THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9602280149
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
``Bestial Angels,'' an exhibit of animal images from around the world, and ``Guardians, Harbingers and Messengers,'' an exhibit by members of the Tidewater Artists Association, will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Arts Center in the 1846 Courthouse, corner of Court and High streets.
Frederico Correa, a Norfolk artist and exhibitor in ``Bestial Angels,'' will give a gallery talk on the display at 10 a.m. Friday as part of the Docent Orientation Program.
``Bestial Angels,'' organized by William King Regional Arts Center in Abingdon, is a mixture of contemporary art with historic pieces, some from the collection of the Chrysler Museum and the Bayly Art Museum, that explore how animal myths continue to hold meaning in today's global society.
While attitudes toward animals have varied in different parts of the world and during different time periods, most religions and mythologies have given certain animals the angelic functions of guides, guardians and messengers.
Through painting and sculptures, ``Bestial Angels'' examines the angelic connotations of five different animals: the bird, horse, cat, dog and lion.
There will be guardian temple lions from China and Thailand, African bird and cat headdresses, and the mythological Garuda bird-figure.
Artists whose works will be exhibited include Linda Mitchell, Kristy Ottinger, John Figura and Beth Shively, all of whom portray specific biblical passages or concepts.
Frederico Correa, David Small and Libbie Smith use Christian iconography and others, such as Ragan Reaves Freeman, Nicholas Cave, Charles Richards, Ann McCoy, Carolee Schneemann, Virginia Van Horn and Susan Miller, draw from Chinese, Egyptian, African and Greek mythologies.
``Guardians, Harbingers and Messengers'' is a juried exhibition by TAA with a broad range of interpretations.
The opening reception is free to museum members, $3 for nonmembers. For information, call 393-8543. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Foo Lion, from the Chrysler Museum collection, is included in the
exhibit.
by CNB