WAC Gallery Information for May 2008

Three Watauga Arts Council exhibits are on display during May in the galleries and walls of the Jones House Community Center.

In the Mazie Jones Gallery, Shelly Hehenberger’s show “Forest of the Heart” is comprised of twenty-nine pieces that are like spiritual mirrors, each representing the uniqueness of individuals as seen through the interaction between the mysterious trio of land, tree, and sky. These simplified and abstracted elements symbolize the individuality that exists within people despite their outward similarities. “Within the consistent framework I've described, I like to see how many different ways I can use the mediums of paint, wood, and paper to show the greatest diversity among the pieces,” Hehenberger said. “ I find it exciting to see the potential of variety that can exist even with the simplest of forms, and I hope this work will help others to appreciate their own uniqueness.”

In the Open Door Gallery, the art of Wendy Warren and daughter Danielle Clark  will grace the walls. An exhibit in commemoration of Mother’s Day, this mother daughter show is ecclectic: Wendy’s vibrant oil paintings are fluid and vibrant; Danielle’s  works in oil as well as pen and ink are varied and widely-encompassing. Wendy, co-owner of Split Endz Hair s Salon in Boone and a resident of Watauga County for 21 years, discovered painting as a creative pasttime in 1995. Danielle, a 2008 graduate of Watauga High School will be studying graphic design at Appalachian State University in the fall.

The visual arts portion of Shooting Stars, a talent showcase of Watauga County students, is displayed on Jones House Community Center’s walls this month. All eight elementary schools and the high school are represented in this exhibit highlighting the creative artistic talents of local students.

These exhibits are on display from Tuesday, April 29 until Friday, May 30 from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. The  Arts Council galleries are also open Thursdays from 7:30 to 11 p.m. during the acoustic jams at the Jones House. The gallery reception to welcome these exhibits is Friday, May 2 from 6:30-8 p.m. and is held in conjunction with downtown Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl. The Watauga Arts Council galleries are sponsored in part by Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff and Grassroots Funds of the North Carolina Arts Council. The WAC’s offices and galleries are located in the Jones House Community & Cultural Center, owned by the town of Boone.