PAL to host SilverArts, Wassink, Weekley exhibits

The Perquimans Arts League is currently displaying artworks by senior citizen artists from Perquimans and area counties in its annual SilverArts exhibit.

The exhibit, which continues on display at the PAL Gallery through April 29, is a program coordinated by the Albemarle Commission’s Area Agency on Aging and, according to a PAL press release, is “a celebration of the creative expression of seniors in North Carolina.”

Works by artists from Perquimans, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Tyrrell and Washington counties are included in the exhibit.

Starting May 2, PAL will also host “Mood & Whimsy,” a collection of artwork by award-winning fiber artist and local resident, Katherine Wassink.

An art history major at College of William and Mary, Wassink worked in the educational division of Simplicity Patterns in New York City before settling in northeastern North Carolina and taking a teaching position at College of The Albemarle.

Wassink has been capturing the beauty of the region’s waters and rivers in her fiber art for nearly two decades, according to a 2021 Albemarle Neighbor story published in The Daily Advance.

“I love the texture and intensity of color” of fiber art, Wassink said.

Wassink, whose work is primarily needle felted, said when she first started registering for art shows in the area 15 years ago organizers were unfamiliar with the fiber art technique. That’s because so few artists here were using it.

Wassink said she made it her quest to get fiber recognized as an art medium in the area. Now, 15 years later, Wassink’s art has earned more than 55 awards at art shows.

Wassink’s “Mood & Whimsy” will remain on display at PAL until May 30.

Then in June, PAL will display the paintings of Jeff Weekley. The show, called “Recent Works,” will run from June 1-29.

According to PAL, Weekley, an oil painter from Beulaville, began his career as an art director in advertising, developing campaigns for clients including Sea World, Lockheed Martin and the Australian Tourist Commission before realizing his dream of becoming a painter.

Weekley uses photographs to capture his models and Photoshop to help create his concepts. “He says this allows the process to be fluid, often changing the designs and elements many times until satisfied,” PAL said in its release.