If you’re a seasoned art lover and connoisseur—or perhaps you’re a curious newcomer to visual arts appreciation—a stop at the Fenix Fayetteville home gallery is a great place to enjoy a range of creative expression by a community of talented artists. The juried artistic standards at Fenix are high and the perspectives are fresh, both in the exhibition gallery and the studio space where member artists regularly hold classes and workshops for all ages.
Throughout the months of June and July 2019, Fenix presents “Our Universe,” an artistic response to the Walton Art Center’s Artosphere Festival theme of Space. The public is cordially invited to visit a special gallery exhibition and view temporary installations, as well as take part in workshops, attend readings and hear unique musical performances. Here are a few highlights, and more events will be announced, so be sure to check the festival webpage for evolving details.
Featured Installations
Sun Boxes, created by renowned artist Craig Colorusso, who has been exploring the intersection of sound, light and space through sculpture since 2000, is aptly described as a simultaneously soothing and energizing sound art installation. Twenty independent speakers powered by sun panels all continuously play their own unique looping guitar note—and collectively form a B-flat chord. With each speaker playing a different length loop, the effect is an evolving piece made up of beautifully overlapping tonalities powered by light.
All are welcome to view this installation during Fenix gallery hours of 12 – 2 p.m. Also featured alongside the Sun Boxes will be a temporary installation of work by glass artist Ed Pennebaker. Inside the gallery is an installation by sculptor Aimée Papazian, who produces and shows her work across the United States using ceramics, wood and wire. The exhibition will also showcase pieces by multiple Fenix member artists.
Scheduled Festival Events
June 15
Pop-In Artmaking: Making a Star
Children are encouraged to visit the gallery between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. to make a star with Fenix artists Fawn Wansower-Potter and JoAnn Kaminsky. $5.00 donation requested. Find out more on the Facebook event page.
Sonic Images: Chris Teal & Quintopus
Called improvisatory but not esoteric, virtuosic yet unpretentious, Quintopus mixes up its own electro-pop futurism out of a little jazz, a little rock, a splash of alternative indie pop, and a good old-fashioned sense of adventure. The Rochester, NY band formed in 2009 by drummer Chris Teal and guitarist Mike Frederick has released three albums including “Voyage to Ornoc”, “April Showers”, and “Prehistoric Beach.”
Hear what they mean when they say they’re bringing “rocky, washy, crawly, jet-propelled locomotion from the ocean floor to your door.” Don’t miss this performance from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Fenix Gallery.
June 22
Instrument Making with Craig Colorusso
Participants of all ages are invited to Fenix Gallery from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. to make a free simple percussion instrument and march amongst Colorusso’s Sun Boxes installation for a marvelous effect. Details can be found on Facebook.
July 11
“A Confederate Widow in Hell” – A Live Theatre Dramedy
Award-winning theatre company Breaker-Fixer kicks off the summer tour of their latest show at the Fenix Gallery, with an absurd and humorous play world. "Widow" exposes lingering false narratives from the Civil War and Reconstruction by shedding light on their origins, the economic systems of oppression they support, and their current relationship to politics and white southern identity.
It is based on primary source research, historical criticism like 'Confederates in the Attic' and 'The Half Has Never Been Told', as well as interviews with Civil War Reenactors and Sons of Confederate Veterans. One night only at 8 p.m. Tickets available at the door for $15, starting at 7 p.m.
July 22 – 26
Art Camp: Painting Our Universe with Whitney Bell
This painting camp is designed for 6 – 9 year-olds, who will explore watercolor, acrylic, oil pastels, sharpies and more—in the context of Cubism, Surrealism, Fauvism and Abstract Expressionism. Campers will create a still life, self-portrait, landscape and an abstract painting, as well as work on daily sketches and critique sketch art in the gallery. $100 for five sessions and supplies. More details are available at the Facebook event page.
July 24 – August 14
Adult Clay Club
Artists in the making will be able to begin or further develop knowledge of ceramics by working through the entire process of creating unique pieces of pottery through hand building, wheel throwing and glazing with instructor Rachel Tebbets. The club will meet for four weekly sessions and participants will come away with at least three clay creations to keep. Appropriate for age 18 and over. Cost of $90 includes all four weeks of instruction. Find out more on Facebook.
