Explorations 2005 MECC’s Arts E-Zine The originality, creativity, technical skill, and enormous artistic vitality represented in these pages are something to be proud of. We hope that everyone will enjoy and appreciate the talents displayed. We especially want to thank all the students and alumni who entered the competition, and all of the people on campus in Student Services, the Wampler Library, and the staff of the Public Relations office who make this competition and the publication possible. WELCOME to Explorations, Mountain Empire Community College’s student arts publication. Current and former students were invited to submit work in the categories of poetry, short stories, personal essays, black and white photography, color photography, drawing and painting. The materials recognized by our judges in each category are featured. Photography MORRIS BURCHETTE, owner of Burchette Photography in Norton, became interested in photography when he was nine years old and has been in business in Norton for 54 years. A long- standing member of the Professional Photographers of America, he has won many awards of his own, including the prestigious Master of Photography degree from that organization. Poetry RICHARD HAGUE, now retired from public school teaching in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the author of five full-length poetry collections, including Possible Debris, from the Cleveland State Poetry Center, and Milltown Natural: Essays and Stories from a Life, from Bottom Dog Press, which was a finalist for Association Writing Programs Award in Creative Nonfiction and nominated for the National Book Award. Short Story TAMARA BAXTER teaches at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tennessee. A teacher of creative writing and literature, she is also one of the faculty sponsors of their student literary magazine. Her short stories have been widely published and she has received honors and awards for her writing, including a nomination for a Pushcart Prize. Personal Essay FELICIA MITCHELL is a professor of English and Director of the Writing Center at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia. In addition to publishing scholarly works relating to the teaching of writing, Dr. Mitchell is the editor of Words and Quilts, a book of poems and quilt art reproductions, and an anthology of interviews and critical pieces on regional women writers called Her Words: Diverse Voices in Contemporary Appalachian Women’s Poetry. Drawing & Painting SUZANNE ADAMS RAMSEY is an Association Professor of Art and Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Holding advanced degrees from Radford University and Norwich University, Ramsey has a background in commercial illustration and landscape painting. Faculty Sponsors Rita Quillen Alice Harrington Bill Harris 2 About the Contestants: Bonnie Aker teaches earth science at J.J. Kelly High School and is an avid photographer. Kathleen Anderson, a 2002 MECC graduate, is a student at Virginia Commonwealth’s School of the Arts. Adam Barnette is a computer software specialist major and artist who specializes in portraits. Jeanie Brehl participated in the fall 2004 Creative Writing class in Gate City. She is the program manager for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities. Crystal M. Cox from Scott County is in the pre-nursing program. Barbara Dockery of Gate City is a photographer and singer-songwriter, as well as a writer. Anthony Duncan graduated from MECC in 2004 with a degree in Graphic Design and General Studies. Steven L. Elkins is currently enrolled at MECC, studying to become a special education teacher. John Foster, a resident of Fort Blackmore, is majoring in General Studies and hopes to be a profes- sional writer some day. Stuart Hale lives in Fort Blackmore. Tanya Hale lives in Fort Blackmore. Neva Hamilton, a graduate of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, is a writer and project manager with The Corporate Image, a public relations firm in Bristol, TN, a columnist for The Coalfield Progress, and the winner of many different writing awards. She was also a member of the fall Creative Writing class in Gate City. William K. Howle retired from a career in marketing and sales at Eastman Chemical Co. in King- sport. Keaton Lawson is an art major at MECC. Sharyn Martin of Kingsport is retired from a career in broadcasting and was also a member of the fall 2004 Gate City Creative Writing class. Josh Moore is a MECC alumnus currently attending the University of Virginia at Wise where he is majoring in Elementary Education. Angie Orndorff is a senior at Powell Valley High School enrolled in MECC dual-enrollment courses. She plans to attend a four-year college and major in art. Kathy Roberts has been drawing as a hobby since the age of 16. She attended MECC and now lives in Kingsport. Jenny Salyers is a MECC graduate currently working as a freelance artist. Carolyn Scalf lives in Nickelsville. Scott Silcox lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, working as an artist and interior decorator. Dana Thacker, past winner of several writing contests at J.J. Kelly High School, is a MECC student majoring in Elementary Education. Teresa Ward, a 1977 graduate of MECC, retired from her career as a school librarian and now has plenty of time to write. She is currently involved in a children’s book project with Fildlar Doubleday. Neka Wilson is MECC’s Graphic Designer and one of the sponsors of the campus photography club, the Hot Shots. 3 Table of Contents Color Photography 1st Place - Tanya Hale - “Percussion of Attitude” ..................................................... 5 2nd Place - Carolyn Scalf - “Can You see the Deer?” .................................................. 6 3rd Place - Carolyn Scalf - “Days Gone By” . 7 Honorable Mention Bonnie Aker - “Patio” ........................................................................ 8 Anthony Duncan - “The Long Face” ............................................................ 9 Josh Moore - “Ripleys” ...................................................................... 10 Tanya Hale - “Awaiting Grace”. 11 Black and White Photography 1st Place - Neka Wilson - “The Connection” ........................................................ 12 2nd Place - Neka Wilson - “Fallon” . 13 3rd Place - Stuart Hale - “Refreshment” ............................................................ 14 Honorable Mention Tanya Hale - “Where are The Children”. 15 Neka Wilson - “Sweetness” ................................................................... 16 Poetry 1st Place - Neva Hamilton - “Husband” ............................................................ 17 2nd Place - Neva Hamilton - “Fickle Memory” . 18 3rd Place - Jeanie Brehl - “Ash Wednesday on the Farm”. 19-21 Honorable Mention Dana Thacker - “Sunday School” ............................................................. 22 Bill Howell - “Salute”. 23 Teresa Ward - “For the Buffalo” ............................................................... 24 Short Story 1st Place - Jeanie Brehl - “Ticktown Tales” . 25-29 2nd Place - Sharyn Martin - “Summer of ‘55” .................................................... 30-33 3rd Place - Barbara Dockery - “The Voodoo Factor” .............................................. 34-36 Honorable Mention Dana Thacker - “We’re Having a Baby” ..................................................... 37-42 Essay 1st Place - John Foster - “Captain John” ......................................................... 43-44 2nd Place - Jeanie Brehl - “The Grande Dame of Mt. Washington” .................................. 45-49 3rd Place - Sharyn Martin - “Orange Crush and Drunken Pigs” .................................... 50-54 Honorable Mention Barbara Dockery - “i (understood)” ........................................................ 55-57 Painting 1st Place - Scott Silcox - “Mask, Sunstroke, The Return” .............................................. 58 2nd Place - Jenny Salyers - “Blue Venice” ........................................................... 59 3rd Place - Adam Barnette - “Exotic Birds” ......................................................... 60 Honorable Mention Crystal Cox- “Sounds Hawaiian”. 61 Kathy Roberts - “Lighthouse” ................................................................ 62 Drawing 1st Place - Jenny Salyers - “It’s a Long Road Ahead” . 63 2nd Place -Angie Orndorff - “Tractor” ............................................................ 64 3rd Place - Angie Orndorff - “Butterfly”. 65 Honorable Mention Keaton Lawson - “Chaos/Kay-oss/K-oss” ...................................................... 66 Kathleen Anderson - “Italian Made” ........................................................... 67 Steven Elkins - “Under the Lamp”. 68 4 Color Photography 1st Place Tanya Hale Percussion of Attitude 5 Color Photography 2nd Place Carolyn Scalf Can You See the Deer? 6 Color Photography 3rd Place Carolyn Scalf Days Gone By 7 Color Photography Honorable Mention Bonnie Aker Patio 8 Color Photography Honorable Mention Anthony Duncan The Long Face 9 Color Photography Honorable Mention Josh Moore Ripleys 10 Color Photography Honorable Mention Tanya Hale Awaiting Grace 11 Black and White Photography 1st Place Neka Wilson The Connection 12 Black and White Photography 2nd Place Neka Wilson Fallon 13 Black and White Photography 3rd Place Stuart Hale Refreshment 14 Black and White Photography Honorable Mention Tanya Hale Where are The Children 15 Black and White Photography Honorable Mention Neka Wilson Sweetness 16 Poetry 1st Place Neva