STEVE A. PRINCE

STEVE A. PRINCE is a native of New Orleans, LA and resides in Hampton, VA. He received his BFA from Xavier University of Louisiana and his MFA from Michigan State University. Prince is an educator and has taught privately, middle school, college, and is currently teaching at Hampton High School in Virginia.

Prince is represented by Eyekons Gallery, in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Stonemetal Press, in San Antonio, Texas. He has shown his art internationally in various solo, group, and juried exhibitions, at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, the Canadian Mennonite University Gallery, the National Gallery of the Bahamas, the Grand Rapids Museum of Art, the Portsmouth Courthouse Museum, Hampton University Museum, the Museum of African American Culture in New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana Gallery, Eyekons Gallery in Grand Rapids, and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center to name a few.

Prince has created a number of public artworks, including a life-size bronze bust of 1967 Medal of Honor recipient Ruppert Leon Sargent in Hampton, Virginia, a 12’ x 40’ mixed media installation entitled “Fabric of Life” in Newport News, Virginia, a 4’ x 24’ woodcut entitled “Alexandria” in Alexandria, Virginia, and two semi-kinetic winged figures each 6’ x 12’ called “Urban Dove I an II” in Williamsburg and Newport News, Virginia respectively. His forthcoming, 12’ stainless-steel kinetic sculpture, entitled “Song for John”, will be erected in Coliseum Central Hampton, Virginia in the fall 2007.

Prince is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2008 Steward School Artist in Residence in Richmond, Virginia, the 2007 Partners of the Americas Artist in Residence in Santa Catarina, Brazil, the 2005 Creative Excellence Award of Virginia Career and Technical Education, the 2001 and 2004 Best in Show at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia Beach, the 2004 Award of Achievement at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center Biennial, the Images 2006 and 2000 Merit Award Winner at Pennsylvania State University, and the Outstanding Award of Merit from the Mayor of New Orleans in 1999.

Through his craft Prince has conducted workshops internationally in addition to being an accomplished lecturer in both secular and sacred settings. He has spoken at various colleges, community centers, museums, galleries, and addressed congregations of various denominations.

Statement About the SOHO Program.

Over the past several years I have lived by the credo "your imagination is your only limitation". I challenge students to adopt that concept into there hearts, and hopefully they will realize that they are special, unique, and of value. As an instructor with the SOHO program I have afforded the priveledge of working with very beautiful and bright young ladies at a crucial juncture in there lives. I believe that through the creative process students can make the connection between making a piece of art and the formalitive years of there lives are intrinsically connected. Thus, art can be used as a tool to thwart off self-denial, hatred, low self esteem, powerlessness, bigotry, etc. I can honestly say that the SOHO program has not only been a place where I can affect lives, it has affected me by instilling hope in my heart for the future.

Be a Fence

AMY BRUCE

I have been a working artist and Art Teacher for the past 16 years. Growing up in New York I was very lucky to learn the value of the Fine Arts early in life.  I received my BFA in Printmaking and Art Education from Alfred University/The New York State School of Ceramics.  I moved to Virginia a year after graduation to pursue a graduate degree and after several years I was hired as an Elementary Art Teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools. I have since acquired my Masters Degree from VCU in Photography and Computer Graphics and have moved up to the Secondary Level teaching High School Art.  I have recently run curriculum training for the Photography Teachers and was asked to develop and teach an Alternative Photography class for the FCPS Academy. This class also translated into a graduate level course for VCU’s off-campus program for whom I am also an adjunct.  As I enter my 16th year teaching, I also continue to develop my own artistic vision as well.  In the past 8 years I have been successfully showing and selling my work in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. area and hope to broaden my audience in the coming year.  In doing so I have reached into the community to discover how many others value The Arts and Art Education.

I am thrilled to be involved as an Artist/Art Teacher in the Soho Program. The belief that self-esteem and personal growth can be achieved thru the Arts is a theory I have utilized all my professional life. If it wasn’t for the amazing professionals that molded me as a child I would not have the confidence to pursue my artistic dreams as an adult.  I hope that the information I bring to these children will help them to find their voice and know that they are important and can be contributors to their community in a positive way.

http://www.amybruceimagery.com

LESLEY HARRIS

I became a SOHO mentor in 2006.  I worked as a regular volunteer with the program and mentored a 6th grade girl.  I continue to maintain a relationship with that girl.  Now, I am working with SOHO to teach assorted art classes to the girls.

While I have a regular day job, part time I am a struggling artist!  I began by taking a silversmithing class many years ago.  I think I knew immediately that this was something I should be doing.  I’m a late bloomer; it never had occurred to me when I was young and working in a jewelry store part time that actual people made the jewelry.  But I’ve since moved on to take many, many classes.  And really, I just love to make anything.  If my hands are moving, I’m happy. 

From jewelry I moved to sculpture.  I make small copper pieces for the yard and home.   As seen above, from one of my shows, I try to get out a few times a year with my items, and I sell my things at a couple of shops.   

One of the things I like best about metal work is that you don’t have to be perfect.  While perfection has its place in many of the applications, many sculptural pieces are freeform and may start out one way and end another.     I like the freedom to create and develop as I work, this allows me to explore and try new things.  This means a lot ends up in the recycle heap, but it’s how I can come up with great things too!  The best thing about any art form is that the ability to improve is infinite! 

The opportunity to work with the girls in SOHO is wonderful!  To be able to ignite their imaginations of what they can do and what they can create with just a little- it can take them a long way.

www.rubybegoniadesigns.com