Queen Anne’s County Arts Council’s Centre for the Arts invites the public to an exhibit featuring multi-media artists Maureen Wheatley and Wende Woodham, photographer Jim Wilson and fine artists Michael Bruley and Andrea Hearn. The exhibit begins Friday, April 12th, with a “Members’ Best” reception from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Maureen Wheatley has been a printmaker and painter for over 35 years. She graduated from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in liberal and fine arts. She is passionate about arts and supportive of the local arts community. She volunteered at the Kent Island Federation of Arts for 20 years and served as Gallery Director for 8 years. Wheatley derives much of her inspiration from nature and often records wildlife in their own habitat. She enjoys sharing her love of artistic expression with students and teaches in a variety of mediums including pastels, acrylics, mixed media, and traditional printmaking techniques.
Wende L. Woodham believes that her lifelong passion for weaving and design began with the discovery of a robin’s nest entwined with brand new hair ribbons, which had mysteriously disappeared from her sister’s bedroom window ledge. She received instruction at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. After a successful military career she retired from the US Army in 1999 and turned her hobby into a profession. Her “woven pictures” are constructed from ribbons and trims collected from all over the world. Woodham works out of her home studio on Kent Island, where she designs one of a kind “quilt-like” ribbon and fiber weavings.
Jim Wilson is a graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School and received the Arts Council’s Scholarship Award for excellence in theatre production in 2006. Using his experience in lighting effects for the stage with photographic imagery, transformed his artistic expression and approach to composition. He continued his instruction at the University of Maryland in College Park and the National Outdoor Leadership School. His love of exploration lead him to Petersburg, Alaska where he worked for the Forest Service constructing and maintaining trails in the Tongass National Forest.
Michael Bruley is a graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School and received the Arts Council’s Scholarship Award for excellence in art in 1999. He continued his instruction at Chesapeake College and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he concentrated in art therapy. Bruley considers art to be “an expression of inner awareness” and finds the act of creating art to be healing both physically and mentally. He shares these principles with his students at the A. F. Whitsett Center in Chestertown where he teaches art therapy. He also uses his artistic eye at Yerkes Construction in Chestertown where he helps to design and construct homes, businesses and landscapes.
Andrea Hearn says she picked up her love of the arts from her mother, who painted for enjoyment and professionally, and recalls that she and her sisters were often curiously quiet and thoughtful while watching her paint. She studied art in high school and was awarded Best Artist of the senior class along with her twin sister, Katherine. She went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in graphic and fine arts at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Hearn says that the arts have always been an important part of her life, whether she is expressing herself through art, acting or filming. She has worked as a graphic artist, photographer and video production specialist. She currently works as Program Coordinator at the Queen Anne’s County Arts Council and is the Creative Director of Chessie Multimedia.
The “Members’ Best” exhibits range from emerging artists to established professionals with a wide range of styles and mediums. These rotating exhibits offer artists and audience members an excellent opportunity to participate in a show that reflects the diversity of regional artwork. The Spring Members’ Best show will run from April 13 to May 11. The Centre is located at 206 S. Commerce St., Centreville, MD. 410.758.2520 or exhibit@arts4u.info. The Arts Council is supported in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
The Queen Anne’s County Arts Council, Inc., is a non-profit organization committed to promoting, expanding and sustaining the arts. We connect artists to audiences and the community to the arts. Visit us on the web at www.arts4u.info.
In photo: Woodham, A Couple of Local Guys