Wilson Artists Jeff Bell and Dee Dee Oliver will be the focus of the Barton Art Galleries’ Opening Exhibition on Sept. 5th

“Contain” by Jeff Bell (left) and “Pinklemonade” by Dee Dee Oliver (right)

WILSON, N.C. — August 28, 2024 — Barton Art Galleries is excited to showcase two exhibitions, “9342 – Among Other Things” and “you are here’ by Wilson artists Jeff Bell and Dee Dee Oliver, respectively, as it opens its fall season. An opening reception for the art exhibitions will be held on Thursday, Sept. 5, 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 5 through October 10. This event is open to the public at no charge, and the community 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 in the Virginia Thompson Graves and Lula B. Rackley galleries.

Bell explains that his found object-based sculptural work and drawings express relationships between materials and memory. “Delving into that relationship through a series of works in recent years, I have found a connection between coming of age, nostalgia, and death that is rooted in several personal memories around pop culture,” shared Bell.  “I do not overly plan what the resulting work will look like but rather begin building. This approach forces me to work inventively and to rely upon quick decisions and mistakes. As I work, I continue to examine the primary references, incorporate new ones, and evaluate 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 want to expose. I try to get at something new: a work that reaffirms assumptions of my inquiry but that also resists those notions and lives outside of my understanding.”

Bell goes on to explain that the sculptures are made partly or entirely from piano parts. Most of the sculptures are from a piano he took apart last year. “When I started looking at different parts, I noticed that the last 4 digits of the model number (9342) were stamped or painted on them by the makers,” he added. “The drawings are of two pianos, 9342 and my wife’s piano. I also began to draw the sculptures that I was creating, often layering them on top of the original drawings of the piano when it was still whole.”

The “you are here” exhibition by Dee Dee Oliver will be on view in the North Corridor Gallery.

Oliver notes that the “you are here” exhibition is a series of works representing the mantra that she uses in her studio practice as a reminder to be present in this moment. Working from her home studio, Oliver began creating as a tool to cope with anxiety. Using an intuitive approach, she draws inspiration from nature and works to find the balance between discipline & freedom. The use of bold colors and movement through multiple layers creates a dynamic energy reflecting the ceaseless rhythms of the natural world.

“I embark on a creative journey through a daily studio practice and enjoy exploring a wide variety of mediums,” Oliver shares. “Working on multiple pieces at once has led me to creating works in a series using similar colors and techniques for each set. Using an intuitive process, I draw inspiration from nature and let the materials guide the imaginative journey as I explore each layer to completion. 

About the Artists —  

Bell is the executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council. Previously, he was employed as the arts innovation coordinator for the City of Wilson, which included serving as executive director of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and a second Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art, both at UNC Wilmington. He later completed his Master of Fine Arts degree at UNC Greensboro. In earlier professional roles, Bell served as the registrar at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the exhibitions and gallery manager at the Contemporary Art Museum Raleigh, and the museum manager at 21c Museum Hotel in Durham. In addition, he has curated exhibitions at CAM Raleigh, 21c Museum Hotel,  and the Ackland Art Museum at UNC Chapel Hill. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the state and region. Bell makes his home in Wilson, with his wife, Amanda Duncan, and their four sons.

Oliver serves as the visual arts coordinator for Wilson Arts. Prior to this appointment, 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 across the United States and abroad. Currently, her work can also be seen in downtown Greenville, as part of a public art display and was previously on view in several locations in historic downtown Wilson.

For more information about this event, please contact Maureen O’Neill, director of exhibitions and educational programming, and assistant professor of art at Barton College, at 252-399-6476 or moneill@barton.edu.

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