DATE: Thursday, May 8, 1997                 TAG: 9705070184

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KATHRYN DARLING, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  173 lines

UNARTISTIC VOLUNTEER KEEPS WORKING NORFOLK ART FESTIVALS

Even if you look closely, you won't find anything artsy about Jim Seeley, which is surprising considering his dedication as a volunteer at Norfolk's art festivals.

Seeley is so unartistic, he ``can't even draw a straight line with a ruler,'' he said.

``I'm not an artist, but that one weekend I'm part of that world.''

For seven years Seeley, who retired from the Navy and works as a personnel clerk for civil service, has volunteered at both of Norfolk's spring arts festivals.

Both festivals are fund-raisers for two local non-profit organizations.

Art Explosure, formerly the Ghent Art Show, benefits the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. The following weekend and another weekend in the fall, the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival is hosted by and benefits Hope House Foundation, which provides support services for people with developmental disabilities.

Art Explosure, which is held on Mother's Day Weekend, is a larger affair with artists coming from all over the country to display their work in Norfolk. The art show and sale features an eclectic mix of painting, textiles, sculpture, metalsmithing, photography, glass, pottery and mixed media.

The Stockley Gardens Arts Festival is more laid-back, said Seeley, who lives in the Princess Anne Park area with his wife, Jacqueline, and daughter, Jessica, 17.

Everybody knows everybody.

It's a cozy event with regional artists, he said. ``At Stockley, you can mingle among the trees, sit in the shade and have a glass of soda.''

The weekends of the art festivals, Seeley puts in some long hours.

Around 5:30 a.m. Saturday, he arrives and begins setting up tents for the artists. Throughout the morning, he's busy helping them unload their cars and transport their work to the booths.

As the day progresses, he's an overseer, trouble shooting problems before they become calamities. Sunday is another long day of making sure artists are happy, the festival flows smoothly, the tents come down on time and the litter gets picked up before dark.

Not only is Seeley versatile, ``he's a bundle of energy and has always been a volunteer who does anything and everything we ask of him,'' said Barbara Mann director of community involvement at the foodbank.

``He has so many jobs, he doesn't have a job title,'' she said.

One of Seeley's jobs is to be optimistic about the weather.

``It's going to be beautiful. Clear skies, sunshine, cool breeze, no wind. It's going to be a marvelous weekend,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by IAN MARTIN

Jim Seeley is volunteer extraordinaire for the two Norfolk spring

arts festivals. For seven years Seeley has volunteered at both the

Art Explosure and the Stockley Gardens Art Show. Seeley is shown at

Town Point Park next to an anchor.

Graphic

STOCKLEY GARDENS ART SHOW

The 13th Annual Stockley Gardens Spring Arts Festival will be

held Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 18, noon to

6 p.m., in Stockley Gardens Park, at Stockley Gardens and Olney Road

in Ghent.

The art show will feature the work of 135 artists from all over

the nation. Painting, photography, sculpture, handmade jewelry,

printmaking, ceramics and other kinds of art will be available for

purchase.

Programs with a map of the artists' locations will be distributed

at the information tent at Boissevain Avenue. Plenty of free parking

is available in the surrounding residential section, but expect to

walk a few blocks.

Art show winners will be announced at the artists reception which

begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday. For more information call 625-6161.

Music and other performances are scheduled for both days on the

main stage near Olney Road. Children's activities, such as sand art

and face painting, will be available all day. Other children's

activities are Showtime Karaoke, 3:30 p.m. Saturday and C. Shells,

music performance, 2 p.m. Sunday.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

Saturday, May 17

Lori Shapiro, acoustic, 11:30 a.m.

The Michael Ingmire Band, Louisanna Blues & Funk, 12:15 p.m.

Robert Matter, acoustic, 1:45 p.m.

The Jimmy Masters Trio, jazz, 3:15 p.m.

Jim Newsom & the PorchRockers, contemporary jazz, 4:45 p.m. and

at the Artists' reception, 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 18

The Blind Venetians, progressive acoustic, 12:15 p.m.

Lewis McGehee, acoustic, 1:45 p.m.

The H.M. Johnson Band, jazz blues, rock and R&B, 3:15 p.m.

Amy Ferebee & Woody Nordan, acoustic, 4:45 p.m.

ART EXPLOSURE SCHEDULE

Art Explosure (formerly the Ghent Art Show) held in Town Point

Park begins this Saturday at 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Sunday from

noon to 6 p.m.

More than 200 artists from across the nation and Canada will

compete for the $2,000 Best in Show prize. The art show and sale

features an eclectic mix of painting, textiles, sculpture,

metalsmithing, photography, glass, pottery and mixed media. Talented

local students and senior citizens will also display their original

works.

Both free and metered parking is available within a four-block

radius.

For more information, call 624-1333 or call InfoLine at 640-5555,

then dial EXPO (3976).

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

On Saturday

Riverwalk Stage

Inkari, Andes music, 11 a.m.

Amy Ferebee, folk music, 1:30 p.m.

Inkari, Andes music, 2:30 p.m.

Amy Ferebee, Celtic group, 3:30 p.m.

Inkari, Andes music, 5 p.m.

Studio Stage

Amy Ferebee, Celtic group, 11 a.m.

Ma Gun, drum group, 2 p.m.

Gallery Park Stage

Inkari, Andes music, noon

Liz Story, new age music, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Artist's Circle stage

Tidewater Classical Guitar Society, 12:30 p.m.

Virginia Symphony Brass Quintet, 4:30 p.m.

Wonderland Stage

Morris Dancing with the Bluemont and More or Less Morris Dancers,

11 a.m.

The Bug Lady, children's performance, noon

Morris Dancers, 1 p.m.

Flower arranging workshop, Susan Rhodes. 1:30 p.m.

The Bug Lady, 2:30 p.m.

Topiary sculpting workshop, Susan Rhodes, 3:30 p.m.

Morris Dancing finale, 4:30

The Bug Lady workshop, 5 p.m.

Ice sculpting demonstration, Skip Ailstock, 6 p.m.

On Sunday:

Riverwalk Stage:

Any Ferebee - Folk music - noon

Amy Ferebee Celtic Group - 3:30 p.m.

Studio Stage:

Robin Welch Classical Guitar - noon

Inkari - Andes Music - 2:45 p.m.

Robin Welch Classical Guitar - 4 p.m.

Gallery Park Stage:

U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Concert Band - 12:30 p.m.

Windham Hill Artist Liz Story - New Age -2:30 p.m.

Liz Story - New Age - 4:30 p.m.

Artist's Circle Stage:

Inkari - Andes music -noon

Greg Howard - Chapman Stick - 2 p.m.

Greg Howard - Chapman Stick - 2:45 p.m.

Inkari - Andes music - 4 p.m.

Greg Howard - Chapman Stick - 5 p.m.

Wonderland Stage:

Morris Dancing with the Foggy Bottom Men & Bluemont Morris

Dancers - noon

The Bug Lady - 12:30 p.m.

Flower Arranging Workshop by Susan Rhodes - 1:30 p.m.

The Bug Lady - 2:30 p.m.

Morris Dancers Finale - 3:30 p.m.

Topiary Sculpting Workshop by Susan Rhodes - 4 p.m.

The Bug Lady Workshop - 5 p.m.

Ice Sculpting Demonstration by Skip Ailstock - 5:30 p.m.

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