"Ocean and Earth" - Works by Mark Bannerman and Alex Walker

Opening Reception: Friday, July 28th, 6-9 pm

Closing Reception: Friday, August 25th, 6-9 pm

Show Closing: Friday, September 8th

About the show: Ocean and Earth exhibits the work of two artists who find common ground in breathing new life into objects, either natural or man made, which have outlived their original purpose or form. In their hands, these castaways and debris become foundation and/or elaboration for sculptures and paintings representing life in, on, and above the earth and her oceans.

About the Artists:

Mark Bannerman

Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1957, Mark Bannerman was raised in Indiana.  He graduated from Indiana University with a concentration in Graphic Design.  Shortly after graduation, he won a design competition for a new Indiana University football helmet.  This resulted in his being commissioned to assist in redesigning the football uniform, playing field, and mural designs for the stadium in 1983. Mark began his career as a graphic designer in the greeting card industry and eventually established himself as a free-lance designer in the Bloomington area.  However, Mark always had a love for the fine arts. When fate drew him to North Carolina to live on his grandparents’ farm, he had a chance to explore not only his family roots, but also, the roots of making fine art. Called upon to teach art at Whiteville High School, Mark had the opportunity to experiment with a variety of art media as he guided his students.  For 30 years, both Mark and his students created award winning art. He was recognized nine times as a nationally outstanding teacher by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Mark has successfully competed in several juried exhibits, including the International Icarus Exhibit in Kitty Hawk, NC (Best In Show), the Cameron Museum’s Southeastern Artists Exhibit, the Land Fall Foundation Art Show, and the Wilmington Art Association’s Spring Show (Best in Show 2016).

Alex Walker

Alex Walker graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a major in Graphic Design and a minor in Fine Art. His skills were honed through working on boats in Maine and the enjoyment, as he jokingly calls it, of using tools of mass destruction. Somewhere along the way he learned that these same tools can create fantastic things. Walker’s art shares “all things water” as a common theme. All his pieces are hand carved and free standing. The smaller pieces are equipped to be hung as well. Walker tries to use as much reclaimed material as possible. Life is in the grain, knots, and imperfections showing through.