October2009

Travelers feel that their lives are expanded and enriched as they visit new places. Two Newport artists, Kathleen Morton and Valorie Sheehan, couldn't agree more. Their exhibit entitled "Dreaming of Africa" explores their recent visits to the "Dark Continent", and the deep emotional connections that they each feel to its lands and peoples, which have inspired the creation of the work that they display. As Kathleen Morton states "... never have I felt a more lasting affinity with nature than I did in Africa, the seat of mankind, which has maintained its beauty despite its cultural diversity and hardships. This exhibit is derived from that unique and wild place." The photography, prints, masks and mixed media work that she has created for this show reflect her love for Africa.

Valorie Sheehan has twice visited the Flying Kites Children's Center in the Abadares Mountains of Kenya. On each trip, while living at the Center, she found herself becoming more deeply connected with the children there. As she explains "... it is the children that have captured both my heart and my imagination. As a group they are bright and curious, engaging and funny. Most of all it is their gratitude and their overwhelming sense of gladness and thanks for what they have been given, which inspires me." Sheehan’s works are vessels depicting the children in the guise of saints and biblical prophets, each holding the attributes of that holy person.

Demonstrating the depth of their connections and commitment, both artists have agreed that all profits from this exhibit will be donated directly to the orphaned children at the Flying Kites Children's Center in Kinangop, Kenya.

KATHLEEN MORTON

VALORIE SHEEHAN

Victoria Falls Welcome

Photograph

Monikah as St. Osanna of Mantua,

patron saint of schoolgirls

Ceramic Sculpture

Artist's Statement

Nature has been the main inspiration for my art. The smell of the earth and the never-ending beauty in the world is always able to capture my imagination. But never have I felt more lasting affinity with nature than I did in Africa, the seat of mankind, which has maintained its beauty despite its cultural diversity and hardships. This exhibit is derived from that unique and wild place.

Using my photography to take me back, I use printmaking and mixed media to allow my artist to emerge using colors and textures in my interpretation of the nature. Much of the material I use comes from the location of inspiration. The application of materials comes from much experimentation of mixed media.

Biography

Kathleen Morton is a Newport native and has traveled extensively throughout the world. Her artistic expression has emerged throughout her life in many mediums. She continues in art classes exploring styles and mediums which include photography, oil painting, printmaking and encaustic and is interested combining elements of each to provide multi-media art forms.

Kathleen has shown at guest exhibits at the Newport Art Museum, Deblois Gallery, Spring Bull Gallery, Portsmouth Art Guild, AS220 Providence and many small venues throughout Rhode Island.

She is a member of the Newport Art Museum, Newport Artist’s Guild, Newport Photo Guild, The Ceruleans painting group, Portsmouth Art Guild, Deblois Gallery of Newport. She also holds a membership at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Her studio is located at Hurley/Morton Art Studio, 855 Aquidneck Ave. Middletown, RI. She can be reached by email, kathymorton1@cs.com

Artist's Statement

I met them- these 16 kids - almost a year ago. They are the orphaned children living at the Flying Kites Children’s Center in the Abadares Mountains in Kenya. At the time it was my curiosity about the organization that compelled me to go to Kenya. But it is these children that have captured both my heart and my imagination. As a group they are bright and curious, engaging and funny. Most of all it is their gratitude and their overwhelming sense of gladness and thanks for what they have been given, which inspires me.

And so I have selected a saint or prophet whose story or characteristics parallels those of a specific child and built a vessel depicting that child in the guise and holding the attributes of that holy person. There is Monicah, as St. Osanna of Mantua, patron saint of schoolgirls and Alex as St. Joseph of Cupertino, patron saint of pilots and astronauts. Moses is St. Moses the Black, patron saint of black Africans and I’ve depicted his sister Rahab as the Virgin Annunciate. Peter is the apostle, St. Peter, Miriam is St. Eulalia, patron saint of rape and torture victims and Hannah is St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

Joseph as Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors

Ceramic Sculpture

At eight feet tall, Joseph as Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors was intended as the centerpiece of this body of work. And while he has been permanently installed in my garden, (due to technical difficulties as well as a weak gallery floor), I will be glad for a commission to build another.