THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505120057
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
BANKING ON the notion that art draws a crowd, Pembroke Mall shopping center has turned an unrented store into a gallery featuring local artists.
Tonight from 6 to 9, the large space that last housed a Lillian Vernon outlet will be the site for a public reception at Visions Gallery.
``This is such a great opportunity,'' said Virginia Beach artist James Sides, who is helping to coordinate the project. ``It's free. It's hard to argue with free.''
Mall officials are not charging the artists for use of the space, he said.
Sides also is included in the first exhibit. He will exhibit more than 30 sculptures, including relief forms made from resin-coated foam with a faux stone surface. He also will show his more whimsical ``machinery'' sculptures - ``outrageous machines that go around and around and do all kinds of goofy things,'' he said.
He will share the gallery with Bruce Bingham, a highly skilled naturalistic painter. Among her recent works is a quirky, provocative series of a nude woman with an Oriental rug. She also will exhibit a collection of icons.
``We're trying to make Pembroke Mall a little more entertaining,'' said Buck Dunn, the mall's marketing director. ``And we feel the arts fit in with our mission statement.''
The show will remain on view through June 15. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Call Sides at 491-0060 for more information.
Another art opening takes place tonight, but the tone of the affair should be slightly different.
From 5 to 7 p.m. at The Heritage Center in Virginia Beach, painter Nanette Crist Johnson will unveil her portrait of Ra-Ta, the Egyptian sun god.
Tom Johnson, owner of The Heritage, commissioned the well-known clairvoyant and visionary artist to paint Ra-Ta. Months later, Ra-Ta appeared before the artist and lingered long enough for his likeness to be captured, she said.
Since Ra-Ta's existence precedes known history, he is assumed to be legend, the artist said. Yet, because of her clairvoyant contact, Crist Johnson believes he was a real man who lived circa 10,500 B.C. in Egypt and that he was responsible for building the Sphinx.
Crist Johnson has a national reputation in her field. Her portrait of Jesus Christ has been widely reproduced. She said that officials in the Catholic Church have shown her paintings of Jesus and the Virgin Mary to visionaries who said the images were true to what they saw.
She also is known for doing celebrity portraits, including Burl Ives. Crist Johnson will discuss her encounters with Ra-Ta. Afterward, free hors d'oeuvres will be served. Guests are invited to dress for the soiree like ancient Egyptians - or residents of Atlantis.
The Heritage Center is at 314 Laskin Road. Call 428-0100 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Nanette Crist Johnson will unveil her portrait of Ra-Ta, the
Egyptian sun god, tonight at The Heritage Center in Virginia Beach.
by CNB