Fifth annual African American History Month art exhibition now on display at Greenville Technical College library
February 3, 2020
An art exhibition at the Greenville Technical College library, in celebration of African American History Month, is on display through February 29, 2020. The library is located in the Beattie E. Huff Student Center, building 105, on the Barton Campus. Exhibition hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The show includes the work of several African American visual artists. Current and former Greenville Technical College students, faculty, and staff are among them.
South Carolina native John Pendarvis is one of the featured artists. His works include large collages, wax/dye mixed media paintings, encaustic works, serigraphs and textured pieces on multiple types of paper and canvas. They depict a celebration of life inspired by a love of music, a love of the outdoors, and a need for exploration, which drives his creativity.
“Over the years I’ve painted musicians, my saxophone, heritage cloth, Southern themed subjects and African masks – all a reflection of my love of music, Southern and African American heritage. I’ve return to these themes multiple times over the years, adding new themes such as my recent paintings of flowers from my garden which combine my love of painting, gardening and the outdoors,” Pendarvis said.
With a degree in mathematics as a base, Pendarvis’ art education was a constant quest to learn. He took evening classes while in high school at the Greenville County Museum of Art, studied with Leo Twiggs at South Carolina State University, attended the Arts Student League in New York City, and later was a student of Carl Blair at the Greenville County Museum School of Art.
His work has been accepted in national shows, winning best graphics in Spring Mills Art Shows and first place in the Southeast Black Art Competition, North Carolina. Works are included in the collections of Spartanburg Arts Council, Pickens County Museum of Art, South Carolina State University Museum, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Fluor Corporation, Piedmont Orthopedic Associates, and many private collections across the United States.
Pendarvis is member of the Metropolitan Arts Council and the Greenville Center for Creative Arts. He is part owner of the Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville.
