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November Issue 2006
Anderson Arts Center in Anderson, SC, Offers Exhibit Focused on Africa
The Anderson Arts Center in Anderson, SC, is presenting the exhibit, E-FIO-FIO-KU, which means "stories to tell" - African stories, to be more specific. This exhibition is a unique combination of traditional African art and contemporary interpretations of the landscape, art, and lifestyles of Africa. The show features the African collection of John and Peggy Acorn of Pendleton, SC, as well as the multi-media artwork of Freeborn Onyia, the photography of Dr. Phil Wilmeth, and wood creations of John Acorn. The exhibit will be on view through Nov. 22, 2006.
John Acorn's interest in African art began in the mid-1950's while looking for a parking place near the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He had by chance parked across the street from a street side building whose first-floor window contained African masks. Intrigued, he entered for a closer look, and was moved by the material presence and power of the work. A number of years later he was back in New York City and chanced upon another exhibition of African art, at which time he purchased his first piece. Over the subsequent years, he and his wife, Peggy, have continued to purchase works during visits to Washington, DC, Seattle, Charleston, and elsewhere. His intention has never been to have a formal collection, but rather to view the work from an artist's perspective. His own work draws inspiration from the pieces, and provides incentive to "get out in my studio and make art that I can share with others around me."
Freeborn Onyia has lived in Anderson for approximately four years, having moved here from Dallas, TX. He was born in Nigeria, and draws his subject matter from observations of culture both in Africa and the United States. He refers to himself as a "man of color", and uses vivid color, both in oil and pastel, and combines that color with copper, fiberglass, and other media inclusions to create scenes which relate stories about what is happening in society. Onyia sees many similarities in what is happening today in African and American culture, and uses an exciting mix of techniques to illustrate those parallels. He says his work "appeals to the soul", and indeed it does.
Dr. Phil Wilmeth is an ophthalmologist with Medicus here in Anderson, and has lived in Anderson for more than 20 years. He first traveled to Africa in 2004, and while there realized it had much to offer the serious photographer beyond the standard safari experience. He returned early this year to the Soussevlei Namib National Park, as well as the Etosha National Park in Namibia and areas near Cape Town in South Africa. The Namibian desert has existed for more than 80 million years, and contains the highest sand dunes in the world. Some reach heights of more than 1000 feet.
After spending three weeks shooting the natural beauty, wildlife, and culture of Africa, Dr. Wilmeth has winnowed down thousands of images to create the body of photography currently on display. He has been interested in photography since his days in junior high, and had gone through many cameras and processes. The last few years he has mostly employed digital photography as his primary media, due to the ease and high quality of both the process and the finished product. In addition to shooting the images, he does all of his own printing as well.
For further information check our SC Institutional
Gallery listings, call the center at 864/222-2787 or visit (www.andersonartscenter.org).
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