Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505180023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PULASKI - Three African-American artists have work on display at the Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley through May 25, in an exhibit called "Bridges."
Liani Foster, Barbara Tyson Mosley and Robert Graham explained some of the influences behind their work at a Radford University class where the show was exhibited before being brought to the Pulaski location at 21 W. Main St.
Foster said all three artists were products of the late 1960s or early 1970s and "a lot of our art depicts decidedly African themes, African-influenced jazz, or a 'Tribute to Malcolm.'"
Foster uses mixed media and fiber collages, Mosley uses mixed media on paper, and Graham uses heavily applied oil to create earth-tone surfaces influenced by Islamic mosaics. Graham calls his paintings "a socio-psychological journey of re-discovery and re-evaluation of my 20 years in Chicago."
"It's that you see things on a different level," Mosley said. "Being an artist is part of you. It's always there."
The Radford course on forms of human expression was taught by Bruce Mahin, Paul Witkowsky and Halide Salam, who curated the exhibit.
"We wanted to expose students to issues away from the textbook where we look at categories," Salam said. "Artists deal with their own experiences, so there are certain cultural influences, but why do we have to be known by race or other contrived categories? Instead, people should be known by their wisdom and what they contribute and who they are."
Tourism group sets spring banquet
RADFORD - The New River Valley Hosts, a nonprofit tourism development organization, will have its first annual spring banquet May 24. The group is preparing to open and staff a Visitor Center for the New River Valley and has published "Guide to the New River Valley." The banquet is open to members and non-members.
The dinner will feature a short presentation on tourism development. The speaker is Spanker Macher, a restaurant developer and owner of the Star City Diner in Roanoke.
Those attending the banquet are encouraged to dress as tourists. Door prizes will be given to the best-dressed tourist.
Cost of the dinner is $15, with a cash bar preceding the dinner. For reservations call Charlie Whitescarver at the Norwood Center at 633-2726. The dinner will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Norwood Center, 1115 Norwood St.
Inclusion workshop
CHRISTIANSBURG - The Parent Resource Center of Montgomery County is presenting a free workshop entitled "Inclusion in the Schools: What is it? How does it work?"
Montgomery County has received national attention because of its inclusive school system and its approach to the education of students with disabilities. The program is designed to answer questions parents and citizens may have about inclusion.
The program will be in the vocational wing of Christiansburg High School on Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information and to register, call the Parent Resource Center at 951-5753.
Internet class
DUBLIN - Students interested in learning about the information superhighway can register for "Traveling the Internet," a class being offered by New River Community College.
The class will be taught by Kurt Lew, associate professor of data processing. It will include a brief history of the Internet, basic etiquette and general aspects of the Internet's abilities without favoring one type of interface over another.
Classes will meet on Saturdays, May 27, June 3, 10, 17 and 24, 9 a.m.-noon. Tuition is $65.
For information and registration, call the Office of Admissions at 674-3603 or any one of the toll-free numbers in the New River Valley using ext. 603: 921-4595, 382-4595, 731-4595 or 745-4595.
by CNB