Karen Campbell is a teacher by day and a visual artist the rest of the time. One of three visual arts teachers at North Gwinnett High School, Campbell is a seasoned teacher who served Gwinnett’s students for 27 years, including four at Meadowcreek, 18 at Collins Hill and she started her fourth year. year at NGHS last month. His artistic talent, fueled by his background and degree in integrated arts curriculum and teaching, has not only inspired students, but since August 18, he has also provided inspiration to the community at large.
The Sugar Hill Art Gallery is currently home to Campbell’s “Visual Playlist” exhibition, on display until September 29. The exhibition is his first solo show and officially opened on August 27 with a reception. The exhibition features 38 mixed media drawings on display.
“The mediums include watercolor, acrylic, gouache, colored pencils and various ink pens applied more in the style of drawing than in real painting,” said Campbell. “Often the images are drawn on a separate sheet of paper and carefully cut out and applied to the medium (paper or canvas).”
When you display the “Visual Playlist”, you can recognize some of the titles, images or texts of the work from popular music. Some pieces are easily linked to a musical artist or group of songs, while others have a more subtle connection.
“It’s important to note that the artwork is not an illustration of the song, but a space created for the personal and emotional response to the song to play out,” said Campbell.
After spending most of the past three years working on these pieces, Campbell expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome she received at the official opening of the exhibition.
“I couldn’t have scripted a better opening reception,” she said. “I am very grateful for the love and support from my family, friends, the Sugar Hill Arts Council and the Sugar Hill / Suwanee community. It was really special for me to be able to share this work of the last two or three years with an enthusiastic and curious audience who love art and music as much as I do!
Artist statement for “Visual Playlist”:
We all have songs that touch us, remind us of a special moment, and talk about what is important to us. Organizing that music into a playlist or mixtape is a way to document and capture who and where we are and how we are feeling at any given moment. Playlists are the soundtracks of our lives and by sharing them with others we allow ourselves to become vulnerable. We not only share the music we love, but also the feelings and experiences they represent. The selected designs create visual environments that allow the consequences and rewards of emotions, memories, dreams and desires inspired by music to unfold. The compositions are carefully orchestrated, inviting the viewer to lose themselves in the layers of images, colors, texts and brands in the same way one would lose oneself in a song. Good listening ” !
To see more of Campbell’s work, visit karenscampbellart.com.
If you are going to
- What: “Visual Playlist” art exhibition by Karen Campbell
- When: Until September 29, hours vary, so call the gallery at 678-541-6125 to make sure it’s open
- Or: Sugar Hill Art Gallery, 5010 W. Broad St.
- Cost: To free
- For more information: Visit cityofsugarhill.com
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