‘Of the Earth’ art exhibit opens Jan. 8
“Of the Earth,” works by Ben Grant, Janis Hughes, and Richard Siegel will be on exhibit in the Dalton Gallery at the Center for the Arts Jan. 8-Feb. 14. A free, public reception will be 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St.
Ben Grant’s work has been accepted to three annual juried competitions. Grant describes his art as an exploration of form, composed of gentle curves, textures, and flowing lines. Patterns seen in the world are translated into carved details in his wood-turned vessels, bowls, organic sculptures, and functional furniture. With each piece, Grant explores form, balance, and texture. Grant has attended the Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Crafts and Haywood Community College, studying professional crafts and woodworking. For more on his work go to www.bengrantwoodwork.com/.
Janis Wilson Hughes is a potter from Johnson City, Tenn., now living in Alpharetta, Ga. who is inspired by the woods and meadows that surrounded her home in the Smokey Mountains. Her favorite subject is seedpods, an interest that grew out of a powerful childhood memory of stumbling through an overgrown meadow to discover a stand of milkweed bushes laden with crude, rough pods that were bursting with feathery seeds. The Appalachian woods were her childhood playground where she observed the forces of nature both build up and tear down life in an endless cycle. Hughes studied art under potter Rick McKinney while working as a research scientist and engineer. For more on Hughes’ work go to www.evolutionstoneware.com/index.html.
Charlotte native, Richard Siegel, works with several different mediums, including watercolor. His work is a collaborative effort with nature where technique, control, and self-expression are realized. Siegel’s vibrant watercolor paintings portray the unique challenge of painting in the “great outdoors.” Experiencing the effects of sunlight and shadows, realistic mountain landscapes, seascapes and still-life settings are created using the one stroke and wet on wet blending technique. Currently, he teaches at Queens University and Central Piedmont Community College. For more on Siegel’s work go to www.richardsiegelstudio.com/index.html.
Works by Sydney Sogol, a fiber artist based in Charlotte, also will be on exhibit during this time. Her work focuses on the relationship between color and pattern through weaving, dyeing, and manipulation of fabrics. Sogol’s work is inspired by her fascination with nature and biology, specifically animals. Each piece she makes is inspired by a specific animal or plant to pay homage and bring attention to that organism’s natural beauty and unique story. Sogol has shown locally and nationally in juried and invitational shows.
The Center for the Arts galleries are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday and 2-4 p.m. every second and fourth Sunday. For information, call 803-328-2787, email arts@yorkcountyarts.org, or go to www.yorkcountyarts.org.
This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 4:13 PM with the headline "‘Of the Earth’ art exhibit opens Jan. 8."