Schoolhouse Photographer to Exhibit at Mission, Kansas Art Gallery February 10th - March 3rd
“YESTERDAY’S SCHOOLS,” a brilliant collection of photographically inspired works of the photographer/sculptor Gloria Hawkins will show at VALA Gallery (Video, Audio, Literary Artists) from February 10th. Hawkins work is full of surprises. She captures images of an Americana that is disappearing, and creates art from her
travels. Multi-layering, merging digital photos and re-purposed objects, she often contains them in wooden containers, boxes and suitcases. The artist will be available at opening and closing festivities for personal conversations about the process of creating and preserving our past.
VALA Gallery offers meet-the-artist opportunities on Friday, February 10th (6-9 pm) and Closing, Saturday, March 3rd noon-4 pm at their newest location, 5903 Johnson Drive in Mission, KS, nestled between the Mission Theatre and Lamar’s Doughnuts. Works can also be viewed Mondays 10-2, Wednesdays noon-4 pm & by appointment.
Gloria Hawkins, photographers/sculptor, is above all a preservationist of history and memories. A former teacher, Hawkins applies her fascination for historical accuracy to meticulous documentation and preservation. Hawkins embraced the daunting task of seeking out and interviewing living residents who taught or learned there. Her passionate works are infused with the living memories and histories of those whose stories she preserved. Hawkins does not stop there. She digitizes and re-masters the piercing photographs and reforms them into sculptural narratives to places traveled.
The creation of her exhibit Yesterday's Schools," is an extensive collection of over 15,000 photographs and interviews. Its creation covers a span of 15 years and 37 states. She has exhibited in numerous galleries and universities: including University of Iowa, Northern Iowa University, Heartland Theater Gallery and The National Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The CSAA is proud that Gloria is a member of our board of directors and a regular, and very popular presenter at our annual country schoolhouse conference.
Photos: by Gloria Hawkins
#1 Rose Hill School, OK
#2 Amish Restaurant
#3 Redstone School, MA 
#4 Colorado School
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