at publicaffairs@nccommunitycolleges.edu, for a complete list of artists and their work.
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