BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART EXHIBITION FEATURES WORKS BY KAREN
CHRISTOPHER AND BLAKE BEAN
The Fine Arts division will present its annual Black History Month
exhibition featuring African American Artists Karen Christopher and
Blake Bean Feb. 4 – 28. An opening reception is scheduled for Feb. 5,
from 6 -7:30 p.m.
Karen Christopher is no stranger to the AC Gallery, having graciously
contributed to AC’s Black History Month celebration for many years.
She is a musician and public speaker, and holds a managerial position
in Nacogdoches’ Norbord plant as well. She is a degreed artist,
holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephen F. Austin State
University. Known for her fine drawings, Christopher does commissioned
portraits as well as religious or spiritual subjects. For this year’s
exhibition she will be showing both drawings and paintings.
Community service has long been a staple of Christopher’s life, and
for this exhibition she will share one of her latest experiences
combining art, music and service to her faith.
Christopher conducted a drawing workshop for young people in Americus,
Ga. last year in conjunction with a gospel music conference,
AmeriGospel Presents. She will be including examples of student works
from that workshop along with photographs of the children working.
Blake Bean will also be featured in this year’s exhibition with his
fine paper mosaics and paintings. An artist by profession, Bean is
from Corrigan, and is the son of Angelina College instructor Janice
Harris. He is currently represented by Black Heritage Gallery in
Houston and his work is sought after by many important clients. Both
George Foreman and Beyonce Knowles’ family collect his work. Currently
he has pieces on display at Lufkin’s First Street Art Center as well.
Bean’s collage work is characterized by meticulous construction that
still holds an ease and spontaneity about it. While obviously time
consuming to complete, the mosaics have a sense of freshness and
vitality, giving the viewer’s eye much information on more than one
spatial level. His paintings have a strength and vibrancy that set
them apart.
