Submitted

YPG Gallery and Stanback Gallery Hall: Before I die, I want to…” – engagement walls

Norvell, Osborne and Woodson Galleries: Visual Art Exchange of Raleigh (VAE)

Time and Place – juried group show exhibition open through Sept. 2

“Talking about death and dying are often difficult conversations for patients, families and healthcare providers,” as Teresa Efird, Palliative Care Coordinator of Community Care of Southern Piedmont (CCSP) well knows. She goes on to say, “It is important for us to learn how to talk about death, as it is a natural part of life.” Bearing this thought in mind, Waterworks Visual Arts Center and The Community Care of Southern Piedmont are excited to present “525,600 Mins. – Time and Place.” Two exhibitions interlock to explore the twin concepts of time and “our place in the world,” in the form of a juried group show and a public conversation wall.

Visual Art Exchange of Raleigh (VAE) member artists’ works selected for the group show illustrate how creatives contemplate time and place. For instance, the passage of time — reveals how people and things age; the measuring of time and/or the tools used to quantify time; the changes in times — how technology has changed the world; or how time can ravage or civilize a certain place — the comparison of images of a specific piece of land before and after urbanization. Fifty artworks in a variety of 2-D and 3-D media represent 32 artists from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Candy Chang’s work transforms a public space into a platform for community conversation and contemplation. After the death of her dear friend, the New Orleans-based artist looked for a way to cope with her loss.

With the help of some friends she transformed the side of an abandoned house into a giant chalkboard, and stenciled the sentence: “Before I die, I want to…” leaving the rest blank for community members to fill in.

Before I Die walls have been created in ten languages, and in more than 70 countries. The public response wall’s purpose is to provide a space for visitors to share something of themselves, personal aspirations or dreams and to create public awareness, education and conversation around Advance Directives (individual advance care planning).

Four engagement walls have been installed in the YPG Gallery and Stanback Hall. To reach a broader audience, Before I die drop boxes are set up in various sites in Rowan and Cabarrus counties, including Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, Rowan Public Library headquarters, South Rowan Regional Library, J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, J. Fred Corriher Jr. YMCA and Kannapolis YMCA.

Also on display are selected works from this year’s winner of the Dare To Imagine Award, Eli Helms. Helms is a senior art student of Dr. Mark Riley at J.C. Carson High School. The award recognizes one Rowan County graduating senior whose artwork most exemplifies the creative potential of the human spirit, heart, and hand. The award is made possible through a gift from Susan and Edward Norvell.

A reception hosted by Community Care of Southern Piedmont is scheduled for this Friday, June 3 from 6-8 p.m. at the museum. A reception to meet and honor the VAE member artists and this year’s Dare To Imagine winner will be held on Friday, June 10. Informal gallery talks with the artists begin at 5 p.m. followed by the reception from 6-8 p.m.

Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 123 East Liberty St., in the East Square Cultural District.

Walk-in, self-guided tours are welcome during gallery hours. Groups may arrange a guided tour of the exhibitions by calling 704-636-1882 at least two weeks before requested tour. Admission is free, donations are appreciated.