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Four
Regional Artists in the Members' Gallery... |
The Arts Depot In Abingdon is showcasing four regional artists in the Members Gallery through September 25, 2004.
| Ruth
Crowe of Jonesborough, TN is exhibiting her oil and pastel paintings.
Ruth is a native of Louisiana and spent most of her adult life in the
New Orleans area. "In 1982", She says, "I Began my journey
in art through a local teacher in New Orleans, Louisiana, working in both
oil and pastel." A couple of years later she made a career change
to occupational health nursing leaving little time for art so she reluctantly
put her art aside. In 1996, she retired from nursing and moved to Northeast
Tennessee to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and four seasons. At last,
after a long detour that included living in England, Scotland, and Germany,
her art journey continued.
She enjoys learning from new instructors, books, experimentation, and experience. Her attendance at many workshops throughout the southeast has continued to hone her artistic skills. Ruth says "I am basically self taught, I study the artwork of some of my favorites—both impressionistic and realistic painters. 'My favorite subjects are the beauty of God's world that includes landscapes, people in action, and flowers. Painting is truly a continuous journey—uphill all the way." She describes her approach to painting as a real joy, "seeing the way light and shadows define objects in nature and life, searching for all the colors that appear in the simple and complex landscapes and then trying to transfer all I see to canvas". Ruth is a member of the Watauga Valley Art League, and the Depot Artists Association.
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Ruth Crowe with several of her paintings.
|
Barbara Frazier- "Liberty's Flag", a collage.
|
Barbara
Roark Frazier of Stockbridge, GA is presenting a special mixed
media and acrylic exhibit of the "Visions of 9-11". She was
born in Abingdon Virginia the youngest of nine children and while even
though her family was poor, there was always art supplies for she and
her siblings. When she entered art school without her mother's knowledge
she was made to withdraw and told that "she would never make a living out of art" and should learn something that would get her a job. She entered Business College and went on to enjoy a full career in private industry. When her career ended in 1995 she was able to devote her energy and efforts to her lifelong love - Art. She has trained with some community artists, but much of her knowledge is self-taught. She likes to work a variety of mediums that include oil, acrylic, watercolor, and collage. |
| Joan
Hoffman of Abingdon, VA, is exhibiting a variety of paintings,
her choice of media being dictated by subject matter, ranging from planned
composition to improvisation and fantasy. Her subjects tend to reflect
the rural environment, personal associations and interests. A native New
Yorker, she has been a resident of Southwest Virginia since 1971. After
a 20 year career as an elementary school teacher in New York and Virginia,
she retired from working full time in that field to resume a career as
a full time artist. Joan's early years were spent in a rich cultural environment
reflecting interest in visual and performing arts. Early on, her art education
consisted of private art lessons, in addition to the regular school curriculum.
She continued by majoring in history and art at the College of New Rochelle,
New York. Since that time she has attended classes and workshops in New
York and Virginia, earning graduate credits through the University of
Virginia. Since 1981 she has participated in numerous area invitational
and juried exhibits and has had several one-woman exhibits, receiving
several awards in the Virginia Highlands Festival Fine Art Show, Bristol
Art Guild Show, and most recently was the People's Choice Award winner
in this years Clinch River Days Art Show in St. Paul, VA. Joan is a member
of the Bristol Art Guild, the Depot Artists Association and the William
King Regional Arts Center. She enjoys teaching art as well as academic subjects and has taught adult and children's classes sponsored by William King, the Bristol Art Guild, the Arts Depot and the Parks and Recreation Departments in Bristol and Washington County, Virginia. |
Joan Hoffman's "Floral", an oil. |
Myrtle Hooker-"Changing Seasons" (oil painting). |
Myrtle Hooker of Roanoke, works in most medias including watermedia, watercolor, monoprints, collage, pastels, and oils. For this show she is sharing her oil and watermedia paintings depicting nature scenes with the viewers. She has had art training at Virginia Western Community College, the Arts School in Roanoke, and through workshops with many nationally known artists. Myrtle has received numerous awards in juried exhibitions in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Dallas. She is a member of the Virginia Watercolor Society, the National League of American Pen Women, the National Watercolor Society, Depot Artists Association of Abingdon, and several other local arts organizations. Her artwork has appeared in many publications, including Marquee Magazine of East Tennessee, two calendars, and as illustrations in a poetry book. Her work also hangs in many private collections throughout the United States, a medical school and in a University's permanent collection. |
The Arts Depot is a non-profit volunteer organization that is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community and features the region’s artists. The Arts Depot is located in the historic Depot Square area of downtown Abingdon, VA. The gallery and artists studios are open for your viewing pleasure Thursday thru Saturday, 11-3 pm, or by appointment. There is no admission charge. For further information, please contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-9091, or e-mail at artsdepot@naxs.net.