Press Contact: Bernadette B.
Moore Director of
Marketing/PR Phone:
276.632.3221 Fax: 276.638.3963 PiedmontArts.org
215
Starling Avenue Martinsville,
VA 24112
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
February 19, 2009
Exhibit
of Japanese Kites comes to Martinsville
Martinsville, VA: Japanese kites will fly high over the Piedmont Arts galleries during
the upcoming exhibit, Theatre
of the Sky . This exhibit features 22 full–size (22” X
34”) Tokyo kites created by contemporary Japanese kite master, Mikio Toki.
 |
| Kabuki kite from Theatre of the Sky |
This collection of kites
depicts the faces of famous Kabuki actors from a 19th century woodblock print
by Utagawa Yoshiharu entitled, Kiteflying
Competition in the Blue Sky. Renowned kite and print collector Scott
Skinner commissioned Toki to recreate images from this classic print on a
collection of traditional Tokyo kites.
Theatre
of the Sky also features three ukiyo–e reproductions of Kiteflying Competition in the Blue Sky.
Theatre of the Sky will be
on display at Piedmont Arts March 6 – April 18, 2009. An opening reception and gallery talk will be held on March 6
from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the Piedmont Arts galleries. This is a free event.
Guests should RSVP attendance by March 2 to 276.632.3221.
This exhibit is organized
by The Drachen Foundation, a private, educational nonprofit study center
devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge about kites worldwide. Drachen is the German word for kite and dragon. www.drachen.org
About Mikio Toki
Toki is one of the finest
contemporary kite makers in 21st century Japan. A trained graphic artist, Toki has combined his painting skill
with a passion for traditional craft and makes kites that rival the finest in
the world.
Also on display at
Piedmont Arts March 6 – April 18, 2009:
The Neugents: Close to Home
This
exhibit of black and white photographs chronicles the lives of photographer
David Spear's tobacco-farming neighbors, the Neugents, in Madison, North
Carolina.
A
1992 recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Spear’s photographs are in the
permanent collections of museums across the nation, including the Museum of
Modern Art in New York, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine
Art in Houston.
This exhibit is organized by the Gregg Museum of Art &
Design, North Carolina State University and is funded in part by Miller Brewing
Company.
Opening Reception & Gallery Talk: March 6 • 5:30 PM • Piedmont
Arts
A Brazilian Artist in Medieval Europe
Cristina Guerreiro is a young artist with a varied international
exposure. Her work evokes the colors, forms, sounds and mystique of the people,
culture and country in which she was born, Brazil.
Bairro Alto, in the center
of the colorful city of Lisbon, Portugal was Guerreiro’s inspiration for this
collection of works. Through large
scale, and a graphic use of line and color, Guerreiro communicates her vision
of and enthusiasm for this beautiful medieval European city.
Opening Reception & Gallery Talk: March 6 • 5:30 PM • Piedmont
Arts
# # #
About Piedmont
Arts
Piedmont Arts is nonprofit art
museum and educational outreach center in Martinsville, Virginia.
Mission
We believe that art enhances the quality of life. Therefore, the
mission of Piedmont Arts is to provide experiences in the visual and performing
arts to enrich and enlighten the lives of the people of Martinsville, Henry
County and neighboring areas. Piedmont Arts strives to cultivate an appreciation
for the arts both in our physical facility and in the community through
exhibits, live performances, and educational programs for children and adults.
Additionally, Piedmont Arts invites participation in the arts with display,
marketing and performance opportunities available for artists and craftsmen.
Through all of our activities, we strive to bring the arts close to home.
Hours: Tuesday -
Friday 10 am - 5 pm; Saturday 10 am - 3 pm
Piedmont Arts remains admission free
through the membership support of people like you!