Loose Leaf Notes

The following is a slightly different version of what appeared in The Floyd Press newspaper on February 14, 2013.

A reception for a new show, New Voice: Young Innovation, was held at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts last Saturday.

With the intention of showcasing emerging artists and providing the community with fresh inspiration, the show features the art of twelve local artists who have achieved a bachelor’s degree or higher in art, and/or are currently working professionally in the art field. The above posted photo is a self-portrait by owner of Floyd Tattoo and Arts Gallery, David Wicks.

From bold to subtle, from striking to warm-toned and inviting, the show offers a variety of unique work, which will be on display through March 16^th.  Show artists featured are Lore Deighan, Julie Hawkins (pictured with her work above), Sidra Kaluszka, Jason Lancaster, Aislinn Lowry, Nick Millinazzo, Erika Ogier, Nathan Popp, Aven Tanner, Shaun Whiteside, David Wicks and Megan Zalecki.

Here is a group of show attendees viewing the mixed-media artwork of Aven Tanner. Tanner is an art teacher for the Floyd County School system.

Show artist Lore Deighan talks to an attendee about her art. Notice how part of the painting shown has more than one surface level and the inside painting seems to emerge from within the outer painting.  As the  Center’s Hayloft Gallery Chair, Deighan helped organize the show. She also teaches art at Floyd’s Blue Mountain School.

A display of ceramic pots by Sidra Kaluska is offset by the life-sized paintings of Jason Lancaster. Kaulska, who works at the Center, also has some of her paintings exhibited.

Here’s a peak of a painting by Megan Zalecki.  Megan received her BFA in painting from Radford University and currently interns at a Virginia gallery and writes for the Richmond Arts Review.

A dance performance by Katie Wells was also featured at the reception, providing attendees with a further artistic experience. Dubbed as a Snake Dance, Wells’ performance incorporated two chairs and spontaneous improv movement that captivated a crowd of onlookers.  More photos of Katie dancing are  HERE. 

This is just a small sampling of the young innovation on exhibit at the Jacksonville Center and should be seen to be fully appreciated.  HERE is an in-depth 2010 story I did on the Jacksonville Center as a community hub that has adapted to the economic times.  And HERE is the story I did for the paper on The Portrait of Floyd, one of the center’s yearly curated shows.

Shadow Shots   Our World Tuesday