Jessica Clark

A Lumbee native, Clark documents and preserves the everyday life of Southeastern native peoples using personal snapshots and photographs as a source. For Clark, the act of creating allows meditation on the narrative and process, escaping to the moment the photograph was shot, becoming overcome by the emotions, sounds, and stories associated with each subject. The large format and vibrant colors of her paintings reflect the vitality of contemporary Native culture and identity, creating monuments to a people who have persevered in the face of oppression and the appeal of assimilation. The subjects of Clark’s works include landscapes, the Lumbee River, Lumbee pinecone patchwork and portraits of Lumbee people as well as members of other Southeastern tribes. https://www.jessicaclarkart.com/

Karen Lynch Harley

A member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe of North Carolina, Harley’s work is inspired by her love of life and culture and usually tells a story. She believes art is therapy for the body and soul and enjoys sharing her gift with others to help them find their inner gifts and spirit. She pulls from her own roots to create in a variety of art mediums. With national and international recognition, Harley has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles regarding her art and devotion to teaching others how to release their creativity through art. Harley recently completed several outdoor murals in Halifax County. Her latest, in Littleton, NC, is part of a revitalization project for the town of Littleton.

Alyssa Hinton

The prevailing theme and overall inspiration for Hinton’s work is of earth consciousness and cultural revelation. It is an identity exploration and a personal journey bridging the past with the present. Drawing on the history and culture of her Tuscarora and Osage tribal ancestors, who were mound culture descendants, Hinton’s work signifies a return to the “earth way” through a reawakening to respect for our life support system, the earth. By making use of digital technology and photography in combination with hand-rendered art, boundaries between mediums blur to create hybrid art forms. A conceptual merging takes place through the distillation of organic patterns, human and animal depictions, and cultural references, including southeastern mound culture designs and concepts. 

Chris Kennedy

Kennedy’s art has evolved over the past 30 years, from notebook doodles to freelancing landscapes and portraits. His current body of work usually incorporates hands. One of the most intimate parts of the body, the part of the body that we use to touch, to feel, to fight, to feed ourselves, to create. For Kennedy, hands easily symbolize age and time, diversity, experience, and beauty. His current work is purposely small, encouraging the viewer to get up close and see the detail, to experience the intimacy of the piece. He hopes to illicit a feeling, a thought, a reaction … hate, love, anger, all those responses are valid.  www.chkennedyart.com

Senora Lynch

Senora Lynch is nationally known for her creation of exquisite American Indian handmade pottery. She creates each piece using a traditional hand-coiling method out of red and white clay, while adding a contemporary twist with her own style of etching designs into the surface. Senora is a member of the Haliwa Saponi Tribe of Warrenton, NC and uses many American Indian symbols and motifs found in the natural environment to convey stories.

Senora has work in permanent collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and at the N.C. Museum of History. Most recently, Senora’s strong designs have made it onto the walkway and seating of the University of NC at Chapel Hill’s campus. Text from: https://aim-nc.com/senora-lynch

Ivan Richardson

Ivan Richardson is a photographer and member of the Haliwa- Saponi tribe. Having a great eye for light and shadows, Ivan says his work is best when he catches the unexpected. His photographs consist of a variety of candid and ceremonial images, as well as scenic and personal images that he sees in his travels when stopping to capture the moment with his camera, focusing on the texture, color, lighting and atmosphere that he sees.

Text from: https://web.rockymountchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=6249

FLUTE PERFORMANCE

Ryan Dial-Stanley performed on flute January 29 as part of this exhibit. Learn more about Ryan.