January 2014

Cabarrus Arts Council in Concord, NC, Features Exhibition Focused on Figures and Landscapes

Cabarrus Arts Council in Concord, NC, will present Human Nature, a new group exhibition featuring artwork depicting figures and landscapes in a variety of media, on view in The Galleries, located in the Cabarrus County Historic Courthouse, from Jan. 21 through Mar. 31, 2014. A reception will be held on Jan. 31, from 6-9pm, during the downtown Concord Art Walk. There is no admission charge for any gallery activities, which include an “I Spy” artwork scavenger hunt for children.

The exhibition includes artwork by 13 contemporary Southern artists including: Byron Baldwin, Regina Burchett, James Daniel, Carolyn DeMeritt, Holly Fischer, Isabel Forbes, Tim Ford, Harriet Goode, Paul Keysar, Gayle Stott Lowry, Beth Tarkington, Kelly Thiel and Karen Reese Tunnell.

“Human Nature addresses many aspects of the human experience in various media including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, pastel, ceramics and fiber,” said Rebecca Collins, curator of the exhibition and Visual Arts Director at the Cabarrus Arts Council.

With works confronting the human form as well as the natural world, several themes have been woven together in this group show, according to Collins. “Many pieces in the show honor the human form and others express narratives relating to emotion and spirit. Human Nature includes portraits, sculptures, and landscapes. We hope to provoke a varied interpretation of the human form and challenge the viewer in his/her natural responses.”

The exhibition includes artists from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Byron Baldwin, of Charlotte, NC, is a founding member of The Light Factory known for his compelling black and white images that express the everyday from an artistic perspective.

Regina Burchett, of Charlotte, works out of her studio at ClearWater Artist Studios in Concord. She paints primarily in soft pastels, focusing on nature and sky.

James Daniel, of Asheville, NC, creates fine art in the tradition of the masters is known for his portraits, murals and figures.

Carolyn DeMeritt, of Charlotte, is a self-taught photographer and videographer who has worked at her craft for more than 30 years. The common thread in her work, whether it’s portraits or landscapes, is a personal interaction with her subjects.

Holly Fischer, of Raleigh, NC, is an adjunct professor at Meredith College who has also taught at the Savannah College of Design and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She creates ceramic sculptures that glorify female beauty.

Isabel Forbes, of Spartanburg, SC, sees beauty in the everyday and translates it into her oil paintings, hoping to evoke a sense of wonder from the viewer.

Tim Ford, of Boone, NC, is an adjunct professor in the Department of Art at Appalachian State University who is known for his drawings and paintings of figures and landscapes.

Harriet Goode, of Rock Hill, SC, creates narrative paintings that are always of women even though some might appear amorphous.

Paul Keysar, of Charlotte, is known for his classical, representational oil paintings of landscapes, still lifes and portraits.

Gayle Stott Lowry, of Raleigh, creates landscapes and architectural paintings that exemplify her deep concern about changes in the environment.

Beth Tarkington, of Atlanta, GA, tells stories that center on the landscape, figures and related symbolism through her painted ceramic works.

Kelly Thiel, of Charleston, SC, is a former interior designer who crafts colorful, thought-provoking ceramic sculptures of figures.

Karen Reese Tunnel, of Atlanta and western North Carolina, has been designing and fabricating art quilts and wall hangings for 40 years and has recently been focusing on marbling and printing her own fabric.

The Cabarrus Arts Council is dedicated to providing a wide variety of cultural arts programs that celebrate the rich diversity of our county and our world. The arts council programs and operates the Davis Theatre and The Galleries, conducts one of North Carolina’s largest art-in-education programs for both the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City school systems, supports arts organizations and artists through grants and workshops, and serves as a catalyst and consultant for public and corporate art.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call 704/920-2787 or visit (www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org).

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