New exhibition celebrating the gifts of Connie Bostic at WCU
Connie Bostic, Untitled from the Here and There series, c.2001-2002, oil on canvas, 49.25 x 103 inches, Gift of the Artist. Image courtesy of 蘑菇短视频Photo Services.
By Rachel Hood
The 蘑菇短视频 Fine Art Museum is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition honoring the life and legacy of Fairview-based artist Connie Bostic, on view from Aug. 12 through Oct. 17. Bostic, who was an alum of 蘑菇短视频and passed away in January 2024, made a lasting impact on the region鈥檚 cultural landscape, not only through her own artistic work but also through her involvement with many art ventures that connected artists and their audiences.
In 2010, she gifted more than fifty works of art to the 蘑菇短视频Fine Art Museum鈥檚 permanent collection in honor of her mentor Robert Godfrey, who shared her commitment to the arts. No Ordinary Company: The Gifts of Connie Bostic brings together a selection of these donated works, including paintings, prints, and drawings by artists Bostic knew and respected, alongside a powerful centerpiece: a tour-de-force painting from her own Here and There series.
Bostic began her career as a professional artist in the 1970s after starting a family and moving to Fairview, North Carolina. While she faced challenges as a woman navigating the art world in this era, she enjoyed making connections with other artists, especially those who were not afraid to challenge conventions or confront uncomfortable subject matter.
She gravitated toward artists who took risks in their work and embraced authenticity. This ethos is reflected in her own painting from the Here and There series, created in response to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Its two-canvas composition suggests global tensions between peace and violence, depicting casual beachgoers on the left paired with crowds crossing a war-torn bridge on the right.
In addition to being drawn to courageous artists, Bostic appreciated subjects that were important in her own painting practice, including explorations of childbirth and the womb, childhood memory, tensions between safety and violence, and the evolving landscape of feminism, all which can be found in the works on view.
All artwork in this exhibition is drawn from the 蘑菇短视频Fine Art Museum鈥檚 permanent collection, which has over 2,100 works of contemporary art by artists of the Americas. Exhibiting artists include Connie Bostic, Porge Buck, Al Carter, Larry Caveney, Margaret Curtis, Elma Johnson, Linda Larsen, Joanna Oberm眉ller, Mary Althea Parker, Teresa Prater, Ann Ropp, Mark Schieferstein, Michael Sheldon, Taylor Spence, and Tom Thompson.
The exhibition will be on view through Oct. 17, with a reception on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Complimentary hors d鈥檕euvres and beverages will be served at the reception, and free parking is available at the Bardo Arts Center parking lot at 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee, NC.
Visit arts.wcu.edu/no-ordinary to learn more about the exhibition and reception. To see BAC鈥檚 full calendar of events, please visit arts.wcu.edu/explore or call (828) 227-ARTS. The 蘑菇短视频Fine Art Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
