Featured Artists – Deneé Black, Eliza Campbell Kiser, Tina Marcus, Sherri Pekks, & Joyce Wynes 

Deneé Black

I recreate the way that I see my daily surroundings: in contrasting, bold blocks of shapes and saturated colors. I sometimes envision entire live spaces and moments as complete works of art. At other times, a single object or form, removed from its surroundings, may be the subject of my work. These visual ‘snapshots’, whether based on my daily surroundings, moments captured, or single objects, are then translated into mixed media pieces. My newest series, ‘Produce’, is about my visits to the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. When walking through the buildings, I am captured by the piles of colorful fruits and vegetables: purple eggplants, green apples, yellow peppers, orange tomatoes. In striking contrast to the organic shapes of the produce are the organized rows and stacks of boxes and baskets flagged with brightly-colored handwritten signs. People are buzzing from vendor to vendor among these sculptural forms. These sights, shapes, colors and energies at the farmers market are what inspired this series.

Eliza Campbell Kiser

Tina Marcus

Tina Marcus, southern regional artist, refers to her imagery as Primitive Graffiti. Yet, as the name implies, there is nothing primitive about her message.  Originally inspired by cave paintings, Marcus’ earlier paintings resembled gritty reinventions of earliest art; incorporating sand, powdered pigments, and twisted three dimensional rusted metal forms. Her concept of primitive graffiti comes from the parallels she discovered through her studies in sociology.  Her works are a portrayal of how humankind prehistorically and present day use art as a tool to confirm their mortality and define their humanity.  Additionally inspired by Judaic prayers and their awe inspiring visual messages, Marcus’ recent works have made a huge leap, literally, jumping off the painted surfaces into sculptural forms.  Recent works: “Bait and Switch”, “…Emet” and “Barcodes, Bailouts” emotionally and morally tap into the human spirit rendering insight into the human intellect.

Tina Marcus has had solo shows at the Rosensweig Gallery sponsored by the North Carolina Jewish Heritage Foundation and at Duke University’s Louise Jones Brown Gallery.  She has received several Best in Shows at the Rosensweig Gallery in 2008 and 2003: juried by Kim Rorschach, Director of Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and The Art Deputy Director of the NC Museum of Art respectively.  In addition, her works have been selected in group shows at the Visual Art Exchange: juried by Paul Bright, Assistant Director and Curator, Hanes Art Gallery, Wake Forest University, Durham Art Guild: juried by William de Looper, past curator of the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, and at the Rosensweig Gallery: 2006 and 2007 juried by Lawrence Wheeler, Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art and Ann Roth, Art Director of the Weems Art Gallery, Meredith College.

Sherri Pekks

I am a Mom, Wife, Woman, Teacher and Friend all wrapped up in one body and mind. I try to find humor and honesty in everyday experiences. Painting is like a form of therapy to help me deal with this crazy world and Life In General.

Joyce Wynes

Bright, Bold, Colorful, Flat, Semi-Abstract to Abstract, Stylized, Contemporary Images in Acrylic on Canvas . . . that is my world of ART

My paintings are highly personalized, internalized images that have a deep connection to my life experiences. The images I create are symbolic to events and interests that have shaped my life. In years past, as a quilter, I developed an avid interest in patterns, shapes, and colorful, bold combinations; and then, designing these elements in a way that worked together in groups. Distilling the subject of each painting into its simplest elements, as I would in creating a quilt, I then [re]form the images to provoke an emotional and creative response for both myself and the viewer. With the addition of texture and mixed media in some of my paintings, a visual tension occurs, calling forth exciting emotions of its own. My work is recognized for its highly evolved style – combining bold, vibrant, stylized compositions with my own unique perspective of life.

In my world of art it is all about women, hands, flowers and organic, abstract shapes.

While the categories of subjects that I paint frequently carry an underlying message about the forces of life and its influences on thought-provoking issues, I feel that the use of bold color and playfulness with my simple, stylized design attracts the audience to the message. And hopefully, in the viewing process, it stimulates the viewer to ponder the issue further in relation to their own life.

I have chosen my hands paintings for this exhibit because hands play an important part in my artistic expression of the world as I see it. The way they are placed, their actions (reactions), and the way they are accessorized says so much to the observer. The hand paintings represent our frantic lifestyles and their necessary, functionality in our life choices. Sometimes it can feel like everyone is reaching for you for one reason or another and my hand paintings give me the outlet to express those feelings.