WS Chronicle

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

The opening reception on Friday evening, May 2, for Latisha Coleman’s exhibit, “Beyond the Canvas: Art in the Third Dimension” at Delta Arts Center, had attendees admiring each distinctive piece and many wanting to touch it to feel the textures of the pieces that included human hair extensions, African print fabrics and sculptured faces. 

When Coleman was a graphic design student at A&T State University, she was introduced to the technique of making molds and combining them with art as part of her senior project. Coleman’s first piece, “Motherly Love,” features two faces and long strands of intertwined red yarn that represents hair, placed on a green, yellow and orange background. This striking piece is one of the first pieces you will see when you enter the gallery.

After losing her job at a newspaper during the pandemic, she had time to concentrate on her art and realized that creating this new type of art combining the technique of molded masks, human hair, fabrics, jewelry and other elements, was what she really wanted to do.

Whitney Harness, the executive director of Delta Arts Center, said that Coleman was one of the first artists she met when she joined Delta Arts and began working on the Invitational Exhibit last year. She knew immediately that Coleman was the emerging artist they had been looking for. 

“The whole reason we’re here is to support these artists, to get them exposure, and to celebrate their talent,” said Harness. She said that Coleman went from being part of an invitational exhibit to becoming a solo exhibitionist. “We’re here to cultivate talent.” 

Coleman said she plans to continue with her art full time. “I want to continue to create and to have the freedom to create when I want to.” She loves working with textures in her art.

Coleman will offer a free class on creating texture on canvas at Delta Arts on May 31 and June 1 from 6-8 p.m. All materials will be provided and Coleman will lead the class in creating their own pieces using various objects for a 3-D project. The class will create the art the first day and paint the canvas and then finish the piece on the second day after it’s had time to dry. To register for the class, contact Delta Arts Center at 336-722-2625, email deltaartscenter@deltaartscenter.org, or visit www.deltaartscenter.org.  

Delta Arts Center is located at 2611 New Walkertown Road. The exhibit “Beyond the Canvas: Art in the Third Dimension” will be on exhibit through August 30. Hours are Tuesday 2-5 p.m., Wednesday 3-6 p.m., Thursday 3-6 p.m. and Friday 2-5 p.m. Closed Saturday-Monday.