Class Acts: Earth, Wind, and Fire

Renaissance Gallery

The exhibition “Class Acts - Earth Wind and Fire”, will open with a reception on Sunday March 10 th  at the Renaissance Gallery . The exhibit features the work of Leona Mackey, Vernon Howell and Rabert Fulks –  each a retired local art instructor, and each an award winning artist producing unique and original work. Pieces by these exceptional, local artists are consistently found in open or juried shows in the Tri-State  region and in the State of West Virginia. One or two pieces in such a show however, often leave the  viewer wishing for more. This exhibit offers the opportunity for a broader view of their work either over  time or through the use of a variety of media. Leona Mackey, a long time art instructor at Huntington High School has transitioned from ceramics  and painting to dichroic and reactive glass in sterling jewelry pieces. Now she is concentrating  on unique fineart works featuring fired glass in stainless steel mounts, either as wall hangings or free  standing pieces. She received the first place award in the 2009 West Virginia Emerging Artist Exhibit. Vernon Howell, an art instructor at Barboursville High School, continues to range far and wide, painting,  working in wood and creating his signature three dimensional collage pieces that are often both  whimsical and industrial at the same time. The collage pieces are instantly recognizable as his,  and consistently receive award recognition. He has exhibited nationally and was recognized  in 2012 with the West Virginia Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement for his significant  accomplishments in the arts. Rabert Fulks, an art and graphic design instructor in the Cabell County Career Technology  Center, was once a student of Vernon Howell and is only recently retired. He paints using oil and wax.  His earthy portraits and landscapes are often subdued and draw on Appalachian life and countryside.  His work has already received a number of regional awards including a Best of Show. During the exhibit, the artists are scheduling specific time for demonstration, description of their creative  process or discussion of specific works, their conception and meaning to the artist. “Class Acts - Earth Wind and Fire” exhibit will run for six weeks, until April 21st. In addition to the  new exhibit, the Gallery will be showcasing the completion of the second phase of its update and  remodeling project. The Gallery is located on the ground floor of the old Huntington High building at the corner of  9 th avenue and 8th street in Huntington WV, and is open on Fridays and Saturdays, noon until  4PM, and Sundays, 1- 4PM.

The following was written by my dad:

Many thanks to our friends at the Renaissance Art Gallery, Vernon Howell, and Leona Mackey for including me in the Class Acts: Earth, Wind, Fire Art Show. The show will be up until April 21, 2013. The opening was great.

The Renaissance Art Gallery is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons until 4:00pm. The Renaissance is located at 900 8th Street on the ground floor of the old Huntington High School building. On Saturday afternoon, March 23, I will demonstrate my approach to oil painting... Thumbnail sketches to a near finished painting.