Betsy Cox
ARTWORKS around town is proud to host the works of Glen Dale artist Betsy Cox as their featured artist in the Studio Gallery for the month of January. The gallery has a reputation of presenting quality artists for the patrons of Wheeling to meet, and providing an evening to enjoy their works. Betsy continues that tradition and then some! An open reception for the public will be held on Friday evening, January 3rd from 5:00 to 8:00 in the gallery, to view the artist’s work. Hors d’oeuvres and appetizers will be served.
Betsy Cox is a native of Glen Dale, WV where she operates and maintains her studio, Echo Valley Pottery.
Time In A Bottle
Her works are primarily pit-fired, Raku, Horse hair, saggar fired, Wood-fired and traditionally glazed pottery. Betsy is a Member of Artworks around town, the WV Craftsman’s Guild, Charter member of the American Potter’s Council, NCECA Member, and member of the American Ceramics Society.
Chicken Pox
Betsy’s work is featured at Tamarack, MountainMade and numerous galleries and shops in the Pittsburgh area. Betsy’s work has been featured in Sterling Publishings Books, 500 Tiles, 500 Raku and various magazines and calendars. Her works have been exhibited and honored in many area and international venues.
Betsy says “clay is my medium of choice because it is both hard and soft, allowing you to mold and transform it in many ways. I then have control over its transformation to a hard permanent object. I draw my inspirations from nature, memories and everyday life. I am fascinated with chickens and crows. So I have been told that I have birds on the brain. Hence “BirdBrain” came about. “Chicken Pox” was drawn from a childhood memory in my Granpa’s chicken house.”
The Fat White Hen
Reliquaries to Roosters, Ravens and Rogues:
Of her show, Betsy says, “this exhibition will be a collection of ceramic wall and sculptural works. They are dedicated to my Muses. The roosters have been a part of my life since childhood. From my Grandfather’s guinea hens that chased me, to me chasing hens for the Sunday Dinner. The Ravens have always been a fascination for me. With their dark presence, ominous cawing and otherworldliness. They caw every morning from studio rooftop and always drop me a present in the form of a feather. Their 4 claws represent the elements, fire, earth, water and air, all of which are needed to create my works. The Rogue part comes by way of me. I have always been a loner, a leader and one to do my own thing, may it be right or wrong in the eyes of some. My work is like that; there is no right or wrong way to create it. I just do it. The works are all ceramic pieces created by hand-building or wheelwork. They also contain various gifts and finds that I have collected along my path thru life.”
The Loner
Please join us for this wonderful show and participate in the first “First Friday” of 2014.
ARTWORKS around town is a nonprofit charitable and educational organization that operates a Gallery and Art Center for the benefit of the artists and general public of the region. ARTWORKS around town’s Mission is to: promote and encourage public interest in support of the arts, offer quality arts programming for all ages, and provide opportunities to display art work in a gallery setting for students of art as well as for accomplished artists in the local community and the region. The Gallery and Art Center is operated by The Board of Directors with assistance from artist associates and other volunteers from the local community and region. It depends for its financial support primarily on contributions, gifts and grants.
Artists may apply to be juried for exhibiting in the gallery. Through this jury process the Board of Directors considers artistic merit, content and craftsmanship as well as the applicant’s resonance with the Mission of the Gallery and Art Center, and the availability of space.
As a special feature, artists whose works are on display are found in the gallery as guides, providing interaction with visitors, and often opportunities to watch the creative process. These artist associates also support the mission of ARTWORKS around town by volunteering to help with office work and maintenance, teaching workshops, curating and hanging shows and many other aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the Gallery and Art Center.
The Gallery and Art Center is located at 2200 Market Street, in the Upper Market House of the Historic Centre Market Area.
For more information please visit us on the web at: http://www.artworksaroundtown.com