Lees-McRae College is pleased to announce a gallery exhibition of selected paintings and permanent text installation by James Thatcher titled “Excerpts”.
The selected paintings and permanent text installation will be on display in the King-Shivell Lounge of the Cannon Student Center through September 21.
Thatcher has exhibited in one-person shows at galleries throughout the United States, particularly the upper Midwest, the mid-Atlantic region and Washington D.C. His work has also been featured in many group shows at museums and cultural centers in the United States and Europe, including the Corcoran Museum of Art in Washington D.C., and the Fine Arts Academy of Budapest, Hungary.
In addition, his work is in the prestigious collections of political leaders world-wide, including former President Bill Clinton, the late Lady Bird Johnson, Empress Michiko of Japan, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and the late Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping.
Thatcher attended the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington D.C., and received a diploma of fine arts in 1984.
Thatcher’s artist statement reads, “The mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. All expression comes from the abundant core. We are constantly revealing ourselves and our motivations, often well beyond our intentions. I use the random techniques of the Dada/Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist movements because of this.
“I create chaotic under paintings and then extract a ‘found’ rational image within that chaos. I enjoy this immensely because it takes me away from intentional, preconceived ideas about what my artwork will be, leaving the painting free to become itself: the purest expression of what is inside me,” Thatcher continues.
The artwork on display is for sale, and half of all proceeds will be donated to Lees-McRae College.
For additional information, please contact Meghan Wright, Communications Officer, at (828) 898-8729.