of the Longleaf Pine award, conferred same scintillating effect in his oils, mak- by the governor to NC citizens for their ing him truly a master of both mediums. UNC Chapel Hill - Hofmann proven record of service to the state. Wright’s work has been shown in galler- William C. Wright has been a profes- ies throughout the , as well as continued from Page 38 sional painter for almost thirty years. An many national competitions, and his work accomplished watercolorist, his paint- has appeared in numerous books and feature two from the private collections of UNC- ings are internationally known for their magazine articles. He is also the author of Chapel Hill alumnae. brilliant color, unique perspective, and his own watercolor book, “Make Your Wa- Walls of Color is presented at the Ack- exceptional use of light. Working in the tercolors Shine”, and is a signature member land with support from the Renate, Hans traditional watercolor method of layering of the American Watercolor Society, NY, and Maria Hofmann Trust, John and Mar- transparent washes on paper, and pro- the Baltimore Watercolor Society, Balti- ree Townsend, the Fenwick Foundation, gressing from light to dark, he infuses his more, MD, and the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air and gifts made in honor of the Ackland paintings with a radiant glow that illumi- Painters Association, Annapolis, MD. Docent Program. nates his scenes with an almost shimmer- For further information check our NC A scholarly catalogue for the exhibi- ing quality. By working on gessoed panels Commercial Gallery listings, call the tion - including a foreword from the and utilizing a glazing technique with gallery at 919/828-3165 or visit (www. Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust Maroger medium, he is able to achieve the galleryc.net). and essays by Kenneth Silver, Bruce Museum Adjunct Curator and University Professor of Modern Art, and Mary McLeod, Professor at the Gradu- Some Exhibits That Are Still On View ate School of Architecture, Planning and Our policy at Carolina Arts is to pres- Preservation, Columbia University - will ent a press release about an exhibit only be available for purchase at the Ackland once and then go on, but many major ex- Museum Store. hibits are on view for months. This is our The Ackland Art Museum collects, pre- effort to remind you of some of them. serves, and presents great art to educate, inspire, and engage the university and its regional, national, and international audi- ences in free and open inquiry. The Ackland Art Museum was founded through the bequest of William Hayes Ackland (1855-1940) to The University of at Chapel Hill. The “After Hurricane Hazel”, by Eugene Healan Ackland Trust provided the funds to con- Thomason, from the Johnson Collection struct the museum building, and that trust continues to provide for the purchase of The Mint Museum Uptown in Char- works of art. lotte, NC, is presenting New York to Nebo: Mr. Ackland, a native of Nashville, The Artistic Journey of Eugene Thoma- Tennessee, graduated from Nashville son, on view through Mar. 27, 2016. The University and received a law degree from exhibition is the first retrospective of artist Vanderbilt University. In 1936, although Eugene Thomason’s work in more than a not a collector himself, he took steps to generation and a rare opportunity to see establish a museum at a southern univer- his art owned by The Johnson Collection, “Mural Fragment (Chimbote)”, by Hans Hof- a private collection of southern American sity. As the words of his tomb suggest, “he mann, 1950. Oil on panel mounted on board, William Halsey (1915-1999) Stylish Economical wanted the people of his native South to 83” x 35-¾”. Photograph by Doug Young. Dinolite Rosewood, 1989 art, based in Spartanburg, SC. Thomason know and love the fine arts.” He was also For further information check our is a Charlotte native who, after training in concerned that the museum be connected NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the The Greenville County Museum of Art New York at the Art Students League and with a “great university” with existing Museum at 919/966-5736 or visit (www. in Greenville, SC, is presenting sev- with urban realist George Luks, returned cultural interests. ackland.org). eral new exhibitions including: William to his home state in the early 1930s and Halsey: Full Fathom Flotsam, on view became known for his colorful, powerful- through Feb. 14, 2016. Inspired by his na- ly-painted portraits and landscapes. When tive Charleston’s timeworn and weathered The Mint Museum opened its doors in Litmus Gallery & Studios in Raleigh, buildings, noted artist and educator Wil- 1936, Thomason was perhaps the most liam Halsey replicated the centuries-old significant artist working in Charlotte and NC, Features Works by Molly Chopin, façades by sculpting discarded fragments one of the region’s strongest advocates for variously into elegantly sparse bas reliefs contemporary art. For further information encrusted with layers of paint and debris, check our NC Institutional Gallery list- Mike Slobot, and Daniel Laffey making his most advanced contributions ings, call the Museum at 704/337-2000 or Litmus Gallery & Studios in Raleigh, realities, in particular focusing on the power to late 20th-century American art. William visit (www.mintmuseum.org). NC, will present Spectrum: Light, Robots & of light and color to summon comfort in Halsey: Full Fathom Flotsam, conceived Contrast, featuring works by Molly Chopin, worlds that are real or imaginary. in honor of the centennial of the artist’s Mike Slobot, and Daniel Laffey, on view Robots: Mike Slobot makes robot sculp- birth year, brings together the largest from Feb. 5 - 25, 2016. A reception will be tures and paintings that come with stories group of Halsey’s assemblages ever ex- held on Feb. 5, from 6-9pm. on the human condition such as searching hibited. For further information check our The exhibition brings together an eclectic for jobs, love, or meaning, all the way to SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the mixture of art from three talented artists search and rescue or health and healing Museum at 864/271-7570 or visit (www. with an exciting show that includes body themes. gcma.org). painting, performance, and fine art. During Contrast: Daniel Laffey paints images the reception on Feb. 5, a live body paint- that uses landscape and seascape as the ing demonstration will begin at 6:30pm, basis for what is portrayed and his use of followed by a live acoustic performance at color is endless in the way that there is no 7:30 by Dream Emissary, a duo featuring boundary in regard to what you can see in a William Edward Bloomfield Starkweather (1879-1969), “Late Afternoon Light”, oil on bodypaint model Sara Bloo and her musical changing climate or area. canvas, Gift of the artist, 1954.15.1. partner Jeremy Lewis. For further information check our NC Light: Molly Chopin creates art that she Commercial Gallery listings, call the Hickory Museum of Art in Hickory, feels resonates with the human tendency to gallery at 919/571-3605 or visit (www. NC, is presenting Collecting Starkweath- seek distraction and relief from unpleasant litmusgallery.com). er: Then & Now, featuring new and old acquisitions, as well as correspondence from Starkweather to Paul Whitener, HMA’s founder and first director, on view Gallery C in Raleigh, NC, Offers Works in the Whitener Gallery, through Aug. 14, 2016. Whitener collected nine of Stark- by Watson Brown & William C. Wright weather’s paintings during his tenure, Work by James Williams most of which were gifts from the artist. Gallery C in Raleigh, NC, is present- HMA has recently collected eight more of ing two exhibits including: Backroads, the Greenhill in Greensboro, NC, is Starkweather’s paintings, which were gifts down-East photography of Watson Brown, presenting It’s All About the Hue, featur- from collector and Starkweather expert on view through Feb. 10, 2016, and Origi- ing works by Donald Martiny, Carolyn Peter Falotico. Starkweather was born as nal Oils and Watercolors by William C. Nelson, Margie Stewart and James Wil- William Bloomfield in Belfast, Ireland. Wright, on view from Feb. 1 - 29, 2016. A liams, on view through Mar. 24, 2016. According to Falotico, Starkweather came reception will be held for Wright on Feb. The exhibition features the work of four to America with his mother and settled 5, from 6-9pm. artists who explore color and gesture in in Connecticut following the death of his Photographer Watson Brown travels works that utilize variations of hue to father, Edward. Starkweather’s mother the back roads of eastern North Carolina ravish the eye. Whether through building reportedly died not long after arriving searching for historic buildings, houses, up transparent layers or creating saturated in America, which led to his adoption Work by Watson Brown landscapes, people, and townscapes - zones of pigment, these artists investigate by John and Hannah Starkweather of scenes from another time, and especially goal is to leave a legacy of these images the evocative power of color in works that Winchester, CT. Starkweather spent much those that may be soon lost to the passage for future generations so that they may include still life paintings, textile compo- of his life creating and learning about art of time. Through the use of light, shad- know how life was lived “down east” in sitions, wall reliefs and abstract cartog- – studying painting in New York, France, ows, textures, and unique overlays, Brown the early 20th century. raphies. For further information check Spain and Italy. For further information has developed his own unique artform, In 2015, to honor his archival pho- our NC Institutional Gallery listing, call check our NC Institutional Gallery list- creating haunting images that evoke tographic project as well as his work in 336/333-7460 or visit (www.Greenhillnc. ings, call the Museum at 828/327-8576 or long-forgotten memories and moods while historic preservation, and city planning, org). visit (www.HickoryArt.org). producing photographs that are often mis- Brown was awarded the prestigious Order You can contact us by calling 843.693.1306. taken for antique paintings. His ultimate continued above on next column to the right Table of Contents Carolina Arts, February 2016 - Page 39