Denison -- The next art exhibit at Grayson County College's Second Floor Gallery will feature an all-star cast including some of the heavyweights of the Texoma heavy metal scene, but don't worry about damaging your hearing.
In fact, you just might improve your vision by learning how an artist's eye can detect life in inanimate objects.
Seven prominent Texoma artists are featured in what is certain to be the first of many annual Works in Metal Art Shows at GCC's Second Floor Gallery.
Chance Dunlap received an associate's degree at Grayson County College, got his bachelor's at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is now pursuing a master's degree at University of North Texas.
Alfred Robinson is a valued and gifted contributor at many shows and exhibits as well as being the owner of the Peanut Gallery, a casual space for eclectic artists located adjacent to the Katy Depot in historic downtown Denison.
Jerry Tate, amazingly enough to anyone who has been awed by his work on exhibit at ArtPlace Gallery in downtown Denison, is a relative newcomer to the regional art scene.
Reba Browning & Glenn Spelis are a husband and wife team who has developed a well-defined set of responsibilities that allows both artists to participate in each creation.
Local artists Arlene Cason and Mike Kury often collaborated on artistic endeavors until Mr. Kury's untimely passing.
This latest exhibit at the Second Floor Gallery is comprised of 30 pieces of metal sculpture that fill the Second Floor Gallery and spill down the foyer of GCC's Arts & Communications Building.
Public display of the imposing figures in the foyer had an immediate impact.
"Students flocked to these," said Steve Black, fine arts chair at Grayson County College.
Mr. Black worked to find the best space and lighting for each piece of art, but simply ran out of pedestals after finding the perfect place for 29 of the 30 entries. After a brief conference with the artist who created a giant metal bra, it was decided that in this instance art should imitate life and the massive bra should be draped over a door.
Conversely, in a case of life imitating art, over 80 high school students and instructors attended the GCC Welding Rodeo Preparatory Design Workshop on Wednesday, December 7. The students were from Bells, Denison, Sadler, Celina, Howe, Bonham, Tom Bean and Van Alstyne. The students and instructors attended Drawing, Maquette Making, and Welding Safety workshops. The theme of the Welding Rodeo is "Remembering America." In addition to the workshops, students and instructors toured the Works in Metal Art Exhibition in the 2nd Floor Gallery in the Arts & Communications Center at Grayson County College and presentations by the sculptors.
Of course, getting a heavy metal exhibit up was a little bit more like pumping iron than hanging a show in the traditional sense, but ask the fine arts chair how he feels about the first Works in Metal Art Show at GCC and he will smile as his glance falls momentarily on each work of art, the way a proud father admires equally beloved children.
"I just feel fortunate that I was the one who got to hang this show," Mr. Black says.
The Metal Work Art Show will be on exhibit at GCC's Second Floor Gallery through January 27. A reception for the artists will be held Saturday, January 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“The Absolute Black & White X” exhibit will open February 7 at Second Floor Gallery.
