Metamorphosis
After a decade+ of writing this column, it was time for a change. Gone are the calendar notices, creating space to explore the arts through the experiences of local artists in visual arts, photography, music, dance, theater, pottery, quilting, basket weaving—who knows what else?!
A new piece of art would make a lovely Valentine’s gift! Support the arts! ▼
Doug is the Artistic Director of CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and Minister of Music at Epworth UMC. You can contact him at dougyetter@gmail.com.
ART + ACTIVISM
Remains by Brandan Henry
Activism and rebellion have been expressed through art for centuries, and CAMP Rehoboth’s new exhibit welcomes Black artists Cacto, Bryant T. Bell, Taylor Gordon, Brandan Henry, and Ann Martin to express their passions and use art to awaken our collective social and political consciousness through multiple art forms—paintings, charcoal drawings, fabric art, and a multi-media installation that explores racism.
Lori Crawford, an artist and art educator at Delaware State University, advised the CAMP Rehoboth arts team in the creation of the show. Her socially conscious works take on issues of race and injustices from the past to the present, as witnessed through her contribution to the exhibit—the multi-media installation Racism Past and Present: Africa to America. ART + ACTIVISM is on display through February 28.
The Artists
Rage by Cacto
Cacto, (also known as Jefiah Bordley), creates reflections of the emotions, and thoughts he could never otherwise express. Chaotic energy is a key element of his art. His vision for the artwork in this exhibition is to provide viewers with messages and imagery that stimulates thought.
Bryant T. Bell’s artwork examines the reality of the American dream for different cultures who are often unseen and overlooked in their daily struggle for equal rights, opportunity, and their piece of the dream that we call freedom in America.
Euphoria by Taylor Gordon
Taylor Gordon, a native New Yorker, creates art which captures subjects’ expressions within each painting, shedding light on the students’ emotions, and giving viewers a better perspective of the journey of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Brandan Henry explores notions of identity politics, solitude, and stillness in charcoal and graphite drawings. His creative influences include comic books and his mother’s collection of black figurines.
Ann Martin is an active quilter using both machine and hand stitching, along with glued and incorporated items. “Mending a Broken Heart” (see page 2) depicts in fabrics the qualities of loyalty, trust, and faith that bind us and move us from hate, greed, and lies to forgiveness, patience, and respect.▼
CAMP Rehoboth highlights our community’s unique history and culture, and serves to further diversity, equity, and inclusion, by building unity and understanding. Exhibits may be viewed Monday-Friday (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and Saturday (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). View and purchase art on the CAMP Rehoboth website under the “SHOP” heading.
artist SPOTLIGHT
JANE KNAUS
I’ve admired this talented artist’s work in local galleries and through her posts on Facebook but realized I didn’t really know bupkis about her personally. Jane was born in Sweden to parents who survived the Holocaust, lived in Ethiopia as a child, and arrived in America after her father’s passing. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, before attending George Washington University, where she earned a degree in Publication Design.
Jane worked as the creative director at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, and received national recognition for her award-winning publication and exhibit design work. Her fine art paintings have been exhibited in Europe and the US—rather extensively here in the southern Delaware region where she is a member of the Rehoboth Art League.
Jane enjoys creating in the silence of the early morning when her mind is free to play and experiment with watercolors and acrylics. “I love watercolors because they are a dynamic medium that needs to express freedom and energy on the sheet, and acrylics because you can paint over your mistakes!” Recently she has created new art through mixed media—combining photographs and digital editing.
I asked what motivates her to create. “Creating art is an absolute passion of mine. I think I was born with this need to make things, to try things, to take risks with artistic tools. It’s a way to make order out of the ‘chaos’ in the world.…” She thinks of art as the anchor that sustains her through life.
Asked how her work has changed through the years, Jane said she takes more time with each painting now than she did earlier in her career, and though her work continues to be “scary, fun, challenging, and exciting,” she confided there is still some trepidation about sharing a new piece.
My final question was if she felt successful about her career as an artist: “Success is not based on how well one’s art sells. Success is creating an original piece that shows courage, risk taking, and harmony within its own expression.” A mutual friend said, “She is kind, curious, and full of a warm, open energy that is reflected in her work.” I couldn’t agree more. ▼
This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.