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WCAC October Exhibits and 2nd Saturday, Patrick Richardson and Steve Zoufaly

The Watauga County Arts Council is proud to present the paintings of Patrick Joseph Richardson in the Main Gallery for its October exhibition. Richardson’s work is a combination of musical color, impressionism, and surrealism.   He is strongly influenced by the work of Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keefe, as well as his own synthesia. He says he only paints with music on, usually loud and extremely diverse.  

Richardson is a graduate of the Governor’s School in Art in 1980 and received Watauga High School’s Graduation Orchestra Award and also the Art Award as a student of Shelton Wilder in 1981. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from NCSU with a degree in Electrical Engineering, 1987.   Until 2009 he worked as an Electromagnetics Engineer, acquiring multiple awards and patents along the way. He is currently an Energy Analyst with ASU. In 2013 he returned to creating art with the help of his family and Warren Dennis. Currently Richardson serves as the President of the Blue Ridge Art Clan based in West Jefferson. He has participated in 11 shows since 2013, two of them solo gallery displays.

In the Open Door Gallery a fascinating sculpture exhibition will be featured. Steve Zoufaly is a Deep Gap, NC based sculptor whose subject matter varies as much as his material, which ranges from stone and metals to wood. He doesn’t just send his sculptures to the foundry, preferring to pour the 2,000-degree bronze himself. Zoufaly particularly enjoys playing with the idea of an item we ordinarily take for granted and repurposing materials for his unique works of art. 

Inspired by the strength and determination he saw in breast cancer survivors in his own life, Zoufaly created a series of bronze sculptures to stress the importance of breast self-examinations to detect breast cancer. Two of these very special sculptures have been auctioned and the proceeds given to the Wilkes Health Foundation to support awareness of how important self-exams are to detecting cancer early.

During October, the artists of the Serendipity Gallery are featuring an exhibit called “Weathered”.   Artists who exhibit in this gallery are participants in art classes at the Lois E. Harrell Senior Center in Boone and the Western Watauga Community Center in Cove Creek.   The classes are taught by Marsha Holmes and are free on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Young Artists Gallery is featuring the works of Drawing Students participating in weekly lessons at the Watauga County Arts Council. These students are taught by Katherine Marx.

The Blue Ridge ArtSpace will celebrate these exhibitions at an open reception on Saturday, October 14th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at their location at 377 Shadowline Drive in Boone.   Besides the four new exhibitions, each of the four classrooms of the building will also feature interesting demonstrating artists and participatory activities.

In the Purple Room, Storyteller and Brain Gym Facilitator, Mary Gray and Storyteller ReVonda Crow will be telling stories, complimented by a participatory series of Brain Gym exercises designed to help your brain and body to create, move, and learn more easily and effortlessly.  

In the Green Room art teacher Susan Payne will present “Wild About Silk Screen”, a participatory exercise in which all participants draw and cut out an image of a wild animal to be assembled in a collaborative silk screen design.  Once the animal paper stencils are arranged, visitors will print a copy of our group designed print.  Take home your printed collaborative masterpiece!

In the Blue Room, author Neil Wilson will be signing copies of his newest book, Pirate or Patriot. This book is a sequel to Victims of Conscience and is a saga filled with romance, humor, history, and mystery as a loyal brother works passionately to defend his brother who has been falsely accused of piracy.  A third novel in this trilogy is already underway, as well.

In the Orange Room, jewelry artist and winner of a 2015 Regional Artist Project Grant award, Melody Haven will demonstrate the intricate wire-wrapping techniques she has developed as a result of her studies at the William Holland School of Lapidary.

The 2nd Saturday Celebration of the Arts is a free, family friendly event. Refreshments are served. 5:30-7:30 pm.

For more information, sign up on the Watauga County Arts Council’s website to receive monthly updates, check their website at www.watauga-arts.org, watch their Facebook page, or come by the Blue Ridge ArtSpace at 377 Shadowline Drive in Boone. You may also call them at 828-264-1789.

Patrick Richardson – Valentine’s Day
Patrick Richardson – She Who Breathes Fire
Steve Zoufaly New Meets Old – You’re What
Steve Zoufaly – Lunar Dreams
Steve Zoufaly