Family artistry on display in Snow Hill

SNOW HILL - Art has the power to unite people, to make the world in which we live feel far less lonely and to provide solace to those who have lost their way.

Members of a Snow Hill family of artists have combined their affection for art with their love for family into an exhibit that will be on display at the Greene County Museum through August.

"The exhibit is made up of art from family who spans three generations," Sharon Ginn, president of the Greene County Museum board, said.

Robert "Bob" Jones and Patricia Newcomb Jones, along with their daughter Mary Jones Dementev and grandson Jacob Bew, have used a variety of mediums to create the works included in the "Jones Family Art" exhibit.

Dementev is currently working on her undergraduate degree in art education from East Carolina University, with plans to attend graduate school. Her work has been on display in Greenville and New Bern. Although she enjoys working with a number of media, she admits that her first love is ceramics.

"Working with clay, feeling its texture and molding it in such a way it almost feels as if the piece is part of your own skin," Dementev said. "It is a truly amazing, yet humbling experience."

Dementev's parents have a long history of producing quality artwork.

Jones is active in national juried art shows and has received a number of awards, including "Best in Show" for mixed media at the 2008 Beaufort County Arts Council competition.

The North Carolina Museum of Art and Greenville Museum of Art have also played host to Jones' work.

Dementev's mother taught public school children acrylic painting and calligraphy during her 34-year stint as a teacher. Newcomb Jones has also taught several adult art classes at Lenoir Community College.

She has a knack for producing pieces made of nearly every form of media, but particularly enjoys working with pastels, watercolors and acrylics. Nature scenes that oftentimes include flowers is one of her specialties.

Newcomb Jones believes "life ... is getting in step with nature and sharing it with others through art."

Ginn encourages visitors to take a stroll through the museum. She said people from all walks of life are sure to be captivated by the watercolors, ceramics, pastels, acrylics, collages, painted gourds and etchings that adorn the otherwise bland main gallery.

"(The public) needs to know what talent and even the variety of talent that is present in Greene County," Ginn said.

Sarah Campbell can be reached at (252) 559-1076 or scampbell@freedomenc.com. Check out Sarah's blog at http://scampbell.encblogs.com.

If you go...

"A Family Affair" exhibit

On display: June-August

Greene County Museum

107 NW Third St., Snow Hill

Museum hours:

Tueday-Friday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturdays - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.