October 2011

Black Mountain Center for the Arts Offers Pastel Exhibition

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts in Black Mountain, NC, will present the 2011 Juried Exhibition of Appalachian Pastel Society Show, on view from Oct. 14 through Nov. 23, 2011. A reception will be held on Oct. 14, from 6-8pm.

The Appalachian Pastel Society, founded in 2006, works throughout the Appalachian region in Western North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and more through “elevating the standards of excellence for the benefit of artists, collectors, and those who appreciate the medium; promoting educational activities to benefit the artistic and professional goals and abilities of its members; and fostering, encouraging, and developing general public appreciation for the pastel medium through sponsoring speakers, classes and exhibits, artists in the schools, and publicity.”

The group meets at least six times per year with workshop and paint-out opportunities, and also provides a website and newsletters for its members at (www.appalachianpastelsociety.org).

For this juried exhibition the juror will be Fleta Monaghan, who founded the River’s Edge Studio and 310 Art Gallery in the River District of Asheville, NC. Monaghan holds a Master’s in Education, and places the educational focus at her studio on art instruction for adults, as well as professional development coaching for artists. She has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions. In addition her gallery provides a venue for contemporary, original art. For the exhibitors in this show, Monaghan will provide written and videotaped feedback for each piece submitted.

To be eligible for jurying, pastel artists had to follow strict guidelines on medium used, size of painting, framing, recent completion of work, previous exposure, and originality, with pieces submitted by CD. Co-Chairs of the 2011 member exhibition are Karen Wylie and Kate Thayer. President of the Society this year is Kay Gordon.

Pastel as a medium has seen a resurgence in the art world since the 1970s. However, its history goes back several centuries with legendary painters such as Carriera, Chardin, and Degas, each of whom developed new techniques for working with pastel. The Society of Pastel Painters in Pastel and The Pastellists were two of the early organizations for artists, while The Pastel Society of America was created in 1972.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Center at 828/669-0930 or visit (www.BlackMountainArts.org).

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