Art Exhibitions Celebrating Black History Month at Carrboro and Chapel Hill Town Halls and at the Century Center in Carrboro  About the Artists Artie attended the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC. His studies concentrated on design, production and ancient architecture. He now resides in Durham and is a freelance artist specializing in murals. One can view his murals at Leo’s Seafood Market, the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant, and the Durham Parks and Recreation tennis courts on Alston Avenue in Durham, NC. He also has been commissioned to create numerous interior home murals in the Triangle. Candace Blake Candace is a native of Morrisville, NC. She was inspired by her parents’ creativity at an early age. Candace began exploring innovative ways to make art by hand. Through her hands, her creativity has flourished into a unique style called “Twisted Art”. This art form is an original hand-made piece of wire sculpture. Each piece of “Twisted Art” is intertwined in America’s culture. Although the artworks are faceless, her creations reflect family, unity and bonding though their costumes and postures. Some are clothed in ethnocentric costumes while others are in formal wedding attire. Candace acknowledges, “My mission is to break through cultural barriers and give people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a piece of original art”. Katrinka Borders Katrinka is a retired Town of Chapel Hill employee, a past member of the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission and an artist. Her African American Heritage Figurines have been featured on the local NBC-TV station and at Chapel Hill Town Hall. They are made from pecan shells and resin; and then are intricately painted. Marion Brooks Marion was an early leader of the Carr Court Quilters Circle. When a group of women living in the Carr Court neighborhood perceived the need to bring together members of the community with some activity, quilting became the connecting link. Meeting on Friday mornings, the Carr Court Quilters Circle has encouraged and advised each other on their individual projects, and they have also worked on group projects. Together the group made a quilt to travel on the replica of the ship, Amistad, which is presently sailing from port to port promoting intercultural relationships. On Carrboro Day 2002, the quilters created a small lap quilt to be used at Charles House, an adult day care center in Carrboro. The Carr Court Quilters Circle has had quilts on display at the Carrboro Public Library, the Hillsborough Library and at Carrboro Town Hall. The women continue with their weekly meetings, their friendships and their quilting. The group is presently working on what they call an “exhibition quilt.” Anthony Brunson Anthony was born and raised in North Carolina and currently resides in Durham. He has not had any formal training as an artist except for working as an illustrator in the Army. Ever since a spinal cord injury in 1997, Anthony has worked as a freelance portrait artist. He also participates in various regional arts and crafts shows. Lorie L. Clark Lorie creates positive, real life, poignant images of people of color through photography. She was born in Chapel Hill and raised in Carrboro. Lorie’s creative interest began while taking a photography class during her sophomore year at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida where she received a B.A. in Communications. Her artistic interests and talents blossomed and she has been creating images ever since. She feels her work should depict honest and positive images of the African-American race. Lorie honors the legacy of African-Americans by presenting positive and uplifting images. Her work has been on display in local Maryland libraries and in galleries throughout the U.S. Lorie is the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate High School Coordinator with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She is the former publicist for the Sonja Haynes Black Cultural Center and her broadcasting career spans over fifteen years. This exhibit includes photographs taken in the inner cities of Dallas, Texas, Washington, DC, and Wilmington, Delaware. Walt Davis Walt is a visual artist who earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor’s Degree from North Carolina Central University. He produces artworks in various media, including photography, drawing, painting, and sculpture. He has taught art for more than fifteen years. Works selected for this exhibit reflect his research of West African Countries and the complex cultures of African people. The three photographs in this exhibition represent the commonalities Africans, African-Americans and people of the western world share within the context of daily life. His artworks have been used to exhibit real people and places in a real world that dispels many taboos, myths, and negative beliefs placed on people of diverse cultures. Walt believes that civil rights are vital issues for the betterment of mankind, and that policies of equality must be employed worldwide, in order for people to progress successfully. His artworks give the viewer an open-eye version of people, places, and things to spark a beginning for others to think respectfully, globally and without bias. Lillie Edwards Lillie is a member of the Carr Court Quilters Circle. When a group of women living in the Carr Court neighborhood perceived the need to bring together members of the community with some activity, quilting became the connecting link. Meeting on Friday mornings, the Carr Court Quilters Circle has encouraged and advised each other on their individual projects, and they have also worked on group projects. Together the group made a quilt to travel on the replica of the ship, Amistad, which is presently sailing from port to port promoting intercultural relationships. On Carrboro Day 2002, the quilters created a small lap quilt to be used at Charles House, an adult day care center in Carrboro. The Carr Court Quilters Circle has had quilts on display at the Carrboro Public Library, the Hillsborough Library and at Carrboro Town Hall. The women continue with their weekly meetings, their friendships, and their quilting. The group is presently working on what they call an “exhibition quilt.” Walter Faribault, Jr. Walter Faribault, Jr. is a Hillsborough, NC native, who was educated in the Orange County School system. He is a graduate of Morgan State University with a B.S. degree in biology and of Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC from their Physician’s Assistant Program. Retired from Student Health Services at UNC-CH, Walter currently works part-time at the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Chapel Hill. Walter is also a retired Navy veteran. A self-taught artist, Walter relishes the opportunity to share that part of his life that embraces his imagination and his creativity. His foray into abstract sculpture happened accidentally when he began creating art forms from stainless steel scraps left over after covering the walls of his barbecue concession trailer with panels of stainless steel. It is Walter’s theory that items or concepts must be viewed in at least two-dimensions. The first is in its present state, as it is meant to be interpreted. The second is as it may be transformed into or interpreted by others. A master at storytelling with his hands, Walter’s award-winning sculptures radiate with warmth and vitality. His expressive use of wood and metal moulds imagery that ascends his designs to levels of quality above and beyond expectation. Walter’s sculptures are in many private and public collections. Olivia Gatewood A North Carolina native, Olivia studied visual arts at North Carolina A&T State University and received her B.F.A. from California State University in Turlock, CA. She then went on to pursue graduate studies in Fine Arts at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. Her highly textured works are painted with various media, as she sees no limitations for her creative outlet. She uses oils, acrylics, gels, textiles, and found objects to freely express her intense passion and to engage her audiences in the exploration of their own creative minds. Olivia’s signature medium is “liquid mosaic,” a chemical composition she has developed and perfected. Discussing her artworks Olivia explains, “My paintings should be regarded as short stories in vision, full of color and expression. They are visual mysteries of the universe and cast a magical spell around a world full of romantic interest. My artwork is about stepping outside the boundaries of what people think art is supposed to be. It’s about change, growth and the evolution of one’s self. I paint melodies to stimulate an awareness of the beauty that surrounds us, to integrate mankind into a universal being.” Olivia’s works have been presented in national exhibits and has won numerous awards. Her paintings may be found in the collections of Oprah Winfrey, Dr. John Hope Franklin, Nnenna Freelon, Mitsubishi International in Tokyo, IBM and SAS Institute in the Research Triangle Park. Her paintings are currently displayed on Warner Brother’s nationally syndicated television show, “The Parent ‘Hood.” Olivia is the owner of Olivia’s Art Gallery in Hillsborough, NC. Bob Gilgor Bob has studied photography locally with Ruth Pinnell, Karen Curran, York Wilson, Diana Bloomfield and nationally with Bruce Barnbaum, Don Kirby, Joan Gentry, Stu Levy, Peter Schreyer, Thomas Neff and Jay Dusard. He is a candidate for a certificate in documentary studies at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Describing his work Bob says, “Photography has made me look at people and the environment more carefully, and helped me to be much more aware and appreciative of natural and man-made beauty as well as social and environmental problems. It has enriched my life and made it more interesting and more beautiful, but sometimes more painful. Most of my photography is black and white art photograph, but I also enjoy doing color. The main thrust of my work is to use photography as an expression of feelings and as a social metaphor. Areas that I am primarily interested in are landscapes, infrared, portraits, sports, and documentary photography. Capturing a person’s character and emotion on film, or photographing someone deeply involved with his/her work or hobby, captivates my imagination. Oral history complements and enriches photography; the combination of the photograph with the voice of the person gives more credibility and power to the subject. It is this completeness in documentary work that I find intriguing, challenging and enjoyable. The photographs shown here are part of the “OCTS/Lincoln High: Mighty Tigers” exhibit shown at the Chapel Hill Museum 2001 to coincide with the 50th reunion of the opening of the segregated Lincoln High School on Merritt Mill Road in 1961. The story of this amazing school was told through the eyes and in the words of the people who lived through this time. The accomplishments of the school and the people who attended it are a point of great pride in this community.” Frankie Gray Frankie is a member of the Carr Court Quilters Circle. When a group of women living in the Carr Court neighborhood perceived the need to bring together members of the community with some activity, quilting became the connecting link. Meeting on Friday mornings, the Carr Court Quilters Circle has encouraged and advised each other on their individual projects, and they have also worked on group projects. Together the group made a quilt to travel on the replica of the ship, Amistad, which is presently sailing from port to port promoting intercultural relationships. On Carrboro Day 2002, the quilters created a small lap quilt to be used at Charles House, an adult day care center in Carrboro. The Carr Court Quilters Circle has had quilts on display at the Carrboro Public Library, the Hillsborough Library and at Carrboro Town Hall. The women continue with their weekly meetings, their friendships, and their quilting. The group is presently working on what they call an “exhibition quilt.” Jim Lee Jim is a self-taught sculptor, painter, audio artist and lighting designer. He is one of a very few gourd sculptors whose work has found a warm reception in the fine art community. This is due largely to the highly conceptual and finely crafted nature of each of his pieces. Art critic Blue Greenberg of the Durham Herald writes, “Lee’s gourds….are so delicate and intricate that they can take their place beside fine cut glass, Meissen, or a small bronze from any century.” Lee has been featured in the Gallery Section of Spectator Magazine. His works have appeared in curated shows in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill. He has been awarded places in juried shows in Durham and Cary and his sculptures have won awards in Raleigh and Cary. His works can be found in the private collections of Beverly Long, Chuck and Louise Stone, Walter Holmes, Linda Belans and others. Steinway Gallery of Chapel Hill is his local representative. The gallery maintains a collection of current works. Kenneth Lewis Kenneth is a native North Carolinian. A 1979 graduate of Durham High School, he was first encouraged to paint by high school coach Elliot Bump. Although he was never exposed to formal art training, his interest in art goes back to elementary school. Kenneth’s unique perspective and eye for detail are particularly evident in his large paintings of historical buildings around Durham, his hometown. Kenneth maintains a subcontracting business in concrete finishing and is active in community affairs. Asked about his fascination with local architecture, Kenneth says, “I’m hooked on historical buildings and want to preserve them. As many cities have grown, they’ve wiped out their historical landmarks. By putting them on canvas, I’m hoping the message will get through that if they are worth painting, they are worth saving. I want to be the people’s artist. I feel as time goes on my technique and ideas are coming together more. I’m broadening my ideas in different directions. Right now I’m concentrating on Durham buildings, but I’d like to become a familiar artist in NC.” His large canvas of the old Carolina Theatre in Durham is destined to become a local classic, particularly in light of the renovation and preservation of this city landmark. Kenneth has painted buildings in Toronto, Canada, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach, Florida. He is available for commissions. Claudia McLean Claudia is a member of the Carr Court Quilters Circle. When a group of women living in the Carr Court neighborhood perceived the need to bring together members of the community with some activity, quilting became the connecting link. Meeting on Friday mornings, the Carr Court Quilters Circle has encouraged and advised each other on their individual projects, and they have also worked on group projects. Together the group made a quilt to travel on the replica of the ship, Amistad, which is presently sailing from port to port promoting intercultural relationships. On Carrboro Day 2002, the quilters created a small lap quilt to be used at Charles House, an adult day care center in Carrboro. The Carr Court Quilters Circle has had quilts on display at the Carrboro Public Library, the Hillsborough Library and at Carrboro Town Hall. The women continue with their weekly meetings, their friendships, and their quilting. The group is presently working on what they call an “exhibition quilt.” Susan Simone Susan is a photographer who moved from New York City to North Carolina in 1992. The photographs on display are from her 1998 exhibit “Portraits of Northside: A Photographic Study of the Northside Community Now & Before.” The photographs address the lives of African American living and working in Chapel Hill and are based on a combination of photographs taken in 1998 and photographs collected from individuals, archives and newspapers. Remembering the Northside exhibit project, Susan explains, “With the encouragement of the community, I formulated the idea of a photographic exhibit that would document life in the Northside. I would show who lives here, how they live, and where they came from. I would collect photographs from family albums and take photographs of events in the community. I would walk around, talk to people, collect oral histories and learn. I would put this together in an exhibit that will tell the other history of Chapel Hill, the history of the African Americans who lived north of “back street” and “out in the county.” Susan’s other documentary-photographic exhibits include: “We Are All Housekeepers”, “Fotos Del Pueblo”, “Celebration 2000”, and “The People Who Live In Shangri-La.” Susan has received numerous awards and financial assistance from the North Carolina Council for the Humanities, the Orange County Arts Commission, the Puffin Foundation, and the North Carolina Arts Council. In addition to photography, Susan writes fiction and coordinates the Prison Pen Pals for the North Carolina Writers’ Network. She has taught workshops in both writing and photography at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. Ruth Stroud Ruth is a member of the Carr Court Quilters Circle. When a group of women living in the Carr Court neighborhood perceived the need to bring together members of the community with some activity, quilting became the connecting link. Meeting on Friday mornings, the Carr Court Quilters Circle has encouraged and advised each other on their individual projects, and they have also worked on group projects. Together the group made a quilt to travel on the replica of the ship, Amistad, which is presently sailing from port to port promoting intercultural relationships. On Carrboro Day 2002, the quilters created a small lap quilt to be used at Charles House, an adult day care center in Carrboro. The Carr Court Quilters Circle has had quilts on display at the Carrboro Public Library, the Hillsborough Library and at Carrboro Town Hall. The women continue with their weekly meetings, their friendships, and their quilting. The group is presently working on what they call an “exhibition quilt.” Sharon Barksdale Worth Painter, calligrapher, sculptor, poet, playwright, and storyteller, Sharon Barksdale Worth, was born and raised in Newark, NJ. She attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts. There she studied watercolor technique, charcoal, and textile design, with an emphasis on African culture. She is the wife of Wayne L. Worth and the mother of Shavonne T. Barksdale and Artie Barksdale (an artist in his own right and a chip off the old block). In 1988, Sharon moved her family to Mebane, NC where she has continued her studies of calligraphy at Durham Technical College and acrylic painting at Alamance Community College. Sharon creates images using acrylic paints, watercolor paints, 3-D figures, and mixed media. Sharon’s family greatly influenced her artistic talents. She reveals, “My father, Eugene L. Austin, also an artist, encouraged my sisters and me to draw pictures very early in life. Rainy days would find us around the kitchen table with pen and pad in hand. My mother, Gracy B. Austin was a most fascinating storyteller, and encouraged her children to look at life with a sense of humor. It is obvious I have inherited my talents. My sister Jeani (also an artist) gave me my first painting instructions. When I am sharing a story or writing a play, my intent is to paint a picture with words.” Sharon also designs street signs and greeting cards. Many of her images are found painted on wood, her favorite surface. Her calligraphic skills are used for poetic verse, place cards, wedding invitations, envelopes and banners. She also designs business cards and logos. Face painting at Festivals, street fairs and birthday parties are some of her favorite pastimes. Sharon's website is sharonbarksdaleworth.com Purchase Information Anyone wishing to purchase an artwork by one of the participating artists should contact Karen Slotta, Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission at 919-968-2888 ext. 377 or kslotta@townofchapelhill.org. Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn Enterprises 
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