THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501260571
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN RIDDLE, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
IN A FEW DAYS, more than 140 artists will leave the solitude and security of their studios to carry a piece of their work to The Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head.
For 17 years, this ritual has been repeated every January, providing a true showcase of what these creators have been up to in a year's time. And in a collective spirit of sharing the works are hung, ceiling to floor, corner to corner, revealing the growth, direction, experiences, and emotions of those folks. Quilts tell stories, fish swim across watery batiks, colored pencil roots undulate, stuffed pinochios laugh at obvious lies, calligraphic prose touches the soul, while smiling photographic children warm the heart.
There is something for everyone to ponder, to view. It's called the annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. It opens to the public Sunday, Feb. 5, and continues through Feb. 24.
Artists young and old, at all levels of development, are able to showcase their work in a judgment-free format. Each individual is assured that at least one of two pieces will be included in the show. This rare format has received an open arms policy among artists, especially those who feel art is too personal to be judged.
Linda Ritchie Crassons has been participating in the annual event since its inception. She remembers carrying her work to the Manteo public library in the early years. The FSMAS, sponsored by the Dare County Arts Council, has been good to the Roanoke Island artist. Crassons has won many awards for her drawings and has sold work. She's happy that everyone gets to be in the show.
``I think it's good because all the judges have different opinions and I like to see at least one piece from everybody who has taken the time and the trouble. And I think it's discouraging to be totally told that we don't want you in the show,'' she said.
While two judges are utilized to determine which of the two works submitted will hang, artists always have the choice to submit only one, ensuring that their choice will be viewed.
Judges also award monetary prizes and may choose the second piece, space permitting.
Jurors are selected with diversity in mind. Those chosen are practicing artists. Committee members look for an individual whose work is abstract, and one who works in a realistic style. The goal is to have an artist who works in three dimensions and one who produces two dimensional work.
So each year, hundreds of viewers flock to the Nags Head Gallery to see the work, and also the people behind the work. For many, it is the only time they camaraderie.
Painter James Melvin from Kitty Hawk appreciates the opportunity.
``It's a great contribution to the community and a chance especially for artists to showcase our work.''
Melvin, who has been participating for 12 years, won't say what he's submitting this year. He's known for his cottage scapes, but this year's work will be a departure from the usual. ``It will be a mystery,'' he said.
Melvin, who teaches art to area youth, also likes the show's unusual format. ``I think it will generate more interest in the arts by doing that, and I think we should keep doing that as long as we can,'' he said. Although Melvin has won many awards and received commissions from the show, he has other reasons for participating.
``I do it because I like the idea of sharing, for the comradery, not the financial gain,'' he said.
Photographer Vanessa Foreman is excited about showing her work for the first time. While Foreman has had many pictures published in the local paper, this will be the first time in her 17 years as a photographer that her work will hang framed in a gallery.
``I've never had anything on display,'' says Foreman. When she walks by the striking black and white portrait of her son Stuart that she plans on submitting, she gets butterflies in her stomach. ``I envision in my mind people standing there and looking at my stuff. That's why I get butterflies. I'm so excited,'' she said.
It is not only artists that reflect the shows community spirit. Show co-chair Kadra Bradford says community involvement is high. ``It's amazing to me how many businesses really get involved with this, donating either money, rooms or services like printing the invitations, the call for entries. Everybody comes out for it and does what they can for it,'' she said. ``A lot of different restaurants donate whatever we ask for. It should be quite elegant this year with all the desserts,'' she said.
This year's invitation-only preview for artists, Dare County Arts Council members and show supporters, will be held the night before the opening. The artists' reception will feature dessert creations from many area chefs.
Viewers will not only revel in visual art, but culinary as they nibble on lemon zest and chocolate-Kahlua cheesecakes, chocolate ganache cake, napoleons, bourbon nut pie and vanilla-almond cakes. And they can toast to art with either champagne, bottled water or hot coffee.
Artists and community members will also toast the show's namesake, legendary commercial illustrator, painter, sculptor and wildlife artist Frank Stick.
Glenn Eure promises that a ``very interesting painting'' of Stick's will be on display. Stick, whose work has been published in the Saturday Evening Post, Ladies Home Journal, Harper'ss, Field and Stream and more, was an important Outer Banks figure. Not only an accomplished artist, Stick was also known as a pioneer conservationist, developer, writer, scientist, and philanthropist.
It is fitting that the Frank Stick Memorial Art Show be a celebration of diversity.
``It is certainly an opportunity to do that,'' said co-chair Denise Carrico. ``This is truly an artist's community. We just don't have many opportunities to see how many artists are working and living here. The show celebrates the fact that we are all creating. It's all cause for celebration.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color on the Cover]
Color illustrations
The Herons by Frank Stick
The Dorymen by Frank Stick
Color photo
The show is at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery on Gallery Row,
milepost 10, Nags Head
by CNB