NOW SHOWING: 

NFCC art exhibit “The Local Show” now open

The North Florida Community College Art Department invites the public to a reception on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 12 Noon-1:30 p.m. to help celebrate its newest exhibit entitled “The Local Show” at the NFCC Hardee Center for the Arts (NFCC Bldg. 11).

“We invite community members to stop by, spend their lunch hour with us on Jan. 28 and to enjoy works by two local artists – Deanna Wheeler of Pinetta and Marshall Norris of Greenville.” said Lisa Barden, NFCC Art Instructor. “We encourage the public to attend and show their support for the arts.”     

The college’s Sentinel Café (Student Center, Bldg. 9) is offering chili and a side salad as a special menu item to help celebrate and the Hardee Center for the Arts, just steps away from the Student Center, is offering dessert items to visitors at its artists’ reception on Thursday. Artists Marshall Norris and Deanna Wheeler will both be on hand at the reception to discuss their work.

Artist Marshall Norris, a native of Greenville, Fla., regularly tours his metal sculptures and often builds pieces to fit specific themes for shows, exhibits or customers. His art is located in every state in the U.S. and in over 20 foreign countries. Norris and wife Barbara operate the Artistic Things by Marshall Gallery just a few miles from where Norris grew up in Greenville. Norris has a creative knack for turning old metal pieces into art and he says that almost anything, from metal gears to springs, can be recycled. Norris not only creates sculptures, he also does paintings and drawings. According to Norris, he was influenced at an early age to be an artist through school and church. He became a professional artist in 1990 and opened his business in 1998.

Artist Deanna Wheeler of Pinetta is a self taught artist – “I was gifted with my natural ability to draw and paint, said Wheeler.” She is a member of the Southern Artist League and has participated in several exhibits at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Ga. A few years ago the City of Madison commissioned Wheeler to create a portrait of James Madison. The portrait is now on permanent display at the west entrance of the Madison County Courthouse.

“I paint in a very realistic style, using both oils and acrylics, said Wheeler. “My subject matter generally tends to be of horses, dogs, cats and all manner of animals.”

Wheeler and her husband have been residents of Madison County for fifteen years; there home and studio is located in Pinetta. More information about Wheeler’s art is available at www.PersimmonRidgeArt.com.  

“The Local Show” exhibit, open now through Feb. 26, and the artists’ reception Jan. 28 are both open to the public. Regular hours for the NFCC Hardee Center for the Arts are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, contact Lisa Barden, NFCC art instructor, at (850) 973-1642, email BardenL@nfcc.edu or visit www.nfcc.edu (search Visual Arts).       

The Hardee Center for the Arts is an art venue which aims to serve the public by featuring the works of both local and national talent. It is our goal to enrich community culture by offering a new exhibition each month of emerging and established artists.

The gallery opened in September 2009 and is open 4 days a week. Exhibitions are scheduled a season in advance.

For exhibition questions and information, please contact: Lisa Barden at 850.973.1642 or email bardenl@nfcc.edu.