THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411040108
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: TERESA ANNAS
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
NORFOLK ARTIST Maizelle Brown has spent much of the past year organizing a show of work by her sister artists.
``I'm sure it's not the first meeting of African-American women artists'' in this area, said Brown. But these are all people she knows and admires. ``And everybody got excited, and got me excited.''
The show opens today at Alive Art Studio in downtown Norfolk, where it remains on view through Dec. 17, perhaps longer. The artists plan to attend the free, public reception from 2 to 6 p.m.
Among the exhibitors are well-known regional artists Persis Jennings, Deborah Small and Betty Jo Woodhouse.
``I feel like I'm reaching a creative climax,'' exulted Brown. ``Everybody's been so cooperative. It gave me all this energy to work hard to make this show presentable.''
Alive Art Studio, at 737 Granby St., is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free admission. Call 622-7645. HE SAYS, SHE SAYS
Today in Williamsburg, top folk art collectors Michael Hall and Julie Hall will talk about various ways to look at unschooled art.
Each will speak at Hennage Auditorium in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Gallery on Francis Street, near Merchants Square. A touring show of 150 works from their collection is on view through Jan. 2 at the nearby Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center.
At 2:30 p.m., Michael Hall, a critic, sculptor and teacher, will discuss folk art from what he calls ``a layered perspective.''
At 3:15 p.m., his ex-wife Julie will discuss how European ideas about primitive art had an impact on her collecting. She is author of the 1977 book ``Tradition and Change: The New American Craftsman.''
The folk art center is on South England Street, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For program information, call 1-220-7698.
An $8 museums ticket will admit one to the lecture and the folk art center, plus Bassett Hall. Other passes are available. Call 1-220-7645 or 1-800-HISTORY. FREE SPEECH
Three free slide lectures are scheduled for this week.
Neal Benezra, chief curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., will speak Wednesday in Norfolk on the provocative contemporary sculptor Bruce Nauman, subject of a show he co-curated in 1993.
Benezra was last noticed in the area two years ago, when he judged the Peninsula Fine Arts Center's annual juried show. The works he chose leaned toward formalism and a geometric structure.
He speaks at 10:30 a.m. at The Chrysler Museum, 245 W. Olney Road. Come at 10 a.m. for pre-talk coffee. Sponsored by Norfolk Society of Arts. Free. 664-6200.
Norfolk artist Lorraine Fink will give a slide lecture Monday at 7 p.m. at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. She will speak on ``Self-Adorned: The Highlanders of New Guinea'' in room 107 of the Fine and Performing Arts Center, 49th Street and Elkhorn Avenue.
The slides will feature her photography of sculptures along the Sepik as well as the body adornment of the Highlands birdmen. Fink's color photographs of Highlanders at an annual tribe gathering are on view through Nov. 20 on the first floor of ODU's visual arts building; a second floor show features monoprints from her ``Wingless Bird'' series.
Fink has been exhibited in most of the region's museums, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Her previous slide lectures have featured her travels to India, Nepal, Egypt, Israel, Africa and China. Call 683-4047 for more information.
African expert and wildlife photographer David Keith Jones will give a slide talk Thursday at 11 a.m. at Virginia Wesleyan College's Blocker Science Auditorium.
Jones is an associate of the British Institute of Professional Photography and a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a high distinction. His presentation, ``Shepherds of the Desert,'' has been described as providing ``moving and thought-provoking insight into the dramatic lifestyle of the nomads who live in Africa's semi-deserts.''
An advocate for wildlife conservation, Jones has been an active member of the East African Wild Life Society since 1968 and is the society's United Kingdom representative.
Though his talk is free, reservations are requested; call 455-3200. RICHMOND CRAFT SHOW
The 30th annual Hand Workshop Craft and Design Show takes place Friday through Sunday in downtown Richmond.
Two hundred of America's top craft artists will display all manner of original work - jewelry, furniture, clay sculpture and functional pieces, metalware, handbags, wearables and more. Many of the artists scheduled to exhibit are new to the show.
This is typically a high-quality exhibit as well as a selling show. You'll find items at every price range, from $5 to $5,000 or more.
It's at Richmond Centre, 5th and Marshall streets. From Hampton Roads, take the 5th Street exit off Interstate 64 in Richmond. Hours are Friday, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is $5; a weekend pass is $7; discounts available. No charge for ages 12 and younger. The show is organized by Hand Workshop, the state's center for craft arts. Call 1-353-0094 for more information. AT YOUR BIDDING
Two art auctions are scheduled this week.
Thursday at 7 p.m., the Easter Seal Society of Virginia will auction off a queen-size handcrafted ``Celebrity Quilt,'' made by the Tidewater Quilters Guild, at La Galleria Ristorante in downtown Norfolk. The quilt features the Easter Seal lily design.
Other original artworks also will be auctioned, as well as donations from area businesses. Proceeds will benefit persons in Hampton Roads with disabilities. Tickets are $15. Call 468-3140.
The Gomley Chesed Congregation's 8th annual art auction takes place Saturday night at the Gomley Chesed Synagogue, 3110 Sterling Point Drive, Portsmouth. At 7:30 p.m., there will be an exhibition of works to be auctioned, along with champagne, hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. The auction starts at 8:30 p.m.
A $5 donation is suggested. Call 484-1019 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
``Lynx,'' a sculpture by Felipe Archuleta, is on view at the Abby
Aldrich Folk Art Center.
by CNB