Clockwise: Kirah Van Sickle, Brian Evans and Dianne Evans
“Visions of Inspiration: Featuring Artists Brian Evans, Dianne Evans & Kirah Van Sickle” features three artists working in a variety of media and two photographers creating new work.
These three Wilmington based artists are collaborating in this new exhibition. Brian and Dianne are ceramic artists who play with light and shadow on three dimensional surfaces in their functional and decorative pottery. Kirah’s acrylic and mixed media works explore incorporating found objects and papers with paint glazes.
Stay tuned for small ” Meet the Artist” events. The exhibit will be virtual and in the gallery which continues through July 19, 2020.
About the Artists
Brian Evans‘ work conveys inspiration that he finds in his surroundings. Sometimes something as simple as the blade of a saw or a bellows used to blow on a fire can inspire an entire series of work. This body of work conveys simple found objects that inspire minimal or complex linear forms. Brian Evans was born in Beaufort, SC, but was raised in Western Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1993 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Studio Art. He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1995. He studied ceramics through the Continuing Education program at Cape Fear Community College while searching for an outlet for artistic expression. Brian studied under a Japanese-American Potter, Hiroshi Sueyoshi. Brian is currently serving as President of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild.
Local artist and potter, Dianne Evans, has had a passion for art since childhood. She was born and raised in scenic Indiana, Pennsylvania. Dianne developed an interest in art while studying under an inspirational high school art teacher. This experience also inspired her to want to become a teacher. Dianne earned a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1994. In 1995 she moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where she began teaching in several private schools. Although she is no longer teaching, she works at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Continuing her love of art, she took art classes at UNC Wilmington in 2009-2010 where she focused on sculpture and ceramics. A field trip to Penland School of Crafts sparked an interest in pursuing ceramics as an art form. Dianne is an active member of the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild and participates in local art shows. She predominately works in the medium of clay focusing on hand-built pottery.
Kirah Van Sickle is an adventurer at heart. Her early years set a foundation for travel, exploration and visual storytelling. Her acrylic and mixed media works explore incorporating found objects and papers with the paint glazes. These are deeply personal expressions of her memories and dreams. In addition to her studio practice, Kirah is a dynamic instructor and lecturer, leading custom studio courses through museum schools and local art associations, directed to both beginner and seasoned artists. She is an award-winning illustrator, graphic designer and studio artist, a certified Golden Artist-Educator, and active in community arts programming, preservation of cultural resources and enhancing arts education. Kirah lives on the Cape Fear Coast of North Carolina and is a staff instructor at the Cameron Art Museum, Johnston Community College, and Cape Fear Community College.
Click here to view all of the work featured in the exhibit.
As of right now Fourth Friday receptions, held during the Arts Council of Wilmington’s Fourth Friday Gallery Night are on hold until January of 2021. Stay tuned for other virtual opportunities!