The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Michelle and Justin Levin, above, of Beckley, look over the new exhibit at the Cynthia Bickey Art Gallery on Johnstown Road in Beckley. Rick Barbero

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  • Karen Lilly, director of Beckley Art Group, prepares for the new exhibit at the gallery. Rick Barbero

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February 10, 2013

BAG exhibit inspired by revamped works

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter



Artists and patrons found the Beckley Art Group’s “New Life From Old Things” gallery opening at the Cynthia Bickey Art Gallery inspiring.

The exhibit focused on recycled, revamped and repurposed art.

Painter Rivers Varn admired an early painting by JoAnn Byrons, a past Beckley Art Group Board of Directors president.

“It is so interesting to see her early work. Now she has gotten so wonderful. This really shows how talent increases with knowledge,” he said.

Varn did not have artwork displayed at the exhibit but said seeing others’ works inspires him to consider the revamping theme in his work later on.

“It is fun to know these artists’ current work and to see some of the things they painted long ago,” he added.

Perl Tipper found work in her attic she had forgotten about for the show.

She explained that her grandson brought down some old paintings from her attic, which she repurposed for the show.

In one mining scene she added the figure of a miner; another painting of the Shenandoah Valley reminds her of when her oldest daughter moved to Delaware and Tipper “kept the roads hot” to visit her.

“I thought this was a great idea. It was a shock in a way to see some of these paintings I had forgotten. Some of them I expect I did in a painting class but I can’t remember who taught it.”

In addition to painting, some revamped, recycled and repurposed furniture, jewelry and sculpture is on display.

The “New Life From Old Things” exhibit will be displayed through March 9 and can be viewed during gallery hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the exhibit, contact the gallery by phone at 304-253-9226 or visit beckleyartgroup. blogspot.com

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com

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