Exhibition features 3 local artists

The September Exhibition at the John Waldron Arts Center kicks off Friday with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Local artists Sally Hunt, Joel Washington and Raymond Saidah are showcasing their artwork.

More than 50 pieces of Hunt’s work will be on display in the Flashlight Gallery. The event marks the first retrospective of her work, displaying pieces from the beginning of her career to her most recent paintings and drawings before she died last year. 

Hunt’s son, Craig Hunt, submitted her work to the Waldron. His goal was simple – to get her work out there.

“In the process of being a single mom with three kids, her career didn’t take flight until her retirement,” he said. “She lived in a little house in Brown County by the lake, did a lot of painting, and I thought her work was worthy of exhibition.”

But what inspired the Waldron to select Sally Hunt was more than the quality of her artwork: It was her dedication to the community, said gallery Director Anna Walker.

“We chose to showcase not just an artist, but someone who loved and gave to the community,” Walker said. “She blends a community involvement with an artistic perspective.”

Craig Hunt remembers his mother’s social awareness fondly. More than that, he recalls her passion for art. He still has sketches she drew of him and his sister, Holly.

“She once insisted that I hold a toad while she painted me,” he said. “And the toad didn’t like it, and I didn’t like it. It was torture. But we did it for her; art was her love.”

Washington, another artist at the exhibition, also cites art as a lifelong love. Washington draws inspiration from pop art, experimenting with cartoon and graffiti, and infusing bright color into his work.

“Joel’s work is amazing,” Walker said. “I expect it to be one of the best shows this year because his work has been up and coming in the Bloomington community. A lot of people are excited.”

That list of people includes a U.S. ambassador. Last year, the ambassador to Thailand saw one of Washington’s pieces at an Indianapolis museum. He was so impressed that he recruited Washington to display his art at an exhibit at the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, alongside artists such as Kurt Vonnegut and Robert Indiana.

“It’s an honor,” Washington said. “All of these people that I’m in company with, artists who have made their mark in history – they are legends.”

Washington’s work will go on display in the Rosemary P. Miller Gallery along with Saidah’s, whose work fuses glass painting in an unusual way.

“People use pieces of pre-cut glass and fire them,” Saidah said. “I use powder glass that I make myself with a machine. Each layer and color must be fired separately.”

Saidah said he draws inspiration from his environment. He said he mixes elements of realism with imagination, often creating portraits and nature-inspired pieces.

The artists’ styles complement each other and share common themes. But perhaps the strength of the show is each artist’s ability to bring something fresh to the show, Walker said.

“They all use a lot of color and vibrancy,” she said. “But they all have their own influences, and you can distinguish that in their work.”

September Exhibitions
When: Friday through Sept. 27. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Cost: Free