THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200108
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: TERESA ANNAS
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
AFTER 11 months in his position, James Warwick Jones has resigned as executive director of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News.
Jones, an artist and a Hampton native, has been associated with the center for three decades and has been a staff member since 1979. His resignation is effective Feb. 10.
``When they offered me the position'' last year, he said, ``I took it reluctantly. It was never my ambition to be director. I'm more of an Indian than a chief.''
The board is launching a national search for his replacement; an ad will appear in the February issue of Adviso, an American Association of Museums publication, and in the region's newspapers.
Jones, 48, handed the board his resignation earlier this month, along with his hopes that a less administrative job might be created for him, such as the deputy director position he previously held.
He entered the field because he enjoyed working directly with the art. As he moved from the education department to curatorial to the director's office, he said last week, ``I've moved further and further from the art.''
It's a tough time for the center, which has a $30,000 deficit and a $380,000 annual budget. Adding to the fiscal concerns is Gov. George F. Allen's recent proposal to cut in half funding for 30 museums.
If the budget amendment is passed, PFAC would lose $80,000 for 1995-96, a circumstance Jones called ``pretty dismal.''
But that's not why Jones is leaving, he said. Besides wanting to work more closely with the art, ``I'm really missing my own painting.''
Trish Pfeifer of Portsmouth, the center's development director, also is leaving after less than a year in her position for personal reasons.
``I'm leaving as soon as we can get my replacement,'' said Pfeifer, who took the job in early summer.
In the aftermath of three recent deaths in her family and after more than a decade of life-consuming work for nonprofit organizations, she's taking a break. ``I need to renew my energy and enthusiasm for challenging work,'' she said.
Meanwhile, the center opened a new series of exhibitions on Saturday. Called ``Art as Invocation,'' the series divides into four smaller exhibits, each with themes related to art and healing.
``Ex Voto'' is a show of autobiographical art that touches on child abuse with works by Jane Orleman, Robert Eads, Ruthann Godollei and Cate Fitt. ``No Fairy Tales'' features book art by Anne Iott of Virginia Beach.
``Crossing'' consists of charcoal drawings by Karen Shea that utilize the cross and flowers as symbols in mourning the loss of a friend to cancer. The fourth exhibit, ``The Healing Machines of Emory Blagdon,'' is an installation of electromagnetic devices concocted by a now-deceased Nebraska folk artist for use in healing.
Deadline is Monday to register to attend a slide lecture on ``survivor art'' by Linda McGreevy, a Norfolk-based art critic. At 4 p.m. Feb. 2, she will discuss art made by people who have suffered in concentration camps or from other dire conditions, and look at how art can be a means for personal healing and for communication of traumatic events to a wider public. Admission is $8, $5 for members and public school faculty.
At 1 p.m. Feb. 11: Spectrum Puppets will present ``Knock, Knock, Who's There?'' - a puppet show that teaches children how to recognize sexual misconduct and what to do.
At 10 a.m. Feb. 18: Virginia Beach mixed media artist Lynne Sward will create a participatory installation at the center. The public is invited to bring personally meaningful objects to include in the ritualistic exhibit. At 1 p.m., Darrell Rose will present a performance of ``African healing drums.''
All events, aside from the lecture, are free and open to the public. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is at 101 Museum Drive, Newport News. Call 596-8175 for information. FREE ON SUNDAY
This month only, The Mariners' Museum is offering free museum admission on Sundays.
Visitors may tour the museum's 14 galleries, including the special exhibition ``Antonio Jacobsen's Painted Ships on Painted Oceans.'' Jacobsen was among America's foremost ship portraitists, and painted thousands of sail and steam vessels from 1873 to 1919.
Other times, museum admission is $6.50 for adults, $3.25 for ages 6 to 12. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The museum is at 100 Museum Drive, Newport News. Call 596-2222. UNTAMED ART
The 14th annual Wildlife Arts Festival takes place next weekend at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.
About 50 East Coast artists will display, demonstrate and sell artwork with the theme of North American wildlife. On view will be realistic paintings, carvings, photography, sculpture and taxidermy. A raffle and silent auction also will benefit the nonprofit museum.
Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, until 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3, $2 for museum members; free for ages 12 and younger. The museum is at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Call 595-1900. ILLUSTRATION: ``Crossing'' consists of drawings by Karen Shea that use the
cross and flowers as symbols in mourning the loss of a friend to
cancer.
by CNB