“Contain” by Jeff Bell (left) and “Pinklemonade” by Dee Dee Oliver (right)
WILSON, NC — August 28, 2024 — Barton Art Galleries is pleased to present two exhibitions to open the fall season: “9342 – Among Other Things” and “you are here” by Wilson artists Jeff Bell and Dee Dee Oliver. An opening reception for the art exhibitions will be held on Thursday, September 5th from 5-7 p.m. There will be a gallery talk by the artists at 5:30 p.m. The exhibitions will be on view from September 5th through October 10th. This event is free to the public and the public is invited to attend. Barton Art Galleries is located in the Case Art Building on the campus of Barton College.
About the exhibitions —
“9342 – Among Other Things” by Jeff Bell will be on view at the galleries of Virginia Thompson Graves and Lula B. Rackley.
Bell explains that his found-object-based sculptures and drawings express relationships between materials and memories. “As I explored this relationship in a number of works over the past few years, I found a connection between growing up, nostalgia, and death rooted in several personal pop culture memories,” Bell shared. “I don’t overly plan what the resulting work will look like, but rather start building. This approach forces me to work inventively and rely on quick decisions and mistakes. As I work, I continue to examine the primary references, adding new ones, and evaluating my own history with them. I construct, deconstruct, and reconstruct the elements until the resulting sculptures and drawings reflect the visual references and layers of memory I wish to uncover. I try to achieve something new: a work that confirms the assumptions of my investigation, but also defies those notions and lives outside of my understanding.”
Bell further explains that the sculptures are made partially or entirely from piano parts. Most of the sculptures come from a piano he took apart last year. “When I started looking at different parts, I noticed that the last four digits of the model number (9342) were stamped or painted on by the manufacturers,” he added. “The drawings depict two pianos, 9342 and my wife’s piano. I also began drawing the sculptures I was creating, often superimposing them over the original drawings of the piano when it was still whole.”
Dee Dee Oliver’s exhibition “You Are Here” will be on display at the North Corridor Gallery.
Oliver points out that the exhibition “you are here” is a series of works that represent the mantra she uses in her studio practice as a reminder to be present in the moment. Oliver began working in her home studio and worked as a tool to manage anxiety. Using an intuitive approach, she draws inspiration from nature and works to find the balance between discipline and freedom. Using bold colors and movement through multiple layers creates a dynamic energy that reflects the ceaseless rhythms of the natural world.
“I embark on a creative journey through daily studio work and enjoy exploring a variety of media,” says Oliver. “Working on several pieces at once has led me to create series where I use similar colours and techniques for each set. In an intuitive process, I take inspiration from nature and let the materials guide me on my imaginative journey as I explore each layer to completion.
About the artists —
Bell is the executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council. He previously served as the arts innovation coordinator for the city of Wilson, where he also served as the executive director of Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in art history and a second Bachelor of Arts in studio art, both from UNC Wilmington. He later completed his Master of Fine Arts from UNC Greensboro. In previous professional positions, Bell was registrar at Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art, exhibition and gallery manager at the Contemporary Art Museum Raleigh, and museum manager at the 21c Museum Hotel in Durham. In addition, he has curated exhibitions at CAM Raleigh, the 21c Museum Hotel, and the Ackland Art Museum at UNC Chapel Hill. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the state and region. Bell lives in Wilson with his wife, Amanda Duncan, and their four sons.
Oliver is the Fine Arts Coordinator at Wilson Arts. Prior to this position, she worked as a freelance photographer for 10 years before beginning her journey as a self-taught abstract artist. Having previously studied ceramics and collage at Barton College, Oliver began painting in 2017. Her work has been sold to private collectors throughout the United States and abroad. Currently, her work is also on display in downtown Greenville as part of a public art exhibit and has previously been on display in several locations in historic downtown Wilson.
For more information about this event, please contact Maureen O’Neill, director of exhibitions and educational programs and assistant professor of art at Barton College, at 252-399-6476 or [email protected].
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