Beneath the surface:
The language of pattern and design
Surfaces ? their te xtu res,
colors and patterns ? surround
us in every aspect of our lives.
Bold design, bright colors,
intriguing forms, alluring move
ment, monumental proportions
or minute detail first catch our
eye and subsequently lead to a
close-up look.
When we know what an
object is, we may first see it as
a whole, not distinguishing the
surface from any of its other
elements. But in the arts, where
new forms are created and old
forms reinterpreted, surfaces
provide the first, striking
impression: They are the begin
ning of content, function and
context. Surfaces set the stage
for stories about objects and its
makers. Then when we respond
to that gut level pull to look
more closely, to touch and
scratch, the process of under
standing begins.
The exhibition and Surface
Design -Conference -at the Saw
tooth Center for Visual Art,
along with those at a dozen
other art institutions in the
Triad *area present the work of
artists from different cultural
and artistic milieu. What united
these exhibitions is that artists'
works are shown as individual
statements and as reflections of
larger communities. "Communi
ty" implies connections to other
artists and other people. Com
munities may use tbe same raw
materials or techniques, have
similar political concerns or
ethnic heritage, or, more global
um, cultural heritage and per
sonal history: Tcr, we aic also
part of that whole, the conflu
ence of producer and viewer.
Exhibitions in the Triad area
ArtsReach
By REGGIE c^OHNSON
ly, may refer to all humans
faced with the same problems of
survival.
As we visit these exhibitions,
the* old question: "Is there more to
the surface than what meets the
eye?" is unavoidable. And more
questions: Can visual impressions
alone validate objects? What is it
-about some objects and surfaces
that takes us into the eye, heart,
motivations and method of the
artisi? What can we learn about art
and its many designs, colors and
patterns, the societies and artist
from which it emerges and about
ourselves by going "beneath the
surface?"
Surface is, of Course, the
external and visible aspect of a
much larger whole. The whole,
then, must lie with the artist
who works within the con
straints and freedoms of medi
focus on the design imagery which
surrounds us every day. It's not only
in art galleries and museums that
design is an issue. Retailers, stores
of every variety, advertisements,
publications, newspapers, even tele
vision images are constantly doing
things to grab people's attention
through design, color and pattern
ing. We're bombarded with design
whether we realize it or not. Once
we are aware of these elements of
design and visual patterning, what
happens? Simply, we see the world
a little better, a little clearer an we
become more observant of and per
haps more participatory in our own
environment
We are our own "curators," as it
were. Each morning, we dress our
selves in conscious or unconscious
statements to our identified or
unidentified communities. We
reflect, to greater or lesser extent,
influences of marketing, commer
CifihSiii , promotions of stores and
the fashion industry.
What does our "look" say about
our own experiences, ethnicity,
social and economic status? Where
does the fashion industry look for
new styles ? in punk or pop cul
tures, in ethnic communities, with
so-called counter-cultures or life
styles?
The answer lies, most likely, in
a dialogue between producers and
consumers and the role-reversals
_ that are continually being played
out between the two. What we sur
round ourselves with, on our bodies
or in our homes, becomes a unique
statement of self-expression and
experience, just like the art works in
these exhibitions.
The Sawtooth Center is a
catalyst for looking more close
ly at visual images and surfaces.
Many institutions in the Triad
area have chosen related themes
and will be presenting a won
derful array of installation and
programs, many of which are
free of charge.
Two institutions participating
have selected the particularly rich
topic of African and African- Amer
ican design. The Mattye Reed
African Heritage Museum at the
Greensboro Cultural Center will
present "Surface Design and Pat
terning in Traditional African Art."
Winston-Salem State University's
Diggs Gallery exhibition "Models
in the Mind: African Piotoijpcii in
American Patchwork." Both delve
into surface design as cultural pat
terning which changes and contin
ues over time. The African-Ameri
can quilts in the collection of Eli
Leon show the richness of African
prototypes and many ways that they
surface in quilts made in the U.S.
over the last hundred y&rs.
The Education Program
sponsored by the Sawtooth Cen
ter for Visual Art takes sur
faces, visual patterning and cul
tural contexts of the arts into
the Forsyth County schools. The
Sawtooth Center has compiled
information and slide packets
for distribution to teachers.
These materials give what can
be called a "telescopic"
approach for looking at art in its
cultural context.
Concentrating on traditional
art from Latin America, China,
Africa and the Middle East, stu
dents will take a trip around the
world through a visual overview
of traditional artists ? their
houses, landscapes, foods, mar
kets, temples or places of wor
ship, clothing, and their daily
and ritual aspects of life.
For example, traditional
artists carry water in jugs
formed from clay banks adja
cent to their villages or region.
They wear cotton, wool or silk
clothing made from plants, ani
? aln nn H inrartr rnltivatpH right
in their own villages or region.
And they adorn themselves and
their clothing with rich colors
and designs which speak to
their beliefs, esthetics and ways
of viewing the world.
This multi-cultural approach to
looking at traditional arts will give
students and their teachers a
visual and ethnographic back
ground for viewing the works
on display at the Sawtooth Cen
ter. Art work in the "Cultural
Foundations" exhibition is made
by artists from the United States
but for many different ethnic or
social backgrounds. Their work
reflects the esthetics, traditions,
politics and beliefs from
African- American, Native
American, Japanese, Mexican
American, and Anglo-American
perspectives.
The world offered to teach
ers and students is of a glimpse
of human behavior, nature and
its wealth of forms, shapes ana
colors that inspire artistic re
interpretation. Through art, both
the contemporary and the
traditional artist reveal their
inner-selves. They give us, the
observers, guidelines for look
ing at ourselves and our worlds
in ways that are deeper than
those surfaces which initially
caught our eyes.
Rambo and
Grammy Award-winning
song writers Reba Rambo and
Dony McGuire will be in con
cert Sunday, March 15, at St.
Peter's World Outreach Center.
The married duo will sing
songs they have made famous
across the world including
their recent hit, "Pharaoh,
You're Going own!," "We're
Giving Her Back To you," "We
Must Reach Out," and "We
Must Be the Balm in Gilead."
It was in 1981 that Ram
bo's and'MGuire's musical,
"The Lord Prayer," won the
1981 Grammy-Award for
"Best Contemporary Gospel
Album." In 1982, Rambo and
McGuire and the cast of "The
Lord's Prayer*' appeared on the
Grammy Awards program and
weje treated to a standing ova
tion after their performance.
-Rambo, the daughter of
southern gospel music legends
Buck and Dottie Rambo, made
her public debut as a toddler.
She has sung at The Grand
Ole' Opry with The Rambos,
and has appeared on countless
television shows in the
Nashville area. McGuire's
career took off with The
Downings, a contemporary
gospel group. Rambo and
McGuire in concert at St. Peter's WOC
McGuire joined forces in 1980
when they were married, and
they made the world famous
Chapel Hill Harvester Church
their place or worship.
The couple says that
their philosophy of min
istry is embodied in their
song "We're on a Mission
From God." They have min
istered a song in the tene
ments of the Bronx and
reached out to AIDS vic
tims all over the world.
Rambo and McGuire are also
ordained ministers. Rambo teach
es the art of song writing, while
McGuire instructs congregations
in the intricacies of leadership and
church structure. In addition,
Rambo and McGuire lead mar
riage seminars.
They say their lives are dedi
cated to God, and that their mis
sion includes being "compassion
ate to broken, hurting people,
givers of abundant blessings of
God, committed to minister where
other are reluctant, faithful to the
anointing!"
ITie concert at St. Peter's will
begin at 6 p.m. The church is
located at 3683 Old Lexington
Road. For additional information,
please call the church at 919-650
0200.
Reba Rambo and Dony McQuire
Emerging Artists Fellowship grant
deadline set by Arts Council Board
On March 2, The Arts Council of
Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
announced the deadline of April 17,
1992 for Emerging Artist Fellowship
applications. A preapptocabon woricshop
will be held March 18 from 4 -5 pjn. in
The Arts Council board room. Artists
planning to apply arc urged to attend the _
wcricshop.
Emerging Artists Fellowship pro- I
vides financial support up to $1,000 to
promising artists seeking professional
careers in the arts. Any visual, literary, or
performing artist who has been a resident
of Forsyth County for at least one year or
who has demonstrated a serious commit
ment to his or her art is eligible.
Emerging Artist Fellowship is
one of seven grant programs funded
and administered by The Aits Coun
cil. The fellowships are made avail
able through contributions to the Unit
ed Arts Fund Drive and a grant from
the North Carolina Arts Council.
The Arts Council presents "Sisters"
The Arts Council of Winston
Salem and Forsyth County, together
with WXII-Channel 12 and the
Winston-Salem State University
Alumni Association, will present
the Atlanta-based Jomandi
Production's performance of "Sis
ters" on March 21 at 8 p.m. in the
Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium at
Winston-Salem State University.
"Sisters," a two-woman, comedy
drama by Marsha Jackson, returns to
Winston-Salem after a hit run during the
First Black Theatre Festival held here in
1989.
Jackson wrote "Sisters" between
1986 and 1987 because she couldn't find
a play that accurately mirrored and cele
brated black woman as they move into
the 1990s. The two hour play finds two
characters snowbound in an Atlanta
office building on New Year's Eve.
Cassie is a "sassy, cussin' - and - fussinm
maintenance woman. Olivia is a smartly
tailored advertising executive who is
married to her job and thinks she is better
than people like Cassie. The decide to
make the best of the evening by sharing
a bottle of wine and end up sharing their
life stories, a process that leads them to
realize that they're "sisters."
Touching on serious messages con
cerning job identity, loss and struggle,
the play uses strong character develop
ment to propel the plot Using the power
of personal revelation, this two-woman
drama offers insight and exploration into
the hidden connections between us all.
Tckets arc $10 in advance and $12 on
the day of the show. Special groij) ofcs arc
available.
Tickets are now on sale at The
Arts Council office. For informa
tion call (919) 722-2585.
Forms and information may be
obtained from The Arts Council, 305 W.
Fourth St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101.
? Stevens Center ^
Something for Everyone
For ticket information
M Call 721-1946 ?!
Yvonne's North Point Restaurant
Owned and by Gl?n and Tbnl KenneU.
"The Finest in Greek A American Dining n
Daily Lunch/Dinner Specials
759-3766
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T7M North Point Blvd .
K-M?rt Shopping Center
Mon.-Thurs.
FVi.-Sal.
Sun.
1 1 :00am-9 :00pm
11 :00am- 10:00pm
11 :00a m-2 :30pm
Meet The Authors
Sat., March 21
4-6 p.m.
Mark Matjhabano,
Author of Kaffir Boy and
Kaffir Boy in America and
his wife Gail Mathabaao will
be at Rainbow News on
Saturday, March 21st from 4-6 p.m.
to sign their new book Love In Black and White.
Winston-Salem's most unique bookstore, newsstand and
Cate. Browse over 2.000 magazines , a full selection of books .
or enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner.
7 12 Brookstown Avenue
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
n
d^Fe^ooKS (9,9> 723-?858
Mon.-Fft. 9:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m.
SSBS=B99SB9
Sat.-Sun. 10:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m.
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
together with
Winston-Salem State University Alumni Association
and WXII-Channel 12
AM
present
March 21 ? 8:00 p.m.
Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium
Winston-Salem State University
$10 Advance ? $12 Day of Show
$8 Students and Senior Citizens
Ticket Outlets:
The Arts Council Office
Winston-Salem State University Alumni Office
Urban League of Winston-Salem
Bring your NC Black Repertory Company or Little Theatre
membership card and receive $1 off ticket price.
Call (919) 722-2585
Thia partonnanfla to Jutody nypasd bj t a grant ken tha North Carol taa Aria Council, tha Southam Aita
r?itoiatlnii m 6 to National Batowmant lor the Afta in Watorington, D.C Thia ywy to alao mada
poasMa toy a art Atonaa ROOTS and tha National Rndownnart for tha Arta Tfraaga Program.