Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow

Opening reception honors Kennedy, Alcantar

- STAFF REPORT

The Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, Georgia, will open two new exhibits on Friday, Aug. 3.

Janice Kennedy will present work in “One Woman’s Viewpoint” in Gallery FIVE20. Isaac Alcantar will exhibit work in Gallery ONE11. His exhibit, “El Color De Mi Cultura,” is being presented in collaborat­ion with Coalition of Latino Leaders.

An opening reception for the community to meet these artists will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the CAG, 520 W. Waugh St. in Dalton. The Friday event is also serving as the volunteer kickoff party to prepare for Festival, the guild’s signature fine arts and crafts show to be held Sept. 14-16.

Kennedy admits to struggling when she began studying painting a few years after retirement. In math and science (her vocational skill areas), solutions are defined.

“You either get t he answer right or you get it wrong,” Kennedy explains. “But with art, the artist gets to define what she wants the finished product to be. It took me a while to come to grips with that concept, but when I did, my world became much broader and interestin­g. “

The artist says studying art has made her much more aware of her surroundin­gs and the nuances of design and color.

Many of t he paintings and assemblage­s in her show at the Creative Arts Guild are depictions of moments captured in everyday life, presented in her own impression­istic style.

“Art reflects my surroundin­gs, culture and thoughts. It is an adventure of discovery that takes me on a journey of exposure using color, texture and subject. Art allows me to express feelings, including ones stimulated by living in a new culture,” says Alcantar.

He began drawing cartoons while in elementary school and progressed from tracing pictures to drawing them free- hand. With encouragem­ent from his family, he took art classes in a variety of mediums in high school. He also took drawing classes from Bill Stevens at the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

“On a visit to Kudzu Art Zone in Norcross, I met David Raderstorf, director of Kudzu Art Zone, an organizati­on of volunteer artists whose focus is the support and advancemen­t of local art and artists. After I had an opportunit­y to show him my portfolio, he accepted me as a student and has been my mentor and painting instructor for over f ive years.

“In t he past year, I applied to and was accepted into 18 juried exhibition­s, including the Kudzu Open Exhibit and t he Georgia Watercolor Society Member Exhibition. In February, I was honored to receive an invitation from the Mexican Consulate to exhibit my first solo show,” says the artist.

The Creative Arts Guild is partnering with Coallicion de Lideres Latinos, Coalition of Latino Leaders, to make accessible the variety of artistic expression from Dalton’s Latino community.

For more informatio­n about the event: 706-2793129.

 ?? CREATIVE ARTS GUILD I MAGES ?? “Sentinels” by Janice Kennedy.
CREATIVE ARTS GUILD I MAGES “Sentinels” by Janice Kennedy.
 ??  ?? Artist Isaac Alcantar with his work.
Artist Isaac Alcantar with his work.

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