NOC Hosts Two Artist!

By ELIZABETH SPEARS

The Eleanor Hays Art Gallery opened its 2008-09 season with ”Filling the Void,” a two-person exhibition of paintings by Betty Bowen and ceramics by Paul Pfrehm.

Gallery Director Audrey Schmitz chose the artists because of their strong sense of color and form and the rich, textural surfaces each creates in their given media.  Although these two Oklahoma artists have never shared an exhibit space, Schmitz said she realizes the complimentary nature of their work and is pleased to present their art for the campus and community through Oct. 10..

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. and during evening performances in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center.

Betty Bowen is a print maker. She is currently a teacher in Cushing. Bowne studied painting and printmaking in Oklahoma City and Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned a master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

“My paintings are about movement and light, the way light and shadow move across the surface; bubbles in water, wind, branches, leaves, light coming through and around things,” Bowen said. “I begin with an excess of marks and activity, and from then on, it is a process of editing. I am finished when I have taken away everything that feels unnecessary.”

Paul Pfrehm, whose motto is “Have wheel, will travel,” has worked in clay for over 40 years and holds a bachelor’s degree for art education and a master’s degree for fine arts in clay and sculpture. A master clay artist from Wewoka, Pfrehm has over 20 years experience as a college professor along with an extensive exhibition history. Pfrehm will give a come-and-go demonstration of methods and techniques for working with clay Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ceramics lab located in the Creative Arts Building room 110. The demonstration is open to everyone on campus as well as the community. “

“The porcelain works in the gallery are of the highest quality and the reason Pfrehm’s work continues to receive awards and honors throughout the United States,” said Schmitz. For more information, contact Audrey Schmitz at 628-6670. Schmitz may also be reached in the ceramics studio at 628-6671.

The Eleanor hays Art Gallery is open to the public and is free of charge.