This painting by Karena Locklear, part of a series based on nature and movement, was inspired by a coral snake she saw in her backyard. | Contributed

slideshow

This painting, which features seashells, is a second part of the series by Karena Locklear, who will be showing her art at the art exhibition. A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Carolina Civic Center.

slideshow

Sandi Carter creates jewelry that she plans to showcase at the exhibit.

slideshow

Karena Locklear

slideshow

LUMBERTON — Local art teachers are covering the walls of the Carolina Civic Center this week, shining light on their own work.

The third annual Public Schools of Robeson County art exhibition, titled Art: The Essential Subject, will feature the work of about 30 teachers.

“This is an addition to our live performances and films and this is our eighth art exhibit that we’ve held,” said Richard Sceiford, the executive director of the Carolina Civic Center. “This one is a particular favorite because of who’s involved. These are the art teachers who teach our kids to love art and become artistic.”

A free reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Civic Center. There will be refreshments.

Karena Kimble-Locklear, a teacher at South Robeson High School and the co-chair of the Art Department, has shown her work at each of the exhibitions. She plans to display a semi-abstract painting she recently made.

“I was inspired by the different seasons in North Carolina,” Locklear said. “It’s actually three little paintings that I’m putting in one.”

Kimble-Locklear said she bases most of her imagery on nature, using such things a seashell shapes and beach colors or a snake in her back yard for inspiration.

Sandi Carter, the Arts Education supervisor for PSRC, requires the art teachers to display their work at the annual show.

“As art teachers, they need to be continuing … making art for themselves and I really believe that doing that helps them become better art teachers,” Carter said. “You need to make sure that you are involved in it in a personal sense. I just find that the teachers that … continue to do something on a personal level, they just have a lot more to offer their students.”

Carter will be showing her handcrafted jewelry that she makes with silver, natural gemstones and precious metal clay. She said students benefit from seeing their teachers’ work as well.

“It gives them some validity that, ‘Oh, OK, she’s an artist, she’s not just telling me something, she actually does a body of work,’” Carter said. “I just think it gives art teachers a certain level of respect with their students. Students thrive off seeing their teachers creating art, it’s a nice relationship there.”

With busy schedules, Carter said this is often the only time art teachers are able to participate in exhibits. Some will offer comments about their art during the reception.

Sceiford said he is seeking artists for future exhibits. If interested, call 910-738-4339 or e-mail ccc@nc.rr.com.

“I make artwork anyway,” Kimble-Locklear said. “We promote arts in the community and the only way to do that is to share it with the community.”

— Reach features editor Amanda Munger at 910-272-6144 or amunger@heartlandpublications.com.