The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community
Facilities will host an art exhibit and gallery talk featuring local artist
Everett A. Mayo at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook
Road. The art exhibit titled “Driftwood Comes to Life” will open
on Friday, November 21 with a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. and a gallery
talk beginning at 6:30 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until January 2,
2015.
Mayo, a former heavyweight boxing champion, was injured in a construction accident and declared legally blind in one eye. Seeking a new hobby, he began producing sculptures using pieces of driftwood. “Today I feel the art took the place of boxing. The love and drive I had to be a champion boxer and the accident made me channel everything I had in me towards creating art out of driftwood. The art is here to stay” says Mayo. Mayo has taught many how to paint on driftwood including Alzheimer’s patients, youth in schools, and pediatric patients in several hospitals.
The first showing of his work was in 1993. Since then, Mayo’s
works has exhibited in several museums and galleries. Mayo was also nominated
for and mentored youth in the Virginia Heroes Program which was started by the
late tennis professional Arthur Ashe, Jr. Mayo has also appeared as a guest
artist to showcase his unique art on the Parents’ Choice Award winning
Nickelodeon show “Gullah Gullah
Island”.
Spotlight Gallery hours are
from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Saturdays. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For more
information or to schedule tours please contact Shaunn Casselle at (804)
646-6722.
