WILSON, N.C. — Mother’s Day proved a perfect backdrop as graduating students’ families joined the Barton College community on the campus green for Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 13.

Some 220 seniors participated in the 110th annual commencement exercises. Dr. Norval C. Kneten presided over his ninth commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. John P. Marsden, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented the graduating class.

Robert A. Ingram, retired chairman and CEO of GlaxoSmithKline and a general partner in Hatteras Venture Partners, delivered the commencement address.  Ingram was presented with the Doctor of Science degree, honoris causa, by Barton College during the commencement exercises.

Participating in this year’s commencement ceremony were students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2010 and May 2011, as well as candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer.

The three highest honors presented to Barton students: the Hilley Cup, Coggins Cup, and the Hemby Leadership Cup, were awarded during the program. The Hilley Cup, presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average, was also awarded to Tracey Reneé Pugh of Wilson, who graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12). The Coggins Cup, presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff, was awarded to Emily Marie Humphreys of Fuquay Varina, who graduated magna cum laude with Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Biology. The Hemby Leadership Cup, presented to the graduating senior, who in the estimation of the college community (including students, faculty and staff) has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout a career at Barton College, was also awarded to Emily Marie Humphreys.

In celebration of teaching excellence in the classroom and faculty commitment to student success, the Jefferson-Pilot Faculty Member of the Year awards were presented to Dr. Neal M. Bengtson, professor of business, and Dr. Jennifer O’Donoghue, associate professor of physical education and sport studies, and director of athletic training education. The awards include a cash stipend for international study in conjunction with Barton’s international emphasis.

Other official announcements included two retired faculty recognitions; D. Jane Bostick was named Professor Emerita of Music and J. Christian Wilson was named Professor Emeritus of Art.

Alexandra E. Minton of Burlington, senior class president, addressed the graduating class and also offered appreciation for the support and guidance from professors, staff, families, and friends on behalf of her fellow classmates. Whit D. Coolbaugh, class of 2002, president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, brought greetings to graduating seniors on behalf of the Alumni Association.

The Reverend Hollie E. Woodruff, chaplain of the college, officiated at the baccalaureate service and delivered the sermon on Sunday morning.

Other commencement festivities during the weekend included a luncheon for seniors and their parents on Saturday, hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten, at the Barton-Graves House. The pinning ceremony for the graduates of the School of Nursing was held on Friday evening, May 11, in Howard Chapel.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. — Robert A. Ingram, retired chairman and CEO of GlaxoSmithKline and a general partner in Hatteras Venture Partners, will be the featured speaker at the 110th annual commencement exercises of Barton College scheduled for Sunday, May 13, on center campus at 1:30 p.m. Wilson Gymnasium is the rain site. Dr. Norval C. Kneten will preside over his ninth commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. John P. Marsden, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will present the graduating class of approximately 220 seniors.

Participating in this year’s commencement ceremony will be students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2011 and May 2012, as well as candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer.

The three highest honors presented to Barton students: the Coggins Cup, the Hilley Cup, and the Hemby Leadership Cup, will be awarded. The Coggins Cup is presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff. The Hilley Cup is presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. The Hemby Leadership Cup is presented to the graduating senior, who in the estimation of the college community (including students, faculty and staff) has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout a career at Barton College.

The Jefferson-Pilot Faculty Member of the Year awards will also be presented. The awards, given annually to two faculty members, include a cash stipend for international study.

Whit Coolbaugh, class of 2002, president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, will bring greetings to graduating seniors on behalf of the Alumni Association.

Barton's Commencement Day program will begin with the baccalaureate service Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in Howard Chapel. The Reverend Hollie E. Woodruff, chaplain of the college, will officiate at the service and deliver the baccalaureate sermon.

Lunch will be served in the Hamlin Student Center Dining Hall from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at no charge for seniors and $5.00 each for family members and guests.

The Commencement festivities will include a luncheon for seniors and their families on Saturday morning, May 12, at 11:30 a.m., hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten at the Barton-Graves House.

The pinning ceremony for the graduates of the School of Nursing will be held in Howard Chapel on the Barton College campus on Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m., followed by a reception in Hardy Alumni Hall for nursing graduates,  their families, and friends.

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About the speaker —

Retired chairman and CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, Robert A. Ingram currently is a general partner in the firm Hatteras Venture Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage life science companies in the southeast United States. He also currently serves as Chairman of Elan Corporation plc. and as Lead Director of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, and Cree, Inc. Ingram is a member of the Board of Directors of Allergan Inc. and Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.

Ingram began his career in the pharmaceutical industry as a professional sales representative and rose through a series of roles with increasing responsibility to ultimately become CEO/Chairman of GlaxoWellcome. Ingram co-led the merger and integration that formed GlaxoSmithKline, the world’s second largest pharmaceutical company. Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, Ingram was asked by the Board to serve as Vice Chairman Pharmaceuticals, GSK, which he did until January 1, 2010, at which time he became Strategic Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, GlaxoSmithKline plc.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Ingram was asked by former United States President George H.W. Bush to form and chair the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. He is a member of numerous other civic and professional organizations. In January 2004, Ingram was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr., Legacy Award for International Service. On July 27, 2006, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Advisory Board.

Ingram is a member of the Boards for the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, CEO Roundtable on Cancer, Research Triangle Institute and Chairman, GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. He serves as Chairman of Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina and is on the Advisory Board, Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California.

He graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

This new series has been established to recognize academic achievements in a variety of forms. The upcoming reception will provide an opportunity to recognize recent additions to the library space that reflect academic achievement, including a new permanent art exhibit area showcasing works by current Barton art students as well as a recently-acquired collection of scholarly research exploring issues involving the intersection of religion and science.  Guests attending the reception will also have a chance to meet and welcome the College’s new director of the library George W. Loveland, who recently joined the library faculty.

The new art display area features a permanent framed structure that will accommodate rotating cultural exhibitions of hanging art. Mounted on the reverse side of the Learning Café wall, this new installation will provide an intentional space to display art works of Barton students and faculty as well as other artists.

The recent acquisition of the library’s latest collection—224 volumes of research facilitating the dialogue between the disciplines of science and religion—is the result of a grant proposal to the Library Project of the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR).  The materials in the ISSR Library collection will support the curriculum of current and future courses at Barton that address issues involving the disciplines of science and religion.  Barton religion professor Dr. Jane Webster, who worked with Hackney Librarian Ann Dolman in writing the grant, and a member of Barton’s science faculty will be on hand at the reception to answer questions about the contents and value of this collection.

For additional information about this event, please contact the Hackney Library at 252-399-6500.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. —

“We are delighted that this distinguished local personality is available to perform with us,” shared Peterson. “The Dvorak concerto has always been my personal favorite, and I have wanted for years to present it to our Wilson audience,” said Peterson.  In addition to the cello concerto, the orchestra will play three popular works by Edward Elgar, two of the stately “Pomp and Circumstance” marches and the haunting “Nimrod” from “Enigma Variations.”

Thron joined the North Carolina Symphony as principal cellist in 2000. Prior to that appointment, she was a member of the Peabody Trio in residence at the Peabody Institute, during which time the group won the Naumberg chamber music competition. Earlier in her career, Thron was assistant principal cellist of the Denver Symphony for a season, and she played and recorded with the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble. During the summer seasons, she plays in the Sebago Long Lake Music Festival in Harrison, Maine. She also has a long history with the Apple Hill Chamber Players as a guest artist and chamber music coach and was involved in the group’s first Playing for Peace Tour to the Middle East in 1991.

Thron has performed concertos with the North Carolina Symphony, the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, the Juilliard Orchestra, the Panama National Orchestra, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and various other orchestras in North Carolina as well as her home state of New Hampshire.

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School, and her teachers include Lynn Harrell, Harvey Shapiro, Norman Fischer. and Elsa Hilger. Thron also received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and worked for several years as a nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She also served as a case manager in home care nursing while also in service as a cello teacher at the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Following the concert, the audience is cordially invited to meet Thron and the symphony musicians at a reception, hosted by ARAMARK Higher Education, in the Bridgestone Americas Atrium of the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre.

Admission for the spring orchestra performance will be $10 at the door or by season ticket. All students within the community will be admitted free of charge as well as faculty, staff and students of Barton College. For additional information, please contact Laura Ashley Lamm at 252-399-6334 or email: lalamm@barton.edu.

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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

“With over 20 years of experience in academic library service, George Loveland brings a wealth of expertise to his new role at Barton,” said Dr. John P. Marsden, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Barton College.  “Though his leadership, we anticipate moving the library forward with additions to programming for the campus community and the public as well as greater connections to academic life through the support of online courses and enhanced electronic resources.”

Prior to joining the Barton College community, Loveland served as director of the library at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Va. Earlier professional appointments included leading the Library Public Services at Ferrum, and serving as order supervisor for the Acquisitions Department at Davis Library on the UNC – CH campus.  He began his educational career as an English teacher for Tyrrell County Public Schools.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Barton community, and I deeply appreciate the warmth and support I have felt since I set foot on campus,” shared Loveland. “I want our community to think of Hackney Library as a ‘teaching library.’  Librarians are no longer simply ‘guardians of the collections.’  We teach information access skills, and we teach students to critically analyze the information they retrieve.  Today’s students access information from virtually anywhere and at any hour of the day or night. An educated person, with a college degree in a specific field, needs to understand how to judge that information for relevancy, accuracy, and authority, according to the standards and practices of their field. These are the skills we teach.”

Loveland earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He later completed a Master of Library Science degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham.

In addition to numerous articles and presentations, Loveland has published two books, “For Our Little Children: Growing Up in the Shadows of the Loray Mill Strike,” and “Under the Workers’ Caps: From Chapion Mill to Blue Ridge Paper,” for which he received the Harry Caudill Award for Journalism in 2006, as well as a nomination for Best Non-Fiction of 2006 at the Ninth Annual Library of Virginia Awards.

He has also received a variety of honors and awards, including the prestigious Richard G. Lane Fellowship for History Graduate Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2009/10; a Mellon Fellowship for the Salzburg Seminar, Salzburg, Austria, in March 2007, He has a strong interest in history as well as interest in and experience with promoting information literacy.

He is a member of the American Library Association, the American Librarian Association Social Responsibilities Roundtable, the Virginia Library Association, the American Association of University Professors, the Appalachian Studies Association, and the Southern Labor Studies Association.

A native of Newport News, Va., Loveland is the son of the late Mildred and George W. Loveland, Sr. He is married to the former Harriet Tucker Taylor of Faison. Together, they have six children: Elizabeth, Caroline, Andrew, Daniel, Joseph, and Matthew.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

A choir of seventy-five will sing selections ranging from an antiphonal Palestrina “Gloria Patri” to Gershwin’s Embraceable You,” from William Dawson’s “Soon ah will be Done” to Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night,” from Stephen Paulus’ “The Road Home” to Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” just to name a few.  The choir promises a few surprises as well.

“Voices Reunite,” also the title of the much-anticipated music alumni reunion weekend scheduled for April 20-21, has been in the planning for over 18 months. With over 100 music alumni and friends returning to campus, the purpose of this reunion has been three-fold: to provide an opportunity for music alumni to rekindle friendships with peers, colleagues, and professors; to honor professors of the music program; and to share their love of music.

Spearheading the event is ACC alumnus Lester Gray Southern, Class of 1978, who reached out to college friends to see if they would be interested serving on a steering committee to plan a music reunion.  The response far exceeded his vision, and he soon had a committee of eleven joining him in planning a weekend packed with activities and rehearsals, and concluding with the “Voices Reunited” concert. With the assistance of Summer Brock, director of alumni and parent programs, the steering committee soon began reaching out to hundreds of former choir and band members, inviting them to return to campus for the special weekend. “There were countless details and items to be organized and prepared,” shared Southern. “‘Voices Reunite’ would have never come to fruition had it not been for their hard work, drive, and determination.

“Everyone who was a member of the college choir or band during their college days knew, when a music rehearsal or concert began, we were going to be part of something remarkable and magical,” continued Southern.  “The music that our professors shared with us was the golden thread that bound us together. We feel so grateful to be able to honor these professors who shaped our lives.”

A number of music and education professors plan to be in attendance. Southern shared that this [will be] the perfect venue to say ‘thank you’ to the professors for the positive influence they had on their students’ lives. Among those returning to campus will be Dr. J. Ross Albert, longtime beloved choir director and chair of the Music Department.

Also returning, to serve as guest conductor of the “Voices Reunite” concert, will be revered voice professor and vocal ensemble/choir conductor Dr. Robert Daniel, who currently serves on the faculty at the Northeastern State University – Oklahoma.

Members of the “Voices Reunite” steering committee include: Lester Gray Southern, ’78, chair; Randy Barham,’78; Joy Butler Clayton, ’77; Rick Clayton, ’77; Connie Duke Collier, ’75; Elizabeth “Libby” Tippett Cox, ’76; Becky Lennon Crowder, ’66; Chuck Henry, ’81; Cindy Waters Hill, ’80; L. Dallas Montague, ’78; Davida Barwick Phillips, ’80; and Cheryl Sanders Stone, ’77.

For additional information about the “Voices Reunite” concert and reunion weekend, please contact Summer Brock, director of alumni and parent programs, at 252-399-6383 or email: sebrock@barton.edu.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu

Within the Virginia Thompson Graves Gallery, there will be two micro exhibitions by five talented Barton College seniors. “Between the Lines” will showcase Megan Kay Bell, Erin Dempsey, Jamie Brittan Kistler, and Krystin G. Moore. The exhibition will focus on ceramics, drawing, painting, and photography. Robert Kowalczyk is displaying site-specific designed technology-based work in “Technomancer.”

Megan Kay Bell

Megan Kay Bell of Durham plans to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. Bell’s portions of the exhibition “Between the Lines” are pieces that describe her personal artist voice and style.  On display are a broad range of skills in several areas of the art, such as her “On Your Mark” oil on canvas, collographs, and ceramics.

With a concentration in ceramics, Bell prefers the creativity of hand-built work. Professor Susan Fecho, advisor for the student exhibitions, expresses admiration for Bell’s nature themed collographs. “Bell’s ‘X Marks the Spot’ is one of three multi-hued collographs, which are essentially inked and printed collages,” Fecho explains. “This expressive work achieves on paper, what Bell enjoys about working with clay.”

Bell is guided by a quote from artist Federico Fellini, “All art is autobiographical.”  She says, “I hold that statement to be unequivocally true. All artists create pieces that directly relate to the things around them and experiences that have changed them. The artwork that I create comes from the heart that has been sojourning in a world that is very much ephemeral.” Bell continues, “Growing up in the very urban city of Durham, I have always been surrounded by art. My artistic ability is very diverse and is often times about experiences that I have been through.”

After graduation, Bell plans to enter the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at Appalachian State University.

Erin Dempsey

Erin Dempsey of Rocky Mount is an Art Education licensure student displaying a series of graphite drawings and oil paintings of still-lifes in the “Between the Lines” exhibition in the Virginia Graves Gallery. “My emphasis in art is drawing,” Dempsey explains. “The attention to detail in works such as ‘Huntin Games’ uses both atmospheric perspective and controlled balance to achieve success of the composition. Using graphite helps me focus on shaded details and provides surface control. When mapping out my subject matter, I tend to be drawn to shapes and knots of fruits, vegetables, duck decoys, and antiques.”

After graduation, Demsey is interested in pursuing a career as an elementary art teacher.

Jamie Brittan Kistler

Jamie Brittan Kistler of Selma is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education.  Kistler is exhibiting her “Language of Flowers” series for the “Between the Lines” exhibition. These four photographic pieces titled “Wisdom [Iris],” “Imagination [Poppy],” “Innocence [Daisy],” and “Dedication [Sunflower]” are mixed media composition.  Black and white photographic imagery is altered with gesso, crackled medium, and threading to focus on Kistler’s continued research concerning the evolution of women and mental illness.

Associate Professor Gérard Lange, recognizing Kistler’s work, shared, “Jamie’s work involving mixed-media application of photography with sewing strongly benefits her interest in becoming an educator. This unique approach demonstrates a versatility that will aid her future students in coming up with original solutions to assigned projects.”

Kistler explains, “I create work based on feelings, specific emotions, and my constant desire to express myself through an outlet that allows for experimentation and interpretation. I work to combine color, texture, and a variety of materials to convey a meaning that is not always clear to me. I never start a piece with a specific message that I intend to convey, but instead I allow the work to evolve on its own into a statement that is at times only evident during the conclusion of my creative process.”

Krystin G. Moore

Krystin G. Moore of Clinton, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education, also is participating in the “Between the Lines” exhibition. With a concentration in drawing, Moore’s personal focus for the exhibition has been to try new technical approaches while producing imagery based on natural subject matter.

“It was a combination of media and processes used for each piece,” Moore shares. “Some drawings were done strictly with drawing mediums, and others were done in mixed media using paper, paints and washing, and drawing mediums.”

Fecho notes, “I have enjoyed working with Moore this past year and seeing her develop work based on personal scenery. Her heritage-based imagery is presented with rich colors, organic shapes and familiar textures that evoke nostalgic memories.”

For Moore, being a southern female is more than just an acronym. “Having southern roots is one of the most inspirational parts to my artwork,” she shares.  “I am inspired by some of the smallest things in life, such as dew on morning grass or the dust that rises up behind an old tractor as it plows up a field.  It is a breathtaking feeling you get when you look out over a field when the sun is setting on a summer day; these are the feelings that I try to portray in my work.  I try to create emphasis in my pieces by using subject matter people can relate to and using colors to create unity in my pieces that also relate to the things that inspire me.”

After graduation this May, Moore plans to move home to Sampson County and pursue work while continuing to create art, helping to tutor and teach art to local students.

Robert Kowalczyk

By using current technologies in new ways, the Virginia Thompson Graves Gallery is also presenting a micro-exhibition “Technomancer” by graduating senior Robert Kowalczyk. Kowalczyk, a native of Chicago, Ill., is a Visual Design major showcasing the fine art applications of digital graphic design. This exhibit is meant to engage the viewer with the use of their personal electronic devices. Kowalczyk is showing sculptural abstracted drawings, vector based illustrations, and highly designed Quick Response (QR) codes all under the theme of “magic through technology.”

Sharing his technique, Kowalczyk explains, “My imagery begins in Photoshop. I create undersketchings and pre-modified imagery using a digital drawing tablet. The imagery is dropped into Illustrator for converting and finalizing.

“Music, the expansion of technology, and social trends based on history inspires me,” he continues.  “Art, as a bridge between science and philosophy, is an extension of my study and research of tangent ideas, of programing and computer modding.”

Painting, a lifelong passion —

Also on display is “Passion to Paint” in the Lula E. Rackley Gallery, representing Life-Long Learners who study painting under J. Chris Wilson. On view will be the work of Lynne Arnold, Clara Daughtridge, George F. England, Margaret Evans, Mary C. Evans, Patricia Evans, Janice Gravely, Carolyn H. Neville, Jo Rhodes, Dinah Sharpe Sylivant, Fran Tyson, Marion Clark Weathers, and Susan S. Webb.

Professor J. Chris Wilson explains, “Having the Life-Long Learners in the painting classes at Barton College enriches the experience for all students and artists. The Life-Long Learners are motivated, dedicated, and hard working, and [they] set a great example for the traditional students. The traditional students challenge the Life-Long Learners with creativity and enthusiasm.  It is a great symbiosis.  Many of the Life-Long Learners are regional artists of note that have found an artistic community at Barton College that increases their productivity while elevating the quality of their work. Learning to paint in an academic setting requires achieving clear learning objectives and developing transferable skills.  The community spirit that has evolved among the artists and students has brought pride in the successes of each and every member and a joy to their teacher.”

Lynne Arnold

Lynne Arnold is a native of Rocky Mount. She has used oil and acrylic in her paintings featured in the exhibition. “Study of Girl with Pearl Earring” and “Snake River, Wyoming” present painting completed within this studio painting course.

Clara Daughtridge

Clara Daughtridge of Stantonsburg, a 1969 alumna of Atlantic Christian College, is exhibiting oil paintings with a focus on the imagery of dogs and horses. Daughtridge’s “The Competitor” and “Bully Running” are part of her ongoing series depicting dogs and horses. Daughtridge shares, “My subject of choice is animals offering unconditional love, trust and loyalty – as reflected in their eyes. Capturing this spirit is what motivates me to paint.”

When asked about her choice of media, Daughtridge explains, “The slower drying time of oils allows me to mix and blend more easily. The buttery texture, smell, and results give me pleasure.”

George F. England

George F. England’s first art medium was wood, spending over 30 years making furniture.  England now spends his time painting with oil on linen canvases.  He likes the fact that oil does not dry quickly, lasts longer, and is more forgiving compared to watercolor and acrylic paints.  England’s favorite subjects to paint are North Carolina landscapes, from farm scenes to the ocean.

One painting England is exhibiting is “Ox Creek in the Fall,” portraying a scene from Buncombe County on the mountain side near Weaverville. “My technique is to paint beautiful landscapes from pictures that I take mainly across North Carolina,” he shares.  “My paintings are somewhat realistic but do adhere to proper color combinations and utilize good atmospheric expression similar to the Hudson Valley School of Painters.”

A native of Asheville, England attended Asheville-Biltmore Junior College and went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.  England and his wife, Nancy, have resided in Wilson since 1967.

Margaret Evans

A native of historic Edenton, Margaret Evans currently makes her home in Rocky Mount. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. Evans is exhibiting two paintings: “Red House on HWY 97,” an oil on canvas completed in 2010 and “Carolyn Petway,” an oil on canvas completed in 2011.

Mary C. Evans

Mary C. Evans is from Bethel.  Evans enjoys painting oil on canvas and continues to explore art technique, atmospheric perspective, and the use of color to improve her art.

Patricia Evans

Patricia Evans of Greenville is a painter who primarily uses oils in her paintings. “I was first taught using Alkyd Oil,” she says about her choice of medium.  “It dries slowly and gives me time to blend.”  She adds that her favorite art style is realism. Evans admits that she is inspired by and loves paintings of children and scenes of people in natural settings, such as children at play or people at work. In addition to painting, Evans also enjoys interior decorating, knitting, cooking, and playing golf.

Janice Gravely

Janice Gravely of Rocky Mount is a peripatetic painter with 30 years of watercolors documenting 20 or more countries around the world where she has visited. For the past two years, under Chris Wilson’s tutelage, Gravely also has been documenting her small world of family and familiar scenes. For the “Passion to Paint” exhibition, Gravely is exhibiting several oils, including: “Mother and Daughter,” an oil on linen painting she completed in 2011 of herself standing in front of a painting of her mother. Gravely has exhibited in several solo shows and recently participated in a retrospective of 79 pieces at the Dunn Center at North Carolina Wesleyan College, and had 30 new oils in an exhibition sponsored by the Winston-Salem Associated Artists. She has had had solo exhibits at the Allegheny County Library, the Nash County Arts Council, and at Roaring Gap.

In her artist statement, Gravely shares, “‘Ever learning and never coming to the full knowledge of the truth,’ a wise one has said about me and perhaps others.  However, I bring to my art a joy shown in this painting that should encourage any younger artist.  After a lifetime of painting for my own pleasure, I discovered that others want to share in my joy. Such an expression is neither shallow nor profound, but without apology I can model the value of art in life.  I find the following statement true in art and life – unlike in athletics:  ‘Even in old age, they shall still bring forth fruit.’”

Carolyn H. Neville

Carolyn H. Neville of Whitakers is an oil painter and enjoys the medium because of its flexibility and true colors.  Her work reflects places and things that have personal meaning and inspiration.  She is inspired by John S. Sargent, Monet, and Georgia O’Keefe.  Neville believes life is truly good, and beauty is everywhere.  When she is not gardening and sharing her harvest with friends, she spends her time learning new things.  Neville says, “My philosophy is you don’t know what you don’t know until you know it.”  Within her exhibited oils on canvas, “Childs Play” and “B & E Hunt Club,” Neville uses a painting technique of thin layers of oil paints to bring life and nostalgia to the canvas.

Jo Rhodes

Jo Rhodes of Wilson is primarily an oil painter who gains inspiration from the beauty of everyday landscapes and the charm of everyday people.  For Rhodes, the most important subject is where she begins her focus, and the image grows from there, developing a relationship between the subject and artist.  Rhodes enjoys traveling and incorporates her experiences with the people, cultures, and landscapes into her works of art.

In the case of her portraits, she shares that she is “inspired by images of children or adults enjoying life.”  Rhodes, exhibiting images of Vollis Simpson, began this series as a “result of a casual visit to see his whirligigs. Simpson graciously invited me to ‘sit down and stay awhile.’ So, prompted by his ‘gracious hospitality, I asked if I could photograph him.” Rhodes enjoys traveling and hopes to paint a series from her travels in Europe, China, and Australia, and adds, “I still have a lot of the world left to see!”

Dinah Sharpe Sylivant

A native of Snow Hill, Dinah Sharpe Sylivant has been painting most of her adult life.  She is an established artist in the traditional sense, using mediums of oil and pastel. Sylivant has studied art at the Barton College Department of Art and Design, East Carolina University, Nantucket School of Art and Design of Massachusetts, and Savannah College of Art and Design of Georgia.  She has also attended numerous workshops and studied under well-established artists in the states as well as Scotland.

Sylivant is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists, Greene County Museum, Kinston Community Council of the Arts, Lenoir County Artist League, Brushstrokes, and the Carteret Community Council of the Arts.  She has served as an artist-in-residence and teacher at Arendell Parrott Academy of Kinston, and as the president of the Lenoir County Artist League.  In 2002, Sylivant’s work was chosen for the North Carolina Seafood Festival poster.  She was also named the 2002 Core Sound poster artist and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Festival poster artist for 2009 and 2011. She is currently painting the labels for Mother Earth Brewery, a recently established business in Lenoir County.

Sylivant, who is showcasing oils on linen in the exhibition: “Atlantic Beach” and “Along Contentnea,” believes “art should invite the viewer to enter into the piece of work and feel the presence of the subject.”  She says she enjoys the challenges presented with each work of art and the continuous learning process helps her to return to her easel daily with enthusiasm and anticipation of what each day holds.  Through the years, Sylivant has developed a love of the arts that is evident in her painting career.

Fran Tyson

A resident of Stantonsburg, Fran Tyson began taking painting lessons in 2002. Her choice of medium is oils; however, she also enjoys using watercolors and drawing. The fluidity, control, and freedom of expression come easy for her while using oils.  She prefers painting portraits, but she has added landscapes and still life, such the recently completed “Reflections with Orchids,” to her collection as well.  Her works are inspired by the beauty of nature and people’s expressions.  “The process of creating a work of art from a blank canvas is the ultimate degree of satisfaction and achievement,” explains Tyson.

Tyson’s love of painting portraits and the fact that she had already painted her two older sisters, gave her the incentive to paint the youngest granddaughter.  Before beginning this project, Tyson made sure she had the proper visuals, color concept, distribution of values, and composition.  Her granddaughter was hospitalized while still working on this painting. “This was an emotional experience for me, and I could feel her presence with every brush stroke – the finished portrait was everything that I hoped it would be,” Tyson shared. She was honored with an award for this piece in a juried competition.

Marion Clark Weathers

A painter from Rocky Mount, Marion Clark Weathers enjoys creating with oils and watercolors.  She particularly likes oil on canvas for large works and for expressive brushstrokes, and she works with watercolors for the colors, fluidity, and its transparency qualities.  Weathers’ favorite works include eastern and coastal North Carolina landscapes. “To describe a moment …that can be forever in paint,” is Weathers' motivation for her “Tar River Trail” series. She is exhibiting two paintings from the series, “Tar River Cypress” and “Triptych of a Vineyard.”

When Weathers’ is not painting, she works in the Registrar’s Office at the Maria V. Howard Arts Center and volunteers her time at North Carolina State University as the President DG House Corp.

Susan S. Webb

A resident of Stantonsburg, artist Susan S. Webb began her art education at Wilson Community College and, for the past several years, she has been studying landscape painting at Barton College under the direction of J. Chris Wilson.  Inspired by Hudson River painters and Barbizon painters, Webb began creating a series of North Carolina’s lighthouses and coastal landscapes.  “Living on the Outer Banks for six and a half years, I was captivated by the beauty of North Carolina’s eastern shoreline and its historic lighthouses,” she shares.  “After moving to Wilson County, my series of oils, ‘An Artist’s Reflection on NC Lighthouses and Coastal Landscapes in the 21^st century,’ emerged. I was commissioned to paint Cape Lookout Lighthouse, which awakened my desire to capture nature’s lights, shadows, colors, and the ever-changing complexities of environmental forces on the landscape.”

Webb has been involved in numerous workshops conducted by Jerry’s Artarama of Raleigh and Wilson Active Artists Association.  She has been a longtime member of the Wilson Active Artists Association and has served as newsletter editor and vice-president, and is currently serving as president for a second term.  Her work has been shown at various locations, including: the Arts Council of Wilson, the Spring Arbor Fall Show in Wilson, Barton College Art Galleries in Wilson, the Imperial Center in Rocky Mount, the Neuse River Foundation Fundraiser in New Bern, the Hammond Gallery in Wilson, the Nash County Arts Center, and the Farmville Community Arts Center in Pitt County.

The Barton Art Galleries, including the Virginia Thompson Graves Gallery and the Lula E. Rackley Gallery, are located in the Case Art Building, at the corner of Gold Street and Whitehead Avenue on the campus of Barton College. The Barton Art Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

For additional information about the art exhibition, please contact Susan Fecho, chair of the Department of Art and Design, at 252-399-6480 or sfecho@barton.edu, or Bonnie LoSchiavo in the Barton Art Galleries at 252-399-6477 or blloschiavo@barton.edu.

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The Purcell Bible Conference is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday evening in The Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center.

The Sprinkle Lectures will be held in Hardy Alumni Hall on Tuesday. Tuesday’s agenda will include Sprinkle Lecture I at 11 a.m., titled “Preaching in a New Generation: Understanding the Context — What concerns burden a new generation? How do we understand the shifts in cultural context?” Lunch will follow at Noon, and the Conversations with the Reverend Howard Merritt session will be held from1:30-2:30 p.m. From 3-4 p.m., Dr. Rodney A. Werline, Marie and Leman Barnhill Endowed Chair in Religious Studies, will lead a “Study of Upcoming Lectionary Texts.” Following a brief recess, dinner will be served at 6 p.m.  Sprinkle Lecture II, titled “Preaching in a New Generation: Ministering within the Context — How should the shifts in authority, technology, and narrative affect our preaching? How can we be inspired in the art of writing a sermon?” will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Lunch ($7 per person) and dinner ($18 per person) reservations for Tuesday are required in advance of the event date by contacting Dr. Werline at 252-399-6647 or rawerline@barton.edu.

All lecture sessions are open to the public free of charge, and the community is invited to attend. The programs are sponsored by the Department of Religion and Philosophy.

For additional information about these events or to make reservations for Tuesday meals, please contact Dr. Werline at 399-6447 or email: rawerline@barton.edu.

Brief Speaker Biographies —

Dr. Newsom, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Old Testament in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, is an expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls, having edited multiple critical editions of the Qumran texts, as well as written several books and numerous articles. In addition to co-editing the New Oxford Annotated Bible and The Women’s Bible Commentary (exp ed.), Dr. Newsom also is the author of The Book of Job: A Contest of Moral Imaginations as well as several other books and numerous essays.

The Reverend Carol Howard Merritt is a pastor at Western Presbyterian Church, an intergenerational congregation and the home of Miriam's Kitchen, a feeding and social service program that welcomes 200 homeless guests for breakfast and dinner each weekday. She is the award-winning author of “Tribal Church” (Alban Institute, 2007) and “Reframing Hope” (Alban Institute, forthcoming).  The Reverend Merritt has written numerous articles, and she blogs for the Christian Century and Huffington Post. She also co-hosts a weekly God Complex Radio podcast and leads conferences nationally and internationally on cultural shifts and religion.

Brief History of Purcell Conference and Sprinkle Lectures —

The Purcell Bible Conference was established in 1984 with an endowment given by family, colleagues, friends, students and parishioners to honor the life and ministry of Eugene G. Purcell Jr. A graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School, Purcell joined the faculty of Barton College in 1957 and served 27 years in the Department of Religion and Philosophy. During his career, he has served Methodist churches in Burlington, Fair Bluff, and Ahoskie, as well Riverside Christian Church and Lanie’s Chapel Christian Church. The purpose of these lectures has been to provide the public with the finest in recent biblical scholarship each year.  From its inception, these lectures have been planned with the laity of the church in mind.

The Thedford G. and Woodrow W. Sprinkle Lectures were established in 1981 by Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle, a graduate of Barton College, Yale Divinity School and Duke University.  The lectures were named in honor of his father, Thedford G. Sprinkle and his uncle, Woodrow W. Sprinkle.  Dr. Sprinkle, who graduated from Barton College in 1974, has served as associate minister to Thomas Chapel Church of Christ, New Haven, Conn., and as minister to First Christian Church of Greensboro, Wendell Christian Church and Pleasant Union Christian Church in Newton Grove.  He served on the faculty of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Barton from 1983-1990.  Sprinkle presently serves as associate professor of practical theology and director of field education and supervised ministry at Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

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WILSON, N.C. — “The Spitfire Grill,” opens on Thursday evening, April 12, at 8 p.m. in the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre on the campus of Barton College. Based on the award-winning film by Lee David Zlotoff, this musical adaptation for stage by Fred Alley and James Valcq promises to provide an evening of storytelling and music that will be both thought provoking and uplifting. Additional performances will be held on Friday and Saturday evening, April 13-14, at 8 p.m., and on Sunday afternoon, April 15, at 3 p.m.

“Though not unprecedented, it is certainly unusual for a theatrical piece to originate from the medium of film rather than literature,” shared Adam Twiss, director of Theatre at Barton and producer for “The Spitfire Grill.”  “In 1996, a simple, daring motion picture won the hearts and imaginations of audiences at the Sundance Film Festival, garnering numerous awards and receiving the highest price ever paid for the rights to an independent, feature film. That film, “The Spitfire Grill,” intrigued musical duo James Valcq and Fred Alley to develop the story as a musical for the stage and, in 2001, the show opened to standing ovations and numerous awards on Broadway.

“This is a uniquely American tale of fall and redemption, value of community, and love lost … and found,” continued Twiss.  “The storytelling and the music are seamlessly integrated, and guest director Bryan Pridgen has assembled an outstanding company for our Barton production.  This heartwarming show has been on our radar for a number of years; it’s a musical that we thought would fit exceptionally well in Barton’s intimate Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre.  This year the stars finally aligned and provided the opportunity to produce this wonderful work.”

Directing “The Spitfire Grill” will be guest director Bryan Pridgen, a native of Wilson who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Greensboro College.  After completing his degree, Pridgen began a two-year intensive internship with Barter Theatre’s Barter Players, providing quality theatre for children of all ages.  This past December, he had the opportunity to travel across the United States with the national tour of “Miracle on 34th Street,” and, in January, he moved to Savannah, Ga., to begin working with other artists with their sights set on establishing a professional theatre for audiences of all incomes. Though his directing credits are few and far between, Pridgen has a range of experiences in theatre as an actor, props designer, acting instructor, to name a few.

The cast includes guest artists Mikey Rabil and Debbie Williams, as well as Barton’s Katelyn Barr, Christopher Byrd, Kerstin Conrad, Wesley Pridgen, and Beatrice Urtech.

The musical director and pianist is Mark Peterson, accompanied by musicians Dr. Ted Brna on guitar and mandolin, Dee Braxton-Pelligrino on violin, Zack May on cello, and Hampton Short on guitar.

Chris Bernier, technical director of theatre, is overseeing the lighting and scenic design while Barton alumnus Mathew Smith is in charge of sound design. Adam Barr is the stage manager, and supervising production manager is Jamie Tinti. Liz Whittemore is handling costume, hair, and make-up design, and Haddy Drammeh is overseeing props design and crew while Sue Murphy handles the light board among other contributions.

General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and members of the military, and $6 for students. Barton College students, faculty and staff are admitted free with proper ID. Group rates are also available for parties of six or more by contacting Adam Twiss at ajtwiss@barton.edu or 252-399-6484 to make arrangements. Tickets are available at the door and also may be purchased online at www.barton.edu/theatre. (Please note there is a $2 advance online charge for Barton students, faculty and staff.)

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.