THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606190138
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: 60 lines
When little E.B. went to the art galleries, he'd bypass the mixed media, oils and color pencil pieces to get to the watercolors.
To this day, Dr. E.B. Gatten Jr. reflected, ``I can't say why.''
One thing for certain: His untitled watercolor was not bypassed by the judge of the Rawls Museum Arts 33rd Annual Art Exhibition. It received an honorable mention.
Gatten, president of Rawls Arts since 1994, said, ``This exhibition is much better than some in the past.''
Betty Francis, a Rawls Arts member for three decades, said, ``There are fewer works than last year, but they relate well to each other.'' She added, ``I love to see how, over the years, different artists have changed their point of view.''
She cited Lorraine Spader, whose work this year is ``nothing like last year's. Her technique has changed.''
Fay Schools of Capron won Best-in-Show. Judge Betty Anglin, an art instructor at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, particularly appreciated her mixed media, ``Journeys.''
First-place winner in the semi-professional category is Polly Forbes of Murfreesboro, N.C.. Her watercolor is ``Hibiscus No. 2.''
First place among the non-professionals is George B. Edwards of Emporia for his acrylic, ``The Perch.''
Receiving honorable mention, in addition to Gatten, are Kitty Nettles of Wakefield and Gail Saunders of Suffolk. Tina Epps of Surry received the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Watercolor Award.
``This exhibit is a progression of works from artists involved in Rawls Arts - from instructors to students,'' said Wanda Marks, administrator of Rawls Museum Arts. Overall, she said, emphasis is on traditional works, so there are a lot of watercolors.
Edwards' winning acrylic shows a couple of buzzards perched atop a tree.
A former part-time pig farmer, he said the picture involves an area outside the hog houses. ``The buzzards are still hanging around,'' he said. ``They think I'm going back in business.''
``I painted about 30 years ago,'' Edwards said. ``I gave it up until now.''
What he has to say with his art is perfectly clear. It's a different story with Schools' ``Journeys.''
The mixed media piece - Schools usually does oils - is open to interpretation.
``I love doing abstract,'' she said. ``To me, it represents journeys - traveling through all sorts of life experiences.''
``The show is appealing and diverse,'' Anglin said. MEMO: The Rawls Museum Arts 33rd Annual Art Exhibition is on display
through June. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Friday; from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. Saturday. The Rawls Museum is at 23376 Linden St, Courtland. Call
653-0754. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by FRANK ROBERTS
George B. Edwards of Emporia won first place among the
non-professionals for his acrylic, ``The Perch.''
Fay Schools of Capron won Best-in-Show. by CNB