Summer Exhibition “In The Details”: May 21 – August 13
Waterworks Visual Arts Center
Using famed writer and curator Dave Hickey’s notion of a “quarter-inch artist” (one for whom every quarter of an inch is critically important), “In The Details” explores how five artists’ meticulous approaches create worlds in their artwork. Featured artists are woodcarver Dan Abernathy (Sparta, NC) “North Carolina Birds In Hand,” presenting painfully detailed and beautifully hand-painted sculptures of birds, fiber artist Nancy G. Cook (Charlotte, NC) “Seed Stitches,” using hand-stitched quilts with textile layering and embellishments to convey impressions of nature, artist Michelle Heinz (New York City) “Slogans,” a fresh series of painted phrases and poetic utterances on canvases, clay artist Holden McCurry (Asheville, NC) “New Growth,” functional and sculptural art inspired by organic and architectural forms, and artist Trena McNabb (Bethania, NC) “Transparent Imagery,” whose unique style of blending transparent collages of images allows a variety of stories to be told in each layered landscape.
Dan Abernathyhas been a woodcarver for the past 18 years and is a woodcarving instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School. His exhibition, “North Carolina Birds In Hand,” features carved and painted life-scale birds from a variety of woods. The lush woods and pasture lands in the mountains of North Carolina offer a feast of different birds to observe and study. He carved a Downey Woodpecker for the 2002 White House Christmas tree.
Charlotte artistNancy Cook’s fiber work integrates nature, sculpture, color work and women’s work as art. The hand-guided machine quilt stitches create a bas relief sculptural effect of line and texture. Hand embroidery stitches add further depth and detail. Her current work “Seed Stitches” focuses on tree and plant buds, seeds, and fruit as metaphors for the importance of diversity as a species survival tool. Working directly with collected specimens, her designs are based on research and sketching what is structurally unique for each species. She has exhibited throughout the United States and in Europe, winning numerous awards.
Michelle Heinz, from New York City, exhibits a fresh series of thickly painted phrases on pre-made canvases titled, “Slogans.” Social media platforms such as Facebook & Twitter have become arenas of free exchange where “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” meets the age of “Digital Reproduction.” The short phrase or poetic utterance has become visible. Drawing from a broad range of influences such as art history, philosophy, pop culture, and social networking, these works are experiments in freeing painting from certain stylistic restrictions and taking it somewhere closer to drawing.
Asheville, NC artist Holden McCurry studied art at Birmingham Southern College, architecture at Auburn University, and ceramics at The Penland School of Crafts. His works are sold in various galleries, fine gift shops and art expositions throughout the US. He combines both terra-stone and white clays with custom tinted glazes to achieve rich color and textural surfaces. His current work “New Growth” is focused on organic imagery, the young life of a plant while realizing the older decaying plant can be just as beautiful. It is constructed from a variety of clay hand building techniques and each is finished with a variety of glazing techniques. Holden states, “The new and the old and the many stages in between give an artist a lifetime of limitless possibilities.”
Storytelling is a significant aspect of Trena McNabb’s work. “Each painting is actually a connected series of smaller paintings telling a story that deepens the longer one studies the piece.” Her work “Transparent Imagery” can be described as a transparent, painted collage with the overlays forming a kaleidoscope of colors as images overlap one another and depict the multitude of flora, fauna, foods and landscapes which are all aspects of our earth
In addition to the professional exhibitions, Waterworks will feature a selection of work in a solo exhibition from this year’s Dare to Imagine award winner, R. Dean Crouch. Now in its eighth year, Dare to Imagine award is given in recognition of the importance of art in the life of our community and to a graduating senior whose work most exemplifies the creative potential of the human spirit, heart, and hand. This $1,000 award is made possible by a gift from Susan and Edward Norvell.
Please join Waterworks in welcoming these artists at the public Opening Reception on Friday, May 27 from 6-8 pm. This event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.
Waterworks Visual Arts Center is located at 123 East Liberty Street in the East Square Cultural Arts District of historic downtown Salisbury, NC. We are located one block from the Amtrak Train Station. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10-5; Tuesday, Thursday, 10-7, and Saturday 11-3. For more information, please call 704-636-1882 or visit