Meet the Artists!
The Renewal Outdoor/Indoor Sculpture Exhibition revitalizes the open space in and around the Arts Center. This exhibition provides artists residing in Virginia and North Carolina with the opportunity to showcase their work, surprising guests as they stroll the grounds of the Art Center. Also on display are our Hampton Roads Pride Exhibition and the Urban Landscapes: Photographs of Cuba by Dave Chance.
The Hampton Roads Pride Exhibition celebrates LGBTQ+ artists while addressing issues related to the community, such as identity, representation, discrimination, and liberation. Urban Landscapes: Photographs of Cuba by Dave Chance showcases Dave's photographs from Cuba as he highlights the vibrant life of the people in Cuba. With these exhibitions currently on display, we would like to introduce the talented artists who created these intricate pieces!
THE ARTISTS:
Beth Austin
Beth Austin is an award-winning local photographer based in the Norfolk area. Her work has been showcased in various local music and entertainment publications, such as The Nation and The Washington Post. Currently, her photos are on display at the Hampton Roads Pride Exhibition, featuring images of protests and rallies held in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
These photos capture the gatherings that arose in response to hate, brutality, and civil rights violations directed at people of color and the LGBTQ+ community leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Jim Gallucci
Sculptor and Greensboro resident Jim Gallucci has been sculpting for over 30 years. He is a graduate of Le Moyne College (BFA, 1973) and Syracuse University (BFA, 1974 & MFA, 1976). Jim has worked as a university art instructor in North Carolina and Alabama, as well as an Exhibit Designer for the North Carolina Zoological Park. His work has been displayed at the Pier Walk Sculpture Show, the world’s largest outdoor sculpture show, in Chicago for 6 years (1997-2002).
Each of Jim's sculptures brings a unique sense of self-expression that captivates the audience. To Jim, art is the physical manifestation of an idea or event that evokes an emotional response from the viewer.
Jessica Bradsher
Visual artist and Greenville resident, Jessica Bradsher is known for creating themes ranging from whimsical to contemplative metal sculptures and paintings. When she’s not having her sculptures displayed across multiple states, Jessica is teaching visual arts at a local high school in Greenville. There, she tries to set an example for her students that a productive, working, successful artist can have many possibilities within the arts.
Richard Ward
Richard Ward is an accomplished artist who received his BFA and Art Education Certification from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 1982. He continued to teach art and create murals in Washington, D.C. before relocating to Hampton Roads in 1999, where he has been actively involved in the local arts community. His award-winning works have been exhibited in various local and international exhibitions, and he continues to produce works for public projects.
Jorge Saenz
Jorge grew up near Haight-Ashbury in 1960s San Francisco, where he fell in love with painting. He studied architecture and fine arts and worked in visual merchandising. Jorge has been committed to his artwork for several decades and can be found refining his unique methodology at his studio in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Inspired by artists like De Kooning and Rothko, his work has been featured in local and national exhibitions and is sought after by collectors in the US and abroad. He enjoys teaching his techniques and is currently perfecting his approach to cold wax and oil. For more information about his artwork, you can visit his website: texturalabstracts.com, or his Instagram: @texturalabstract.art.
Pat Langley
Nonbinary sculptor Pat Langley works holistically, using glass, wood, metal, and science to create ethereal sculptures that comment on life, the universe, and everything in between. Pat has been working with glass since high school and has explored various techniques, from kiln forming to furnace glassblowing. The Oklahoma native believes in the importance of arts education and that every person deserves the opportunity to learn and express themselves through art.
Dave Chance
After graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1997, Dave Chance has become well-known in the world of photography. His work has been featured in exhibitions throughout Coastal Virginia and displayed in prestigious locations such as Towne Bank in Suffolk and the Shepherd Center Foundation in Atlanta. Dave's focus on capturing architectural moments has been particularly evident in his recent work in Cuba, where he showcases the beauty of old structures persevering into the new.
According to Dave, Cuba's culture and history, as well as its vibrant street life, are impossible to ignore, and his ability to capture the essence of a place continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
Come visit the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center to see the beautiful and inspiring artwork on display for our Renewal Outdoor/Indoor Exhibition, running through August 24. While you're here, be sure to also check out our Hampton Roads Pride Exhibition and Urban Landscapes: Photographs of Cuba by Dave Chance, on display through June 15.
Artist credit in order:
All Sisters - Women's March 2018 (Norfolk, VA), Beth Austin
Divine Wind II, Jim Gallucci
Einfühlung, Jessica Bradsher
Ms. Nessa's Blues, Richard Ward
Respect My Humanity, Jorge Saenz
Thang # 17 (with Custom Wall Pedestal), Pat Langley
Pequena Bicicleta, Dave Chance