Visual Arts Archives - è��ͷ�� University

è��ͷ�� Communication, Art and Design Seniors to Showcase Work in Annual Portfolio Show

Office of University Communications — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:00:28 +0000

Reception and Walk‑Through Exhibit set for April 17 in Tucker Student Center’s Ali Pouryousefi Gallery

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The è��ͷ�� University Department of Communication, Art and Design will be celebrating its annual Senior Portfolio Show with a reception on April 17 in the Tucker Student Center. The event will be a walk-through style with works shown in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Art Gallery from 3-5 p.m. with light refreshments served.

“It is really exciting to see the diversity of what the seniors are showing this year, from websites to videos to photography to creative design and professional writing samples,” said Assistant Professor of Photography and Design Jessica Maloney. “It is really a great example of the variety of disciplines offered within the department.”

All majors and concentrations will be displaying posters of their work in the Gallery. The show will run from April 17 to May 8 for those who cannot attend the opening reception.

“I am so grateful to work with these seniors and so proud of all of them to be showing their unique works in our annual show,” said Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Lisa Luedeman.

The evening will feature works from students studying graphic design, public relations, photography, broadcast journalism, studio art and video/film. Students will display items they have created during their academic career, such as press releases, photographs, graphic design pieces, artwork, videos and more.

For more information regarding the 2026 Senior Portfolio Show or the Department of Communication, Art and Design, contact Luedeman at lluedeman@gardner-webb.edu or Maloney at jmaloney1@gardner-webb.edu.

è��ͷ�� University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., è��ͷ�� prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .

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Learning by Design: Show Doubles as Artistic Training Ground for è��ͷ�� Seniors

Office of University Communications — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:21:35 +0000

Art majors Create Student Sculpture Exhibition Opening on Oct. 20 in Tucker Student Center

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A new exhibit in Pouryousefi Gallery in Tucker Student Center has a two-fold purpose. Created by senior art majors in the Senior Seminar and Exhibitions I class, the show gives them hands-on experience on how to create a compelling display while also showcasing sculptures designed by students of Adjunct Professor Matthew Jones. The opening reception for the Sculpture Exhibition is Oct. 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. The show will be displayed through Oct. 27.

Emma Wiggins paints the easels for the reliefs.

The three seniors responsible for arranging the artwork are Emma Wiggins, Jillian Enlow, and Isabel Gallegos. Enlow and Gallegos also have pieces in the show. “This class is prepping us for graduate school, or if we wanted to go into a gallery career position, it teaches us how to handle artwork, how to transport artwork, how to prep the walls and how to create a space that’s visually engaging for students, who may walk into the space, and say, ‘Hey, I really like going to galleries,’” Wiggins informed. “It creates an opportunity where people who may not be in the art world can enjoy it.”

Wiggins and Gallegos are planning to go to graduate school after completing their bachelor’s at è��ͷ��. The application process will begin in January. Wiggins is a two-dimensional artist who does drawing and painting. Gallegos works in ceramics and has enjoyed taking sculpting classes. Enlow, of Linconlton, N.C., is still exploring her options for either graduate school or work. A studio arts major, she is a multi-talented artist and likes drawing, painting, sculpting, ceramics, and creating digital artwork.

Wiggins, of Robbinsville, N.C., noted that the Exhibition I class has taught her that artists need to know how to best showcase their artwork. “You need to make your art for you,” she explained. “You need to create to express who you are—whatever the meaning is behind your art—but you also need to know how to show it and be professional in a way that it can be easily viewed and accessed by other people. You need to have a plethora of skills. You need to make digital content. You have to know how to write well; you have to know how to photograph well; you have to be just well-rounded to be an artist in today’s generation.”

Adjunct Professor Matthew Jones explains to the students that visitors to the exhibit need to be able to walk around the sculptures.

Wiggins said her educational journey at è��ͷ�� has positively impacted the way she approaches the creative process. She chose to attend è��ͷ�� because of the close-knit campus. “It fostered everything that I value in life: faith, family, and my relationship with God,” Wiggins described. “And it has been exactly what I needed for this season.”

Isabel Gallegos poses with her sculpture.

Gallegos, of Charlotte, N.C., has enjoyed the opportunity to actively participate in the installation process of the show. She and her classmates have gained more appreciation for the time and effort—the sanding, painting, and thoughtful planning—that go into preparing a show, and they are excited to apply what they’ve learned to their next project. “When you submit work to an exhibition, you take that for granted,” she remarked. “I’ve learned that we have to be three steps ahead and there’s a lot more prep that I didn’t know we were going to be doing.”

While working to refine the display, Gallegos, Enlow and Wiggins remained open to receiving the expert guidance of Jones and Professor Emerita of English and Art Dr. Nancy Bottoms, who teaches the class.

Jillian Enlow stands with her sculpture.

“I’ve learned how quickly things can change,” Gallegos acknowledged. “Initially, we had set up three sections, which were our sculpture, porcelain heads, and then our reliefs and abstract work. It made sense in our head, but after coming in, we realized that we need to be about to walk around the sculpture. We’re working with a 3D object here, so we’re not just placing it on a pedestal. People have to be able to interact with it.”

As viewers take the time to examine the art, Enlow shared that she hopes they will be inspired by the “passion and creative energies” of the artists, who are not all art majors.

Enlow added that organizing the Sculpture Exhibition helped build her confidence, and she’s excited to assemble the next show on Nov. 10. The upcoming exhibit will highlight even more pieces from her, Wiggins, and Gallegos, offering the seniors another opportunity for creative growth and collaboration.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event. Please call 704-406-4270 or email disabilityservices@gardner-webb.edu with your request.

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Painter Hal Bryant Brings New Perspective to Old Abandoned Buildings

Office of University Communications — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:01:28 +0000

è��ͷ�� ’72 Alumnus Taught Art in Cleveland County for Over Three Decades

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Hal Bryant has a talent for seeing the beauty in weather-worn farmhouses and barns; the magic in quaint landscapes and storefronts; and the mystery in dilapidated buildings or abandoned vehicles. A native of Greenville, S.C., and 1972 alumnus of è��ͷ��, Bryant meticulously transfers the images from film into paintings on canvas.

An exhibit on display through Oct. 24 at the Cleveland County Arts Council, 111 S. Washington St., Shelby, N.C., features Bryant’s first works up to his most recent. “A Retrospective Journey Through the Art of Hal Bryant” encompasses Bryant’s diverse range, from his favorite watercolors to the graphite drawing of his daughter. Half of the 60 pieces in the exhibit were borrowed from collectors who had purchased his painting over the years. The others are from his family collection.

Bryant didn’t take art until he was a senior in high school. He applied to different colleges, but chose to attend è��ͷ�� because it was closer to his home. By the time he graduated from è��ͷ��, he had attracted the attention of a dozen local art aficionados. They offered to support Bryant as the University’s first artist-in-residence. They commissioned him to do a series of paintings on the “Vanishing South,” which was an appropriate title for many of his subjects.

The photograph on the left was taken in Hal Bryant’s studio when he was creating the painting on the right.

When he completed the work, Bryant didn’t go back to South Carolina. “I’ve just been blessed to be here in Cleveland County,” he stated.

The artist reflected on his life and paintings recently as he conducted a gallery talk for elementary art teachers from Cleveland County, N.C. Gesturing toward the display, he stated, “Sometimes people look at my work and say, ‘You know I like some of your paintings a lot, some of them are really pretty, but some of them are just plain decrepit looking, why do you paint all this old looking stuff?’”

His answer, “It kind of goes back to my love of watching the effects that the passage of time has on all things. I’ve done sort of a self-analysis to try to figure out what motivated me in that way. When I was young, I used to love to go to my grandfather’s. He lived near Pineville (N.C.). I was raised in Greenville, S.C., so it was about two hours to go up to Pineville from Greenville, which seemed like an eternity for a small kid.”

Hal Bryant’s exhibit, “A Retrospective Journey Through the Art of Hal Bryant,” begins with a board that describes the influence of his grandfather on his life and his artwork.

Bryant continued, “Going down the road, that last little leg of the trip, I’d always look for that window in the barn, and I thought, ‘OK, we’re getting close now.’ While my father and grandfather were talking, I’d be out roaming and exploring around the farm.”

Among the paintings is a reprint of a story from the Jan. 13, 1973, edition of The Shelby Star. The article is about Bryant’s artist residency at è��ͷ��. The photo includes Bryant with a few of the sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey B. Hamrick and Mrs. Paul M. Sarazen Jr., along with è��ͷ�� art professor James Rash. In the story, Rash commented, “Hal has an outstanding ability … You cannot teach a person creativity, but you can help develop a potential and a style.”

At the end of the residency, è��ͷ�� extended his time. When Rash became ill, they asked Bryant to substitute in his classes. “I don’t even know if I knew what I was doing, but I must have done all right, because every now and then Sue Rash (his wife) would refer to how great it was that I was able to come in and take over his classes while he was sick,” Bryant recalled.

When that assignment ended, Bryant was offered a teaching job at Cleveland Community College by the president, Dr. James Petty. “He was a neighbor of mine and he saw me out in the yard and drove up on his tractor and said, ‘I hear you are not at è��ͷ�� anymore,’” Bryant related. “He said, ‘I want you to come to Cleveland Tech, as it was called back in those days, and do some interesting art.’ So, I started there Sept. 1, 1975.”

In the early 1990s, Bryant earned his Master of Arts in Studio Art from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He was on the faculty of Cleveland Community College until 2007, teaching drawing, painting, digital photography, and art appreciation in the college transfer division. After retirement, he taught digital photography for eight years as an adjunct professor.

During his more than three decades at the college, Bryant promoted local and regional artists by featuring their works in the gallery there. He encouraged his students, and they inspired him. They are successful artists and teachers, and they keep in touch.

“I’ve really been blessed the way things have worked out,” Bryant observed. “Because I was associated with the Community College, I was able to work creatively by being around the students.”

The Arts Council is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 704-484-2787.

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Department of Communication, Art and Design Presents Senior Portfolio Show

Office of University Communications — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:39:53 +0000

Reception for 23 Seniors will be Thursday in Tucker Student Center Gallery

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The è��ͷ�� University Department of Communication, Art and Design presents its Senior Portfolio Show through May 2 in Ali Pouryousefi Gallery, Tucker Student Center. The group of 23 seniors will be honored at a reception on April 25 from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery.

The display features the students’ work in photography and videography, graphic design, journalism and public relations. The students are listed below.

Aedyn Concepcion, of Anchorage, Alaska, Communication Studies: Graphic Design,
Anastasia Schaefer, of Franklin, N.C. Communication Studies: Public Relations,
Autumn Flowers, of Atlanta, Ga., Communication Studies: Public Relations
Bradley Lail, of Forest City, N.C., Communication Studies: Graphic Design,
Bryan Dunne, of Savannah, Ga., Communication Studies: Video & Film,
Cheickna A. Sissoko, of Bamako, Mali, Communication Studies: Video & Film,
Colton Payne, of Asheville, N.C., Communication Studies: Video & Film
Cyrus Richer, of Abbeville, S.C., Communication Studies: Photography,
Darius Hough, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Communication Studies: Public Relations
Dequarius Nicholas, of Atlanta, Ga., Communication Studies: Public Relations,
Eliel Cuesta, of Rock Hill, S.C., Communication Studies: Photography,
Emily Cox, of Denver, N.C., Communication Studies: Public Relations,
Emily White, of Apex, N.C., Communication Studies: Public Relations
Jacari Shell, of Shelby, N.C., Journalism: Broadcast, website
Jacqueline Craig, Morganton, N.C., Communication Studies: Graphic Design,
Julius Ross, Communication Studies: Video & Film
Kalee Varga, of Mobile, Ala., Communication Studies: Public Relations
Kazuya Kojima, of Yokohama, Japan, Communication Studies: Public Relations
Phineas Garlock, of Shelby, N.C., Communication Studies: Graphic Design,
Rebecca Ferrina, of College Park, Md., Communication Studies: Public Relations
Shira Edwards, of Huntersville, N.C., Communication Studies: Photography
Sierra Talbert, of Monroe, N.C., Communication Studies: Public Relations
Taylor Payne, of Bessemer City, N.C., Communication Studies: Graphic Design,

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Communication, Art and Design Showcase Features Works of 30 è��ͷ�� Students

Office of University Communications — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:10:02 +0000

Over 60 Pieces Created by Students for Their Spring Coursework

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Thirty students in the è��ͷ�� Department of Communication, Art and Design will showcase over 60 pieces of their work in the 2024 Student Showcase. The display will hang in the Communication Studies Hall, 141 S. Main St., through May 2. The opening reception is April 17 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Assistant Professor of Photography and Design, Jessica Maloney has worked with students to coordinate the show. “I’m absolutely thrilled to hang such a wide variety of work from our students this year,” she praised. “We have paintings, drawings, screen prints, digital art, photography, graphic design work, and more. I’m excited to see our hallways filled with these creative pieces!”

Participating in the show are:

Aedyn Concepcion, digital design
Albani Williams, digital photograph, sculpture, digital art
Amarri Smith, digital design
Ashton Brunson, digital art
Rebecca Siedenburg, website design
Bethany Payne, charcoal drawing
Carson Willoughby, poster design, photography
Chantal Martin-James, digital photography
Colton Payne, photography
Cyrus Richer, digital design and photography
Dakota Hawxwell, digital photography
Ella Brown, drawing
Emma Wiggins, drawing
Forest Blackston, drawing
Jacquelyn Carroll, digital design
Jacqueline Craig, drawing
Jai’lyn Worthy Jon’e, digital photography
Jessica Perriello, digital art
Lee Reynolds, digital photography, screen print
Megan Addington, drawing, printmaking, painting
Michelle Hamböcker, drawing, painting
Paula Harvie, digital art
Phineas Garlock, digital design
Race Herr, drawing
Sarah Bracken, painting
Shira Edwards, digital photography
Theo Drescher, digital design
Zo White, drawing
Isabel Gallegos, drawing
Jillian Enlow, sculpture

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è��ͷ�� University Senior Art Majors Display Their Works in Ali Pouryousefi Gallery

Office of University Communications — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:08:40 +0000

Show by Isabel Gallimore, MaryEvelyn Murray and Megan Addington on Exhibit Through April 12

The senior artists, from left, Isabel Gallimore, Megan Addington and MaryEvelyn Murray, pose at the opening reception.

Isabel Gallimore, artist

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Works by è��ͷ�� seniors Isabel Gallimore, MaryEvelyn Murray and Megan Addington will be featured in the Ali Pouryousefi Gallery in Tucker Student Center through April 12. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m.

The paintings range from abstracts and everyday objects to the special people in their lives. Each artist explained how they chose artwork for the show.

Gallimore is from Mooresville, N.C., and pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in art. She draws her inspiration from the spontaneity of automatic art. She noted in her artist statement: “I allow my creativity to flow freely, embracing abstraction using bold colors and shapes. During the process, I look for images that emerge naturally and develop them further, each with its own significance.”

Megan Addington, artist

Addington, of Dallas, N.C., is working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She reflected on her work. “Since the beginning, what I enjoy creating the most with my artwork are the things that I hold dear to me,” she said in her artist’s statement. “These works are a portion that express the values that I’ve inherited and developed through my family, faith, and personal experiences.”

MaryEvelyn Murray, artist

Murray is majoring in art with a minor in business administration. She is from Salisbury, N.C. She described her work as containing a feeling of nostalgia that is emphasized by the saturated contrast and dark backgrounds she likes to include. “The pieces are comprised of various mediums, including acrylic paint, charcoal, graphite, and clay. Over time, I have noticed that the majority of my artwork is heavily influenced by my own childhood and memories,” she acknowledged in the statement about her work. “The loved ones who helped me get to where I am today are the anchors of not only my subject matter, but also the reason I had the confidence to pursue art in college. My artwork exhibits both my gratefulness for these memories and people, as well as the nostalgia I experience for our memories together.”

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‘Exhibit of Work,’ by è��ͷ�� Adjunct Instructor Matthew Jones Featured in Tucker’s Pouryousefi Gallery

Office of University Communications — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:52:07 +0000

Show Organized by GWU Exhibition Class on Display Through March 8

By Isabella Brown, ’24, Intern for University Communications

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Matthew Jones, adjunct art instructor in the è��ͷ�� University Department of Communication, Art & Design, presents a gallery show through March 8 in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Art Gallery in Tucker Student Center. The opening reception for the exhibit is today (Feb. 16) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Jones said his “Exhibit of Work” is associated with the most important things in his life: his family and child. “All the work is specific to my life and my family, but I hope that everyone can bring their own experiences and relate to them in their own way,” Jones offered.

During his first year at è��ͷ��, Jones has taught the following classes: Drawing, Figure Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture. He has also taught art classes at Cleveland Community College. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and master’s from The New York Studio School in 2009, he became an art handler at galleries such as Sotheby’s, Broadway 1602, HG Contemporary, and was even a freelancer at various galleries in New York.

Jones shares that these experiences gave him the unique opportunity to see and handle some very famous art works. “I was exposed to great artists like Cézanne, Warhol, Matisse, Soutine. I was handling those works, actually taking them out of the frame and handling them,” he described.

Within his own exhibit, Jones offers a similar way for students to appreciate the depth that lies beyond the frame of a painting. “All of the work is going to be taken out of the frames. My hope is that the students can enjoy how the paintings are made by different layers,” he expressed. “I hope everyone can enjoy the paintings in the way that they are—just paintings. When you take them out of the frame they aren’t these big grandiose things, they are actually just objects that are made by hand.”

As an artist, Jones appreciates the connectivity and empathy of art. “I love that everybody can relate to it,” he continued. “There’s this place in Pompeii called the cave of mysteries. It has some of the oldest surviving paintings ever, and even now, we can relate to simple things in those paintings like the gesture of an arm or the way a figure is standing.”

The exhibition class at è��ͷ�� had the special opportunity to collaborate with Jones in organizing this show. The students have worked hard on the countless details that go into presenting an exhibition like Jones’ ”Exhibit of Work.” They have all taken part in the graphics, positioning lights, sanding and repainting walls, hanging and stretching canvases and much more.

“It helps them learn how to organize the show, how to light the show, present work in a professional way, and promote the show,” informed Jones.

Class member Sarah Bracken, a senior fine arts major, said that this experience has taught her lessons that go beyond the preparation of the exhibition itself. “I would say this has been a learning experience. Not only in technical skills and process, but about myself,” she observed. “I have learned to be patient and endure the obstacles. It’s not about the finished product but about the learning and growing process which creates the story of art.”

She added, “I believe art is important for the story it tells. Art can be one’s outward expression of their inner self. Personally, art is important to me because I view art as an act of worship and communication with God.”

Writer Isabella Brown is a senior English Major.

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Christmas Art Sale Supports Art Club and Artists

Office of University Communications — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 14:51:27 +0000

Find Handmade Items from GWU Students, Faculty and Staff at Annual Event

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Annual Christmas Art Sale, sponsored by the è��ͷ�� University Art Club, is the place to find unique handmade gifts for the people on your list. The event will be held on Nov. 17-18 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Nov. 19-20 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Tucker Student Center.

Chris Dover, president of the Art Club, said art majors look forward to displaying and selling their work each year. “This semester we will have around 20 vendors,” he shared. “In addition to art majors, we will have faculty and outside artists participating this year. The sale will include paintings, drawings, ceramics, jewelry, crocheted items, and much more.”

Dover explained that a percentage of the proceeds goes to the Art Club to help fund field trips and materials for the Art Club. “This year, the sale will be on the main floor of the Tucker Student Center rather than one of the halls,” he stated. “We’re hoping that this will make it easier for customers to come and see our items. Everyone should come out to support their local artists, find some holiday gifts, and enjoy our amazing artwork.”

Learn more about the Department of Communication, Art and Design.

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è��ͷ�� Art Club Sponsors Spring Art Sale April 28-May 1

Office of University Communications — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 13:46:56 +0000

Find a Variety of Unique Artwork, Plants, Hay Bales and Homemade Goods

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Spring Art Sale, sponsored by the è��ͷ�� University Art Club, will have a variety of unique items, from hay bales to all kinds of artwork. The sale will be held outside of the GWU Communications Building, 141 S. Main St., in Boiling Springs, on April 28-29 from 4 to 8 p.m., and April 30-May 1 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chris Dover, of Boiling Springs, N.C., a senior art major, said the hay bales were used by the 3-D Class in making a sculpture influenced by the works of Andy Goldsworthy and Martin Puryear. These artists are known for their sculptures of natural materials.

These hay bales, which were part of a 3-D Class sculpture, are for sale by the students.

A portion of the proceeds supports the Art Club to provide funds for future sales, project supplies, and art-related field trips.

“Everyone should drop by to support local, up and coming artists,” Dover asserted. “We’ve got some amazing work that’s being offered.”

Dover added that the undergraduate art show will be going on at the same time inside the Communications Building and those items will also be for sale. The artwork includes ceramics, jewelry, crocheted items, paintings, ink prints, keychains and more.

Shai Hart, of Clemmons, N.C., a junior double major in English and studio arts, noted another addition to this year’s offerings: Potted plants and homemade goods. “The Art Club’s annual sales always offer a wide range of unique goods from artists who don’t sell elsewhere,” she observed. “Additionally, by supporting student artists, you allow us to continue working on the projects we love while in school—and you can get some unique gifts and trinkets for yourself.”

The vendors will accept cash and card and will be selling rain or shine.

For more information contact dover at cdover3@gardner-webb.edu or hart at shart1@gardner-webb.edu.

è��ͷ�� University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., è��ͷ�� prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at è��ͷ��.edu.

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è��ͷ�� Ceramic Students Donate Bowls for Local Arts Fundraiser

Office of University Communications — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 17:03:00 +0000

Pottery Helps Cleveland County (N.C.) Arts Council Provide Arts Programs in Schools

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Every spring, è��ͷ�� University professor Doug Knotts requires each of his ceramic students to make 20 bowls. The repetition helps them learn and improve their technique, and the pottery is donated to the Cleveland County Arts Council for its fundraiser, “Bowling for Dollars.”

The lunchtime benefit is held during the “Treasures of the Earth Pottery Show.” Potters in the show also donate bowls for the event. Attendees are served homemade soup in a bowl they choose from all the ones that have been donated. After the meal, the bowl is theirs to keep. The money raised during the event supports the Arts Council’s Arts in Education program. This initiative brings professional artists into Cleveland County Schools, providing young people opportunities to experience arts programs.

“We’ve contributed 100 bowls for several years,” Knotts shared. “This community service project is supported by everyone in the department. It’s our way of giving back to the community.”

The bowls before glazing, left, and after firing.

Recently, Knotts and a group of students for the project. While preparing to glaze her pottery, senior art major Katie Canipe talked about how the fundraiser provides art programs for her children, who attend Cleveland County Schools. When she graduates from GWU, she is going to work on her graduate certificate in teaching. “Anything we can do as artists to support arts in the schools is important,” she asserted.

Canipe took her first ceramics class at è��ͷ�� in 2020. “I really fell in love with trying to get better at things that I could make,” she reflected. “I like making functional pieces, but I just fell in love with taking a piece of clay and making it into anything. The possibilities are endless. No two pieces are going to be the same. I’m hoping once I graduate to buy my own wheel and kiln and become a local potter, and to teach art too.”

Another senior art major, Micah Zehnder, enjoyed working on the bowls for the Arts Council, but his specialty is making musical instruments. “I like three-dimensional art, and with ceramics, I can make something in one day or a few hours,” Zehnder explained. “Other 3D mediums take a lot longer. I get into a good head zone when I’m throwing; it’s really relaxing.”

Bella Sherrin shapes a bowl for the fundraiser.

Katie Canipe prepares a bowl for glazing.

Micah Zehnder shows one of the musical instruments he’s made out of clay.

Bella Sherrin, a senior psychology major, also hopes to get her own kiln and wheel when she graduates. She plans to attend graduate school and enter the field of occupational therapy. “Pottery is a stress relief for me,” she observed. “I like coming in here and spending time. Hopefully, I can incorporate this into the therapy. I want to work with children, so this would be a good activity for them. With pottery, in general, you learn patience, because you have to be patient with the clay as you go.”

Arts Council President Shearra Miller said è��ͷ�� students provide about one-third of the bowls for the fundraiser. “Without their contributions, we would not be able to sell nearly as many tickets,” she noted. “Thus, we wouldn’t be able to make as many people happy, and we wouldn’t be able to raise as much money as we do.”

Miller added that for many in the community, the event is more than a fundraiser; it’s something they look forward to every year. “They enjoy being able to get a ‘free’ bowl with the purchase of their soup lunch,” she explained. “It wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of the potters, especially the GWU students and Doug Knotts.”

will be March 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance for a specific 30-minute time slot. Lunch is dine in or carry out. The Arts Council is located at 111 S. Washington St., Shelby, and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (704) 484-2787.

Learn more about the Department of Communication, Art & Design.

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