Pyles donate Civil War drawing
Published 8:56 am Friday, January 14, 2011
Jon Pyle, commander of Urquhart-Gillette Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans, and his wife, Beverly, have donated to Mahone’s Tavern and Museum a drawing of a Civil War battle in Petersburg.
Jon Pyle holds a drawing by nationally recognized artist Henry Kidd, depicting the Battle of the Crater in 1864 in Petersburg. Pyle and his wife, Beverly, donated the drawing to Mahone’s Tavern and Museum. -- Gwen Albers | Tidewater News
The Pyles purchased the drawing from nationally recognized Petersburg artist Henry Kidd. It depicts a scene from the Battle of the Crater from 1864.
“We just felt like it was the right thing to do,” Pyle said about the donation. “It was Billy Mahone’s troop that retook the Crater.”
Urquhart-Gillette Camp meets at the Mahone’s Tavern and has purchased the building, which it continues to pay off with fundraisers.
• Southampton County native Alexis Joyner will serve as a judge during the 33rd annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, which has an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, Nags Head, N.C.
The show will remain open until Feb. 25.
Alexis attended Virginia State University, graduating in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. He attended graduate school at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University, receiving a master’s in fine arts in sculpture in 1984.
Alexis taught for Isle of Wight County Public Schools from 1979 through1989. Currently he is the chairman of the Department of Art at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. He has been teaching at the university since 1989.
He and his wife, Robin, have three children.
Alexis’ latest work has been experimental in nature and heavily influenced by his visits to Ghana and Nigeria, West Africa. He has created several works that are mixed media, abstract figurative, sculptural forms.
Alexis incorporates found and fabricated objects into his works for visual interest and surprise. Many of his works have religious themes. He has exhibited extensively — locally, regionally and internationally. His works are among the collections of Chattanooga State Technical College, Daura Gallery at Lynchburg College and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York City Public Library.
GWEN ALBERS is managing editor of The Tidewater News. Her email address is gwen.albers@tidewaternews.com.
