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February Issue 2005
Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC, Features Works by Betsy Parker
In a
show entitled, Stretching, Betsy Parker's clay sculpture
and wall pieces are being featured at Sunset River Marketplace
in Calabash, NC. The exhibit runs from Feb. 1 through Mar. 12,
2005. "Ideas... techniques... materials... in all these areas,
an artist needs to stretch, to expand her vision and fine-tune
her original voice. These pieces represent some of my most recent
stretching," said the Wilmington, NC, artist in a recent
telephone interview.
Parker studied art at college in Ohio, but received her degree in sociology and went on to become a social worker. It wasn't until her son was a toddler that she brought art to the forefront of her life working with fabric first and later clay.
"Touching clay was like coming home for me, explains Parker. "Clay is ever-present in the daily life of my family. A vast collection of work done by friends and other artists spills through every room of the house. Kiln loads of my animals wind up moving into the living room while bells await hanging and mosaics await framing. Clay wakes me in the night with visions of new pieces and new methods dancing before my eyes."
In October of last year, one of Parker's clay and bamboo wall pieces was honored with an award in the three-dimensional category at the Brunswick Arts Council show. Just recently, she's been studying with Wenzhi Zhang and Wenying Xiong, two Chinese artists visiting the Wilmington area. The experience, she says, is pushing her to new places in clay.
Clay artist Betsy Parker is one of more than 200 regional artists whose work may be found at Sunset River Marketplace. The 10,000-square-foot gallery also offers art classes that include watercolor with Nancy Wickstrom, oil painting with Ramona Bendin, pottery classes with Jane Truesdale. There are also after-school classes for children, and there will be a weeklong workshop with renowned mixed media artist Mary Alice Braukman the first week in March. Contact the gallery for schedules and availability.
For more information check our NC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 910/575-5999 or visit (www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.