PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 24, 2007
FROM: EASTERN SHORE ART CENTER
Fairhope, AL
Rebekah Webb, (251) 928-2228
RE: October Exhibits

Eastern Shore Art Center
401 Oak Street, Fairhope, AL 36532
Tel. (251) 928-2228 Fax. (251) 928-5188
Gallery Hours: M-F 10-4, Sat. 10-2
The EASTERN SHORE ART CENTER Galleries

Opening receptions will be held on First Friday Artwalk, November 2nd from 6-8 pm. Wine, beer, and hor d'oeuvres will be served along with live music. Admission is free for members and $2 for non-members.

WHITING GALLERY: ART AND THE SOUTHERN WRITER
The Bay area is famous for its creative environment. This month's exhibit "Art and the Southern Writer" will showcase the work of local authors whose words have inspired artwork by local painters and sculptors. Come experience this unique combination of writing and the visual arts. Artists include Allison Ashurst, Pat D'Olive, Katherine Fowler, Susan Godwin, Ellen Grigg, Debbie Kingrea, Taylor Kingrea, Susan Jones, Jo Patton, Erin Fitzhugh Gregory, Linda Lee Smith, Ron Thomson, Colette Waite, Provie Musso and Felicia Oldes. Artists were inspired by writers Mary Ardis, Sonny Brewer, Thomas Lane Butts, Beth Ann Fennelly, Joe Formichella, Winston Groom, Roy Hoffman, Jennifer Horne, Ravi Howard, Suzanne Hudson, Michael Morris, John Sledge, and Sidney Thompson.

Images attached: "Old Mobile Ironwork" (author John Sledge) by Erin Fitzhugh Gregory, "As Summer Dies" (author Winston Groom) by Colette Waite, and "The Poet of Tolstoy Park" (author Sonny Brewer) by Ron Thomson.

WOOLLEY GALLERY: OIL PAINTINGS BY LOOSE WOMEN

ESAC instructor and talented painter, Benita H. McNider, showcases the work of over 40 students from the past 2 years. Come and be inspired by their artwork that has a “loose and painterly” look and feel. Benita teaches Loose Women (Men too) each quarter and welcomes intermediate and seasoned artists to join in the fun.

Participating artists are Betsy B. Adams, Susan Alsup, Jill Berry, Evonne Bilbo, Dick Binger, Joyce Bowers, Barbara Casey, Dick Casey, Barbara Corte, Fid Crowe, Gwen Crowe,Vickie Daetwyler, Maura Daniel, Jolane Edwards, Pat Ernest, Deborah Funk, Carolyn Garbett, Maybelle Godwin, Ba-Ba Hendricks, Amy Houghton-Wynn, Alyson Jackson, Emalee B. Johnson, Leslie Johnson, Jean Kelley, Cristi King, Debbie Kingrea, Squattsy Kittrell, Susie Leatherbury, Brenda Lomax, Helen May, Lynn Meador, Aleda Midgarden, Brandley Monroe, Mary Ann Nelson, Mary Winslow Ollinger, Carol Pittman, Candi Richards, Sandra Roberts, Karen Roloson, Julie Rosser, Lynn Rosser, Merrily Seawell, Lori Shamzadeh, Cary Slocum, Teresa Smith, Jennie Tudor, Jane Waite, Joan White-Spunner, Missy Wilson and Patty Wilson.

COURTYARD GALLERY: COMMON THREADS

Paint, fiber, thread, dye, screen-printing, shibori, and hand stitching make up this colorful show by textile artists Nancy Goodman, Ana Lisa Hedstrom, Brooke Heuts, and Suzanne Wray.

Nancy Goodman is a Mobile-based quilt maker and fiber artist. Primarily self-taught, she worked with traditional quilt patterns and techniques for many years. For the past decade, however, she has been exploring contemporary applications including original designs, hand dyed fabrics and three dimensional formats.

Textile artist Ana Lisa Hedstrom who uses a contemporary interpretation of Japanese Shibori to create wall hangings and art clothing. Based primarily out of California, Hedstrom graduated from Mills College with a B.A. in Art. She has taught at San Francisco State University, California College of Arts, and University of Minnesota Split Rock summer program as well as Penland School of Crafts.

North Carolina artist, Brooke Heuts, is interested in using textiles to explore the emotional landscape of what it means to be human. “The manipulation and layering process that I go through with fabric gives me the ability to express the layers of being, my own emotional experience and my observations of the world around me.” Brooke’s artistic path has been paved by study at the College of Design at North Carolina State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree of Art and Design, and most recently at Penland School of Crafts.

Suzanne Wray - "Exploring the world and recording my response to it have always been natural and an essential part of my life. Paint, fabric and thread have been lifelong playthings, and the Australian landscape with which I am so familiar has been a constant focus."