Current Season

JCC Faculty Exhibition

Paula Patterson

23rd Annual Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition

Clarissa Sligh

Barton Senior Art Exhibition 2001

JCC Faculty Exhibition

September 10-October 12
Opening Reception September 10

The first organized group exhibit for this faculty, the exhibition offers something for everyone’s taste. The show includes works of photography, bronze and constructed sculpture, oil paintings (both non-objective and representational), representational pastels and examples of graphic design and printmaking.

Among the artists is Frank Creech, chair of the J.C.C. Department of Art, who served as a lecturer at Barton from 1981-1983 and an adjunct instructor in 1999. He has major works among many private and public collections including Duke University Museum of Art, the Mint Museum in Charlotte, Rauch Industries in Gastonia, and Appalachian State University and Barton College Permanent Art Collections.

Creech also runs a complete foundry workshop, Artmakers Studio, Inc., that houses welding, wood working, stained glass, pottery, drawing, printing and painting studios. Among his many commissioned works are “Larry Bird’s Hand and Basketball,” bronze busts of head football coaches Bill Murray and David Nelson for the University of Delaware and several works for Duke University including a bust of Terry Sanford and a cast bronze of the Duke Blue Devil.

Barbara Keen served as an adjunct instructor at Barton in 1996 and has been employed at J.C.C. since 1977, teaching courses in commercial art and graphic design. Keen also does extensive free-lance work in these areas. She has exhibited works at the Page-Walker Arts Center in Cary, Gallery A in Raleigh, Johnston Memorial Hospital and the Wilson Arts Council.

Karen Borsos has been associated with J.C.C. since 1978 when she began as a graphic illustrator for the Rural Renaissance Project. In 1981, she became an instructor in J.C.C.’s advertising and graphic design program. In addition to teaching, Borsos is a free-lance graphic designer and calligrapher. She also is the secretary of the Ava Gardner Museum Board of Directors as well as chairman of the museum exhibits committee.

John Byrd became a full-time instructor at J.C.C. in 1996. Byrd is coordinator of the associates in fine arts program at J.C.C. which includes concentrations in the visual arts, music and drama. Byrd also is the director of the fine arts program and is an instructor in fine arts and advertising and graphic design.

In addition to his responsibilities at J.C.C., Byrd is a free-lance artist and runs a commercial sign shop. His works have been exhibited at the Mississippi State University Invitational, the Johnston County Arts Council where he won first prize, and the Wilson Active Artists Annual Art Show ( two honorable mentions) and the Greenville Museum of Art, among others.

Gloria Kutscheid has served as an instructor of photography and art courses at J.C.C. since 1997 and as an instructor of basic photography courses for adults at Wake Technical Community College since 1989. Kutscheid also owns and manages “Apertures Unlimited,” a photo restoration business. Last year she served as the coordinator of the photo-restoration project for Hurricane Floyd victims through J.C.C. Her works have been on view at the N.C.

The Barton College Department of Art has had a long standing relationship with the Department of Art at J.C.C. A number of their students continue their art studies at Barton following the completion of their degrees at J.C.C.

“Many of the students who have graduated from both programs are among our distinguished graduates,” said J. Chris Wilson, professor of art and director of exhibitions at Barton.

“The J.C.C. students come to us with advanced computer design skills and are seeking breadth in the liberal and studio arts,” he said. “Some have changed their art career focus as a result of this exposure to other art media and have gone on to advanced study at major universities.”

Paula Patterson

Opening Reception October 22

Patterson, a 1979 graduate of Barton College is artist-in-residence at the Arts Council of Wilson and is teaching classes in the art department at the college. She is known for her fine and thoughtful paintings and drawings of animals and wildlife.

“The Barton Museum is again pleased to present the work of Paula Patterson,” said J. Chris Wilson, director of exhibitions. “Her last showing in the Barton Museum was in 1995, and the show was a resounding success.”

“Patterson’s work is produced in watercolor, sometimes with body color, and drawing, sometimes working in silverpoint,” Wilson said. “The theme of her works is the careful study of animals both domestic and exotic. She successfully transforms the surface appearance of each of the subjects or specimens so that we might look into the eyes of the animals and learn something new about ourselves.

“Her work is remarkable, sensitive and often expresses the simplicity and economy of correct and descriptive marks that elevate commonplace materials to that of master calligraphy,” Wilson said. “In other works, the complicated compositions engage the viewer to journey with Patterson to find the essence of creativity and reality. The works are worth the effort. They are spectacular in concept and execution.”

Patterson said her work has a dual nature.

“I wish the paintings, as totally personal statements, to be beautiful (sometimes using what is traditionally seen as ugly,” she said. “I had a casual onlooker at the London Zoo say, ‘Oh! You have made something so ugly so beautiful’) and challenging.

“Working to any standard convention does not interest me,” Patterson said. “In addition to creating images that are beautiful and challenging, I am concerned with a continuing investigation in flatness of the surface and the defying illusionistic treatment of that surface. Within these aspects of my work there is an ongoing progression in uniting my love, attraction and devotion to my subjects and my materials.

“I wish my painted images to live with my love of my animals, and my love of my colors, my lines, and my medium,” she said. “I feel my paintings have a life of their own. In all this I can only hope that my uniqueness sparks a growing response in the viewer.”

Patterson’s works have been viewed in exhibitions across the country and abroad including North Carolina; Colorado; Bath, Blakesley, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Ely, Hadleigh, Hamstead, Haslemere, Kings Lynn, Leeds, London, Milton Keynes, St. Ives, Sudbury, and Wisbech, United Kingdom; Grave, Oss and s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; and Trégastel, France.

Patterson continued her studies at East Carolina where she completed both a master of arts in education degree and a master a fine arts degree in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

23rd Annual Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition

January 21-February 9
Opening Reception January 21

Barton College, with sponsor The Wilson Daily Times, is host for the Scholastic Art Awards presentation for the 23rd consecutive year. The program is designed to encourage student achievement, to recognize and applaud our fine art teachers and to emphasize the importance of the visual arts in the school curriculum.

Gold Key and Silver Key Award medals were given to the young artists whose works were selected for the regional exhibition.

Awards were presented in the classifications of “American Visions Award” nominees, gold key finalists and gold key winners, with additional major awards selected from the top entries. One hundred and seventeen students were designated as gold key finalists. These gold key finalists and the five “American Visions Award” nominees will enter their works in national competition in New York City following exhibition at Barton.

Tom Doeing from Croatan High School in Newport, Patrick Phelps-McKeown and Eli Van Noppen from the Durham School of the Arts in Durham, Dareese Coley from Southern Nash High School in Bailey, and Allison White from Whiteville High School in Whiteville, were named “American Visions Award” nominees as well as gold key finalists.

John Paite from Whiteville High School received The Wilson Daily Times Award in addition to two gold key finalist designations. Philip Tidy from the Durham School of the Arts was awarded gold key finalist designation as well as the Edward Brown Award named in honor of the long-time director of the Barton Scholastics Program. Emily Berns, from W.G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, received the Barton College Award as well as gold key finalist designation. Janet Talus, from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, received the N.C. Art Education Association Award and gold key finalist designation.

Additional area winners were Alicia Chandler from Beddingfield High School in Wilson and Charles Bradley from Southern Nash High School, who each received gold key finalist designations.

Approximately 150 pieces were selected for the exhibition.

Clarissa Sligh

Clarissa Sligh, an African-American photographer of the feminist movement, has been recognized as one of the most thought-provoking artists today. Her work, considered cutting-edge, has achieved a high profile nationally and internationally. It is based on creating personal and community stories in photographs, artists' books, installations and mixed media.

Sligh addresses issues surrounding the African American experiences of growing up in a pre-desegregated South through her artwork. It is important to note that this exhibition's focus at times reflects on childhood events from the adult vantage which sometimes translates into adult themes.

"Clarissa Sigh uses her artwork to tell a story," said Betsy Burnham O'Connor, curator of this exhibition, and assistant professor of art and director of the photography program at Barton.

"Multi-layered and faceted, Sligh's art allows the viewer insights into her own family. Her images are an interesting and seamless blend of both new and old photographs," she said. "As her family's guardian, or keeper, of the family's photography albums, Sligh pulls directly from her personal records to reconstruct and even investigate her own story."

"Being a spokesperson for the African American community was something she initially resisted but has come to appreciate," O'Connor said. "She has since become more comfortable discussing her perspective on the African American experience."

She has authored four editioned artists' books including "What's Happening With Mama?" "Reading Dick and Jane With Me," "Hiroshima: Hopes and Dreams" and "Voyage(r): Tourist Map To Japan."

Sligh has received numerous awards including the International Center for Photography Infinity Award, the National Women's Caucus for Art Annual President's Award, the Artiste En France Fellowship, a New York State Council on the Arts project grant and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.

Barton Senior Art Exhibition 2001

April 7-May 11
Opening Reception April 7, 8-10 p.m.

Barton’s Senior Art Exhibition 2001 includes a variety of media including drawing, graphic design, painting, photography and sculpture. The works of Jason Dean, Amanda Atwood Guyton, David Hennes, Rhonda Kanagy and Heather Richards promise to intrigue the eye and pique the imagination.

“The Barton College graduating art students’ exhibition is stunning,” said J. Chris Wilson, professor of art and director of the Barton Museum. “The exhibition demonstrates the readiness of these students to either enter the professions or pursue advanced study.

“All of the students are to be commended for striving to produce their best,” he said.

Dean hails from Chesapeake, Va., and is the son of Michael and Charlene Dean. His work includes samples of his graphic design work, some of which were produced as freelance artwork. Among his exhibited pieces are a game board design completed for the Arts Council of Wilson, which served as an interactive study guide for several of the local middle schools.

Guyton is a resident of Smithfield, and she will be graduating from Barton College with a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art and a bachelor of arts degree in English. A 1996 graduate of South Johnston High School, Guyton recently returned to college after working at South Johnston as the assistant printing/graphics instructor. Guyton’s featured work includes paintings of still life, and individual portraits as well as a portrait series.

Hennes, a Belhaven resident, is the son of William and Roberta Hennes. He is a graphic designer and will graduate from Barton College with a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design. Hennes’ work includes computer graphic rendering of company logos, signs, advertisements and computer generated art.

Kanagy of Stuarts Draft, Va., is the daughter of Tom and Sally Kanagy. She is studying for a bachelor of fine arts degree in art education. Kanagy’s works in the show include oil paintings, cast paper sculpture, Polaroid transfers and lifts, and handmade books.

Richards, a resident of Henderson, is the daughter of Bobby Richards of Henderson, and Kaye Richards of Autryville. Richards will graduate from Barton with a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design. She has also completed work for Advanced Seminars with Advanced Rehabilitation Institutes, East Coast Gospel Music Association, and the latest, Imagination Station’s Designer Showhouse in Wilson. Richards’ work includes graphic renderings of maps used in promotional publications, stamps that will be submitted to the postal service for possible use and drawings. She is skilled in illustration and artistic rendering.