Photos by Tevin Stinson
Hundreds attended the opening night of Spring Extravaganza on Friday, March 11. The exhibit is designed
to showcase the talent of students in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School System.
E ? ' SrhcH
Kadence Watson takes a photo with his award-win
ning painting during the opening night of the
Spring Extravaganza art exhibit at the Milton
Rhodes Center.
Art exhibit opens featuring
artwork from students
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE : ,
Hundreds of students, teachers, parents and other fam
ily members filed into the Milton Rhodes Center for the
Arts last Friday evening for the opening of a special
exhibit that features some of the best artwork from stu
dents in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School
System.
Spring Extravaganza is designed to showcase the tal
ent within the elementary, middle and high schools in the
area. The exhibit is filled with creations that are guaran
teed to catch your eye. From hand painted underwater
scenes, to city scapes of downtown, and portraits of Santa
Claus, the show has something for everyone.
Many students said they felt honored just to have their
work displayed in a gallery like the professionals. Jayden
Jones, a student at Meadowlark Elementary said when he
got the news that his work was going to be displayed at i
the gallery, he was elated.
* Jones mentioned what he likes most about ait is that
you have the freedom to think outside the box.
"There's technically no rules when it comes to art,"
said Jones. "Art is considered anything, and anyone can
do it."
WS/FCS Director of Arts and Educatidn Brad Oliver
mentioned every school in the district is represented in the
exhibit. Oliver said the showcase wouldn't be possible
without the partnership with Modern Automotive.
During opening night, winners were announced for the
different divisions as well.
Modern Automotive awarded Sawtooth School for
Visual Arts scholarships valued at $250 for each winner,
along with a family membership. Runners-up received
student memberships to the Sawtooth School as well.
Teachers of the three winners received certificates to pur
chase art supplies.
When he found out he won first place in the elemen
tary school division Kadence Watson from Caleb's Creek
struggled to hold back a giant smile. Although he said he
enjoys baseball more, Watson said after winning the
award he will continue to create art as well.
"I was excited when I found out I won," he said. This
is a real honor."
Youth coordinator at the Sawtooth School Nanette
Davis congratulated all students, teachers and the
WS/FCS Art Administration for their hard work.
"It takes a village," she said. "Tonight is proof of how
much hard work and dedication that goes in throughout
the school year."
WSSU gallery director
highlights black
women at SECCA
BY ASHLEA JONES
FOR THE CHRONICLE
12x12 is the new salon
series launched by the
Southeastern Center for
Contemporary Art
(SECCA). This new juried
salon series features twelve
artists from across North
Carolina, the twelfth state
to enter the Union. Each
salon exhibition is accom
panied by an artist talk.
This first salon exhibi
tion opened on March 1
with Winston-Salem-based
photographer Endia Beal.
Beal's current body of
work, "Am I What You're
Looking For?" is a photo
installation that features
college-age African
American women.
"Through a series of
striking portraits, the proj
ect explores aspirations and
challenges faced by col
lege-age African-American
women hoping to enter
professional and corporate
space," stated Cora Fisher,
curator of contemporary art
at SECCA.
"Am I What You're
Looking for?" is currently
on display in the preview
gallery of SECCA. During
the exhibit's opening, Beal
discussed her motivation
behind the exhibit and
answered questions from
the audience. "People don't
have these conversations
enough. I was very pleased
with how it all went down,"
states Fisher.
Beal is currently the
director of the Diggs
Gallery at Winston-Salem
State University (WSSU)
and an associate professor
of art. She holds a dual bac
calaureate degree in Studio
Art and Art History from
UNC Chapel Hill. She
completed a Master of Fine
Arts degree in Photography
V>- IU?
from Yale University..
"A native of Winston
Salem, an artist, and a
teacher pioneering the
salon series was very fit
ting," says Fisher.
As an African
American woman, Beal has
her own stories about
working in a corporate
space; however, this body
of work was further
inspired by questions from
her female students at
WSSU.
"Many of my students
were coming to me about
our transition into the cor
porate space. They were
going on interviews and
given the same kind of
feedback that I received
when I was in the corporate
space," says Beal. "Your
hair looks very unkempt or
messy. You need to pull
your hair back or straighten
it. You have on too much
makeup or those heels are
too high. That color is too
bright. Do you have any
pearls?"
Beal feels that African
American women were
being asked to mute them
selves in order to gain
opportunities and that was
problematic.
"I decided to do a proj
ect very similar to a mock
interview, where I allowed
my students to be exactly
who they were without
having to alter themselves.
We all have to alter our
selves in order to gain
opportunities, which is
unfortunate," says Beal.
"But in this space, this
artistic space, we are free to
be whoever we want to be."
"Am I What You're
Looking For?" will be on
view in the Preview
Gallery of SECCA until
April 1.
?
Chronicle
A
Currently seeking
nominations:
The Community Service Awards program, now in its 31st year,
honors individuals in the following categories:
Man and Woman of the Year individuals who have demonstrated
outstanding character and serve as role models for others.
Community Service Award demonstrates a commitment to
community service, community institutions, schools, churches, etc.
Human Relations Award is given to a person who has done great
work to bring people together across racial, social or class lines.
Lifetime Achievement Awards Should be someone who has, over
the years, epitomized what "role model" means.
Recipients will receive a commemorative plaque at the 31st Annual
Awards Banquet on April 23, 6pm. Winners must be able to
attend the banquet. Nominations must be received by
THE CHRONICLE no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 25,2016.
BANQUET TICKETS ARE $30 and includes six month subscription
or six month extension for current subscribers.
Deliver completed form to:
The Chronicle, 617 N. Liberty St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
or email info to plewis@wschronicle.com
no later than 5 p.m. on March 25.
_ NOMINATION FORM: U
?Man of the Year ? Woman of the Year
?Community Service Award ? Minority Business of the Year Award
?Lifetime Achievement Award ? Human Relations Award
Nominee's Name
Nominee's Address ,
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Activities, memberships, affiliations
Please explain briefly your candidate's service achievements:
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