Local painter's brush with Brattonsville historical interpreter inspires series

Kitty Wilson-Evans doesn't like to be called an actress.

For the past two decades, Wilson-Evans has brought a character to life on the historic Brattonsville plantation in York County, a slave named Kessie.

"It's more than acting. I try to really become that slave," Wilson-Evans said. "What I do, I just do it. It's not work, it's a natural part of me."

The retired kindergarten teacher and accomplished vocalist said she takes pride in helping educate children about the history of slavery on the plantation, and at one candlelight performance in 2006, she earned herself a new admirer -- painter Kaye Cloniger of Lake Wylie.

"I was inspired," said Cloniger, who graduated from Meredith College in North Carolina with an art degree and taught art until retiring in 1994.

As Cloniger watched Wilson-Evans portray Kessie through song and speech, she said she knew that she had to paint a series about her character.

"It was when she looked down into the fire, from that moment on I knew I had to paint her face," Cloniger said. "It was like it was meant to be."

Cloniger said she left the performance that night upset she had forgotten her camera, so she had to go back to the plantation later to speak with Wilson-Evans.

"I heard she didn't like to have her picture taken, so I was nervous at first," Cloniger said. "She posed for me, very graciously, and got into her character."

Cloniger said she and her husband, Jerry, who have lived at the lake for 10 years, were treated to a rare performance as Kessie sang and interpreted the plantation slave. Cloniger took 57 photos that would end up being the basis of the 14 oil-based painting series completed in January.

"I paint a lot of series," Cloniger said. "This one has meant more to me than anything I have ever done. I felt a connection with Kitty to begin with, like we had known each other in another life."

"Voices in the Firelight" depicts the moment that serves as an inspiration for the series -- Kessie looking down into a fireplace, with light splashing her face from below. Cloniger said this and "Kessie's Song," a painting from a scene in which Kessie walked out of the woods singing a beautiful, traditional plantation slave song, were two of her favorites in the series.

"Wow, oh my goodness," Wilson-Evans said, describing her initial reaction when she first saw the paintings. "I know what I'm doing while I'm doing it, and I know what I'm saying while I'm saying it, but it's so different to see it like this. I had never seen it before."

Cloniger said she was nervous about Wilson-Evans' opinion of her work.

"I had explained to Kitty that what I was doing was out of respect," she said. "Boy, was I relieved when she saw them."

Cloniger's paintings will be on display at the Brattonsville visitor's center through the end of the year. The exhibit will move to the University of South Carolina-Lancaster next year, and then be permanently donated to the Brattonsville plantation.

"I'm just happy we were brought together. She really captured my emotion," Wilson-Evans said. "That's a talented woman."

INSPIRATION/ 8B

This story was originally published November 12, 2008 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Local painter's brush with Brattonsville historical interpreter inspires series."