THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602010149
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Mary Ellen Riddle
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
At 2 p.m. today, the doors will open at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery, marking the 18th year of the annual Frank Stick Art Show.
By that time, artists will already know who captured awards totaling more than $2,000, bestowed by two North Carolina artists selected to judge.
In a private showing Saturday night, Dare County Arts Council members, exhibiting artists and patrons were treated to a sneak preview of work and winners in a Southern-style reception.
The work-intensive project began in the fall, with arts council board members Denise Carrico and Kadra Bradford at the helm. These co-chairs worked with committee members to organize, advertise, hang and celebrate the annual outing that brings hibernating souls out for a festive evening.
While the show rules stipulate that you must be a Dare County Arts Council member or local resident to enter, this does not stop plenty of out-of-staters from mailing in their membership fee so they can participate in the event. Folks hailing from as far away as Mexico will be on display.
This year, the Frank Stick Committee made a practical move that was long in coming. In years past, artists were allowed to submit two works. With the popularity of the open show growing, it soon became clear that wall and floor space was becoming scarce.
This year, artists are limited to one entry. And it was a good move, for about one-third of Tuesday's opening-day entries were brought in by new exhibitors.
By late afternoon on day one, more than 50 works had already been dropped off at the Nags Head gallery. An overall glance showed an abundance of realistic paintings, including the works of Chris Haltigan and Carol Trotman.
Both women wield an expert brush, Haltigan with her translucent gray waters and Trotman with her yellow and purple daffodil petals.
John Silver has produced a brilliantly colored old Nags Head beach cottage scene. This piece alone clearly illustrates why folks are clamoring about this relatively new painter. The atmosphere is sure to move you.
In a departure from his last work, shown at the International Icarus Art Show, J. Aaron Trotman takes a less literal role with his black and white ``Kimono.'' The photograph works well from a distance, but an up-close look reveals subtle textures hidden in the black folds.
Sculpture entries have great variety this year. Edith Deltgen's ``Water Nymph'' combines a youthful plaster cast figure entwined in wood. Lee Touzel's osprey bookends are exquisite, and any nature lover will appreciate the carved wood mother and baby whale. On a more abstract note is a mixed media piece by Michael Davis, featuring cardboard, metal and paint in a relief box filled with fish, wave and check patterns.
A mixed-media collage by Michael Tames, ``When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again,'' is an interesting combination of memorabilia.
There's a little bit of everything at Frank Stick this year, and only half of the entries were in by midweek.
Viewers will vote during both Saturday and Sunday's reception for the ``People's Choice Award.'' The votes will be tallied on Sunday and announced at the end of the public reception. The winner takes a $50 award.
While the show, a memorial to the late artist, illustrator and developer Frank Stick, is dedicated to the visual arts, the literary arts will also be celebrated during the course of the show.
On Feb. 16, the Dare County Writers Group and the Dare County Arts Council is presenting a ``Literary Evening.'' This presentation features the work of local writers in the fiction, nonfiction and poetry realms.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Ghost Fleet Gallery.
Admission is free and refreshments will be served. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE
Volunteers from the Dare County Arts Council check in art work
entered in the 18th annual Frank Stick Art Show at Glenn Eure's
Ghost Fleet Gallery in
Nags Head.
by CNB