two hundred sixty

exhibition mounting in progress

Back in the day it was simply called "Weaver".  Greensboro and Guilford County high school students went there for upper level courses not available in their home school.  I went there for AP Studio Art taught by Carol Long.  Long time friend Stefan "Cream MC" and I got into all sorts of trouble learning about the elements of design.  Forest green was our favorite color.  We tried to use it in every project.  Our classmates went to other schools.  We learned things not found in text books.  The electronic music class was just next door.  I heard early compositions from Bill Reynolds coming through the walls.  And the photo students were snapping it up just down the hall.  It was a powerful example of what it could be like to be immersed in creativity -- and being around people committed to their artistic voice.

Nowadays it's called Weaver Academy for Performing & Visual Arts and Advance Technology.   Students are still blazing trails with art and technology.  It is now an "audition only" school.  They allow eight visual art students each year.  Teachers Steven Cozart and Lisa Woods just like Carol Long before are thorough artists in their own right and are sharing with the students all they can.  For example 2015 is the eighth year they've offered the "Student Select" annual art exhibition.  The work is displayed in the Dudley Gallery on the campus of NC A&T State University.  They also have a professional judge consider the art and offer dialogue with the students.  Steven asked me to judge the 2015 exhibition.  Thank you for this opportunity to give back, Steven.

"I can only pick one?" (Image by Ross Holt)

A couple of weeks ago art buddy Ross and I traveled to A&T to meet with Steven over at the Dudley Gallery.  The variety and quality of the student work is overwhelming.  The award selections were made (tough decisions!) and come this Monday, March 2 it's the reception from 5:30p -- 7:30p.  The awards ceremony begins at 6p.  I hope to hear straight from the artists their point of view regarding their artwork and to enjoy fellowship amid a dense creative environment of this diverse nature.  

Final thought: this sculpture by James Barnhill is right in front of the A&T campus art gallery.  I love what these four men stand for and that they are bathed in color by Mother Nature.