Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Wilmington, NC - University Union Exhibit Series hosts a joint exhibit featuring the abstract paintings of Gail H. Henderson and the jewelry and metal work of Sarah Tector on display May 8 through August 1 in the Warwick Center Lobby Gallery. The opening reception will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public and sponsored by UNCW Presents.

Henderson's paintings focus on earth colors and natural shapes. Her work has been fostered by time spent in the American Southwest and the rural high plains of Spain. In these abstracted works she uses layers of transparent color juxtaposed with opaque passages of acrylic paint to imply the light freshness and heavy strength of the mountains, desert plains, and the early peoples living there. While having no formal training as an artist, her "artistic juices," as she calls them stem from her being an avid spectator at museums and art shows throughout the US and Europe.

Tector, a metalsmith, specializes in custom-made, one-of-a-kind as well as production pieces of jewelry and small sculptural objects. She uses sterling silver, gold, platinum and other mixed media to create her masterpieces. Allowing her design-oriented family to be her constant influence, she takes the inconsistencies of nature and blends it with the crisp clean lines of the metal being used to create her art. "I prefer to let one detail in a piece stand out emphasizing a 'less is more' style," said Tector.

Henderson, whose professional background is in teaching, education policy making and school administration, has participated in numerous juried exhibitions ranging from the Wilmington Art Association; the Watercolor Society of North Carolina, the Cedar Key Arts Alliance (Cedar Key, FL) the Northwest New Mexico Arts Council and the International Museum of Art both in El Paso, Texas. No stranger to the Warwick Center, Henderson was featured in a solo exhibit entitled Abstract Journey. She is represented by The Artists' Gallery (TAG) at Lumina Station and Artworks Fine Art and Framing.

Tector's extensive artistic background includes a B.F.A. from ECU and courses taken in glass blowing, casting and mixing different colors of gold metal. Much of her work has been commissioned. She has exhibited locally with the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, Groove Jet Salon, and Beanie + Cecil. Her national exhibitions include Phoebe (Chicago); Deering Gallery and NONA (Cleveland); Elements (Raleigh) and RJS Galleries (Richmond and Key West). In 1993, Tector opened, operated and co-owned the BAUHAUS Gallery in downtown Wilmington until 1996. Currently she is self-employed and designs custom-made work in her personal studio.

To view samples of the artists' work, please visit www.uncw.edu/arts.

For more information, please contact the UNCW Presents office at 910.962.7971. For directions to the University Union Warwick Center Gallery, please visit www.uncw.edu/ba/campus_map.htm for a campus map.

Media Contact: Tammi L. Berry,
910.962.7972,
berryt@uncw.edu

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