Artworks Gallery

Artworks Gallery is presenting a two-person exhibit entitled, "Invocations", with Mitzi Shewmake, sculpture, and Teresa Unseld, collage drawings.

Mitzi Shewmake is showing animal sculpures and towers made of cement stucco along with terra cotta relief sculptures. Ideas for these works come from the natural world as well as mythology and the ruins of past civilizations.

Ms. Shewmake studied art at The Corcoran Museum of Art as part of her BA degree from George Washington University in DC. She received an MFA at The Unversity of North Carolina at Greensboro. She also studied at the Cleveland Art Institute and The Art Students' League Summer School. She was a Professor of Art at Winston-Salem State University, and while there became the first director of the Diggs Gallery. Exhibitions include work at SECCA, George Mason University, American Center for Physics in Maryland, Salem College, NC Museum of Art, Fayetteville Museum of Art, Greenhill Center for NC Art, etc. Commissions include sculpture at Wake Forest University and The North Carolina School of the Arts.

Teresa Unseld is showing 7 photo-collages, and 6 drawing-collages. "To me, the title, "Invocation" refers to the power behind releasing spiritual energy. Calling out or upon forces that guide each of us is as ancient as humankind. Such power has been attributed to high priestesses, guardians of sacred spaces, and even sacred animals. There is certainly a connection to the Feminine as protector, regenerator, and the eternal Sentry--protecting all pathways that connect the known to the unknown, Light to the Dark and consequently, each of us to the Universe. The drawing collages and photo-collages focus on various aspects of the invocation. My writing connects the photo images to the various dimensions of the invocation. Sometimes playful and yet insightful, there are no specific meanings attributed to any of workoutside of the meaning invoked from within each viewer.

Teresa S. Unseld is an educator, author, and graphic artist. She is currently an Associate Professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver Art Department. She has taught at the University of Kentucky, Winston-Salem State University, and Western Carolina University. Dr. Unseld also served as the chair of the Fine Arts Department at Winston-Salem State University. She received her Doctorate in Art Education at Ball State University in art education and her art education and studio degrees from Morehead State University. She is the former national president of the United States Society for Education through Art (USSEA) and is a member of the National Art Education Association. Unseld is the author of Portfolios, a book series that combine American history, art and learning activities to introduce learners to the contributions made by Americans of diverse cultures and races. In 1995 Dr. Unseld received the National Art Education Association J. Eugene Grigsby Jr. Teaching Award and has conducted related field experiences and research in Australia, China, Croatia, and Italy. Unseld is responsible for starting the first student art exchange between the Winston-Salem State University and Academy of Fine Arts in Brescia, Italy, in 2002.