Press

Show spotlights 150 artworks: "Through Women's Eyes, By Women's Hands" is the 18th annual event held to raise money for The Women's Center

By Susan Broili
918-1036
Chapel Hill Herald
Friday, February 09, 2001
Final Edition
Arts & entertainment Section
Page 3

CHAPEL HILL - The Women's Center's 18th annual show of work by women artists, "Through Women's Eyes, By Women's Hands," features more works of art than ever, planner Betsy Alley said.

The show features 150 works of art by 124 artists and is on display at the UNC Alumni Center.

It's The Women's Center's biggest fund-raiser of the year, said Alley, special events coordinator for The Women's Center. Last year's event raised from $40,000 to $50,000, Alley said.

On Thursday, Moreton Neal helped install the show she started 18 years ago and has been involved with ever since.

Prior to the art show, The Women's Center's biggest fund-raiser consisted of the center's annual birthday party featuring ice cream for $10 a ticket, Neal said.

At the time, Neal was running her restaurant, La R,sidence, where she had plenty of wall space.

"I said, 'Let's do an art show,' and that's what we did," Neal said.

She and Margaret Skinner coordinated that first show that featured 35 works of art and raised $4,000, which was four times as much money as had been raised by the birthday parties before, Neal said.

"It's a community service that I like to give every year. I think it's a great cause, and I'm in awe of how it's developed into a huge money-maker as well as giving exposure for the artists. I'm proud to be a part of it," Neal said.

One-third of proceeds from the sale of the art as well as of crafts at the luncheon goes to The Women's Center.

The money helps fund the center's services, which include career counseling, financial counseling, a peer support group (Woman to Woman) and Teens Climb High, a pregnancy and violence prevention program for middle school students ages 10 to 14 from public housing in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, Alley said.

Judges for the show were Jerry Bolas, director of the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, and Sherri Ontjes, owner of the N.C. Craft Gallery in Carrboro, who chose the 150 works of art from 530 submissions.

The show includes:

Efland artist Patricia Young's "Grand View," a rural scene of a weathered shed and green pasture dotted with rolled bales of hay.
Beth Goldston's watercolor depicts five cows, four of which face the viewer as though curious to see who is looking at them.
Jan Hughes' "Fraidy Cat" of papier mŸch, features a cat's head painted purple with curled white wire whiskers and a little yellow bird perched on its head. Hughes lives in Lake Junaluska.
Chapel Hill artist Barbara Higgins' "Turtle Dreams" features four turtles encircling a sawdust-fired porcelain vase.
Durham artist Gail Henderson Weinerth's "Blue & Beyond" features an elongated woman in bright red hat and skirt, bright blue blouse against a background of intense magenta and turquoise.
Candler artist Bernie Rowell's multimedia work, part of her "Shields for Women Warriors" series. This shield features a mirror for a face surrounded by buttons.

The artist writes: "I have known many brave women; life's flesh and blood survivors: heroic 20th-century warriors. The series was conceived as medals to honor and celebrate the heroism and Courage of friends who found the inner strength to fight breast cancer, AIDS, poisoned environments, poisoned relationships."

Rowell also writes of the challenges she faces at age 50, including life with her mother, who has Alzheimer's disease.

"The positive energy of a protective shield is what I need to do battle with my days. That, and a little humor and grace."

Best of Show, chosen by the judges, went to "Patriarchy," by Joyce Newman, who will receive a $500 cash award and a Sotheby's Award. The New York auction house has been involved with The Women's Center art show for years, and a representative always comes down to scout for new works and artists, Alley said.

In her multimedia work, Newman featured the heads of all the U.S. presidents on female paper-doll bodies wearing shorts and a shirt or a pink tutu.

There's one exception. Bill Clinton appears apart - off to the right in the bottom corner as himself in white T-shirt, boxer shorts and black knee socks.

"He was a big surprise when we saw him standing over there," Alley said. "I think it is the most interesting piece in the show. It makes you think."

Art show events

The Women's Center's art show: "Through Women's Eyes, By Women's Hands" features several events.

* The opening night reception takes place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. tonight and features a silent auction, raffle, music for dancing by former Squirrel Nut Zipper Tom Maxwell and his new band, The Minor Drag, and refreshments.

The silent auction items include a number of prize packages, including A Day of Beauty, The Wine Cellar and Great Get-Aways.

Raffle prizes include tickets from Midway Airlines, hotel stays, artwork, dinner at local restaurants and services.

People will also be able to meet some of the artists at this event.

Tickets are $75.

* A luncheon takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 16, with lunch at noon.

Crafts by local craftswomen will serve as table centerpieces and will be available for purchase.

The speaker will be Betty McCain, former secretary for the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

Tickets cost $50 per person, $60 per sponsor or $200 per patron and may be purchased at The Women's Center. For more information, call 968-4610.

* The show is free and open to the public starting Saturday through Feb. 16. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

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The Women's Center, P.O. Box 1057, 210 Henderson Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27515
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