– Creatively sculpted and painted figures are on display amongst large stoneware creations at Jones Colleges’ Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery until February 5. The featured artists, Jeff Brown and Benjie Heu’s exhibit show off their contrasting styles of designs and form using various techniques. On the last day of the exhibit, Brown and Heu will be giving a demonstration and discussion about their methods of ceramic sculpting in the ceramics lab, room 119 of the Visual Arts Building, at 8:15 a.m., followed by an “Art Talk” in the Gallery at 11 a.m.
“We are excited to have both of these artists share their talents with the community, but I think our students will greatly benefit from their knowledge about pottery, ceramics and pushing the design limits,” said Jones College art instructor, Melanie Eubanks.
For more than 30 years, Jeff Brown has been teaching art, beginning at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to his current position as an Associate Professor of Art at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana for the last 23 years. Teaching all levels of ceramics and art appreciation, Brown also codirects the Ameen Art Gallery and is co-advisor for the University Ceramics Club.
“Over the years, I have been exploring many different forms in clay both functional and non-functional. Most recently, I have been exploring hand built sculptural forms, which dominates this collection of works. Whichever format that I may be working in, there are similarities in how I go about constructing the work and my inspiration to the form and surface,” said Brown. “I often work intuitively, as a majority of the work is done in pieces and assembled to complete the forms. This is a magical moment when I see the form come alive during the assembling process.”
Professor of Art and Ceramics, Benjie Heu has been teaching since 2005 at Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His ceramic figures are creatively sculpted, colored with illustrations using multiple techniques.
“I employ simple but richly textured surfaces to transform easily relatable and yet often overlooked anxieties of everyday life, the frailty of our bodies, the specter of chemical dependency, religious uncertainty, family dynamics, into figures or obstacles to be faced by the viewer. The most outlandish adventures are accounted for with an eye fixed on the bare essentials. Battles against time, against the obstacles that prevent the fulfillment of desire, or the repossession of something cherished but lost are themes that provoke me,” Heu explained. “Revealing truth and humor in the face of horror and the seemingly absurd is my answer.”
Heu’s sculptures on display at Jones College force the viewer to look at the many details woven into the faces and figures, because of the unusual designs, contrasted by the more large and simpler designs of Brown’s artwork.
For more information about upcoming JC art shows or to arrange a visit to the gallery call 601-477-8401. The Eula
Bass Lewis Art Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and by appointment only on Fridays. The gallery is closed during the holidays. To learn more about the Jones College Art Department, https://www.jcjc.edu/programs/finearts/ or the JC Art Department’s social media: Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/JCJCFineArts/ and on Instagram @artatjonescollege.
