THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605040367
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SERIES: Discussion '96
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
Geoffrey Crittenden gets a lot of satisfaction from painting.
``It's truly relaxing, and it puts you into another world,'' the native Australian said of the hobby he abandoned in his youth and reclaimed once he became ``self-unemployed'' and retired here.
On Friday, Crittenden's avocation also earned him a silver medal.
The 71-year-old retired engineer was among almost 30 senior citizens from 11 counties who took part in this year's regional SilverArts.
The event celebrates the creative expression of older artisans in the visual and heritage arts by awarding top winners with Olympic-like medals on red, white and blue neckbands.
Held in conjunction with the sports-oriented North Carolina Senior Games, SilverArts brings together athletes and artists who demonstrate dedication and discipline.
It also brings together a segment of the arts community that often is overlooked during fine arts festivals.
``A lot of seniors don't want to sell their things,'' said Christa Gregory, the chairwoman of this year's program. ``They basically just make the things for their children and themselves, usually from a skill they learned from a parent.
``Because their things aren't out there, people don't realize what these people are capable of accomplishing.''
``I don't think they really realize how particularly unique their talents are,'' added Miriam George, one of three judges who selected the gold, silver and bronze winners.
George is chairwoman of the Tulls Creek Players in Currituck County who also enjoys oil and fabric painting.
Other judges included Elizabeth City State University associate professor Alexis Joyner, who holds a master of fine arts degree in sculpture, and Drusiano Scerbo, an ECSU assistant professor with bachelor's and master's degrees in painting.
This was the second year for the SilverArts in northeastern North Carolina. It was held at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Senior Citizens Center, where gold medalists may not compete statewide.
A major goal of the competition is to keep seniors active, said Gregory, who also is the coordinator of the Currituck County Senior Citizens Center.
``Some seniors aren't athletically inclined, or can't exercise, but have a skill in other areas,'' Gregory said. ``This encourages competition in those areas.''
Count among them Charlie Sewell of Hertford County, who lives in a nursing home because of his declining health.
Sewell stood out at this year's competition, and not just because the outstanding workmanship on a cream-colored, crocheted bedspread earned him a gold medal.
``I think that's kind of interesting it's a gentleman crocheting,'' Gregory said.
``It's hard. It's very hard to make a decision,'' George said while scanning the displays in one of two showrooms. ``All the work is top, top quality. You can see a lot of effort and a lot of time.''
Judges looked for originality, imagination and workmanship when scrutinizing entries.
That's what earned high marks for entries like ``Wagon Basket'' by Grover J. Morton of Hertford and cloth dolls created by Elizabeth City's Dorothy Makar.
Edith Seiling of Gates County also shone with her portrait of a boy and dog painted on china. And Evelyn Sanderson's mohair sweater made from three types of yarn certainly was envied by other knitters.
``This is something you don't whip up in an evening,'' George said of Sanderson's craftsmanship.
The same was obvious of Evelyn Bradshear's lap quilt, which was entirely handstitched. ``A lot of work went into this one,'' the judges said of the South Mills woman's work.
Crittenden's ``Deep Sea Sport-Fishing Fighting Blue Marlin'' lost first-place in oil painting to Janie Mitchell of Hertford County, but he's still pleased to have been a part of the second annual event.
``It gives you something to strive for - puts a little more purpose, if you like, into your painting.
``I would have liked to have a gold, but we're not in it for the prize. We're in it for the fun,'' Crittenden said. ``I'd like to give everyone a gold.'' MEMO: REGIONAL SILVERARTS WINNERS
VISUAL ARTS:
Acrylics: Mary F. Baker of Hertford County, gold; Nell Long of Eure,
silver; Doris Ballance of Moyock, bronze.
Oil: Janie Mitchell of Hertford County, gold; Geoffrey Crittenden,
Elizabeth City, silver; Marion Johnson of Harrellsville, bronze.
Mixed media: Angelo Spanoulis of Moyock, gold.
HERITAGE ARTS:
Knitting: Evelyn Sanderson of Moyock, gold; Norma Hunter of Elizabeth;
Lillion of Elizabeth City, bronze.
Basketweaving: Grover F. Morton of Hertford, gold; Lenora S. Haste of
Windsor, silver; Penistene Howell of Gates County, bronze.
Quilting: Evelyn Bradshear of South Mills, gold; Virginia Nixon of Gates
County, silver.
Crocheting: Charlie Sewell of Murfreesboro, gold; Doris H. Parker of
Ahoskie, silver; Louise H. Sutton of Hertford, bronze.
Woodwork: Chad Pierce of Ahoskie, gold.
China Painting: Edith Seiling of Gates County, gold.
Needlework: Virginia Auebach of Elizabeth City, gold.
Tatting: Mary Conley of Currituck, gold.
Dollmaking: Dorothy Makar of Elizabeth City, gold.
by CNB