On view through May 7-28, 2021
Visit the Gallery in-person or view it online

Wilmington, Del. (May 5, 2021) – Combines: The Andromeda Series, an exhibition of wall sculptures by Jack Knight, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from May 7–28, 2021. Knight is the recipient of a 2021 Artist Fellowship in Sculpture from the Delaware Division of the Arts.

Knight calls these works “combines” because he combines canvas, wood, and masonite into sculptural painted constructions that hang on the wall. The exhibition features thirteen combines, each measuring approximately 3 feet by 3 feet. The Andromeda Series was inspired by the 1971 science fiction thriller film, The Andromeda Strain, and the Andromeda galaxy.

These colorful three-dimensional works are created based on triangular forms that Knight builds at the beginning of the work. He then adds hand-painted round canvases and wood shapes to the form. Afterwards, he adds small embellishments to the composition for visual interest and balance.

This work represents a departure from Knight’s easel paintings in which he created the illusion of three-dimensional shapes by overlapping forms on a flat canvas.

“The combines are more free-spirited and exciting to execute. The approach is still creating a composition in three dimensions. All the items, objects, colors, and textures need to harmonize to be successful.” – Jack Knight

Knight lived and pursued his studio career in New York state, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Philadelphia before moving to Long Neck, Delaware. Throughout his busy career, Knight has had 17 solo exhibitions and has participated in more than 100 group shows. His work is found in the collection of ten institutions and three museums.

Image in banner: Andromeda #33 (detail), painted canvas, wood, and masonite, 32 x 32 x 4 inches

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. Visitors must wear face coverings and maintain 6 feet distance from other individuals not in their household.

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The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

On view from September 28 –  October 30, 2020
Visit the Gallery in-person or view it online

Wilmington, Del. (September 28, 2020) – A New African Experience, an exhibition of sculptures by Aaron Paskins will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from September 28 – October 30, 2020. Paskins is the recipient of a 2020 Artist Fellowship in Sculpture from the Delaware Division of the Arts. A free opening reception will be held on Friday, October 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. For those unable to visit the Gallery in-person, a virtual gallery is available here.

The exhibition features African-inspired indigenous works with a contemporary flair and African-themed fantasy works. Paskins says,

“My goal is . . . to create works that electrify, inspire, unify all people, and leave the world with some added beauty.”

Paskins starts a sculpture with a series of drawings in which he develops the concept and draws the final designs from various viewpoints. He then creates a three-dimensional maquette, or model, for the sculpture. After the full-size version is created, Paskins applies multiple layers of different coatings to achieve unique finishes and metallic patinas for his sculptures. He frequently adds adornments such as beads, jewelry, and feathers to his work.

Paskins works out of his studio in Dover. His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and at nationwide art festivals such as the Palm Beach Fine Art Show, Baltimore Art & Antique Show, and Essence Festival.

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. Visitors must wear face coverings and maintain 6 feet distance from other individuals not in their household.

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Wilmington, Del. (August 13, 2019) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is pleased to announce the 2019-2020 schedule for solo exhibitions in the Mezzanine Gallery, located in the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington, Delaware. The Mezzanine Gallery presents solo exhibitions of work by Delaware artists in disciplines including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, folk, and media arts. The opportunity to exhibit is available to visual artists who have been chosen by the Division’s annual Gallery Panel and to emerging and established visual artists who have won Individual Artist Fellowships.

Opening receptions are typically held the First Friday of the month from 5-7 p.m. to coincide with the City of Wilmington’s Art Loop. The reception is free and open to the public. Each month, the artist will be in attendance at the reception to greet visitors and answer questions about his or her work. The artwork is generally available for purchase directly from the artist. (No commission is taken by the Mezzanine Gallery.)

*Individual Artist Fellow.

To be considered for a Mezzanine Gallery exhibition, artists may submit a Mezzanine Gallery Application before the annual deadline of March 15. In addition, artists who have received an Individual Artist Fellowship in the visual arts are also given the opportunity to exhibit in the gallery. The annual deadline for the Individual Artist Fellowship application is August 1.

Learn more about each month’s artist with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series, which debut a week prior to the opening reception in the press release and on social media. View past Mezzanine Gallery exhibitions on our Flickr page: Delaware Division of the Arts.

The Mezzanine Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

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Contact: Dennis Lawson, Interim Communications Coordinator
302-743-8927, dennis.lawson@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Twenty Delaware artists and three Honorable Mentions
to receive recognition

Wilmington, Del. (January 14, 2019) – Twenty Delaware artists are being recognized by the Division for the high quality of their artwork. Work samples from 136 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, folk and visual artists were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals, considering demonstrated creativity and skill in their art form. The 20 selected fellows reside throughout Delaware including Bear, Bridgeville, Claymont, Dover, Frankford, Lewes, Middletown, Newark, and Wilmington.

Awards are given in three categories – $10,000 for the Masters Award, $6,000 for the Established Professional Award, and $3,000 for the Emerging Professional Award – and Fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the upcoming year, providing an opportunity for the public to experience their work.

“Individual Artist Fellowship grants provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work,” said Paul Weagraff, director of Delaware Division of the Arts. “The financial award allows them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs to advance their careers.”

The work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XIX, at the Biggs Museum from June 7 to July 21, 2019. Selections from Award Winners will travel to CAMP Rehoboth in August and early September and then Cab Calloway School of the Arts during September and October.

The Masters Fellowship is open to differing artistic disciplines each year. In Fiscal Year 2019, Masters Fellowship applications were accepted in Literary and Media Arts from artists who had previously received an Established Professional Fellowship. In addition to exemplifying high artistic quality, Masters Fellowship applicants must demonstrate their involvement and commitment to the arts in Delaware and beyond. Listed below are the Delaware Division of the Arts 2019 Individual Artist Fellows and three Honorable Mentions.

Billie Travalini has been awarded this year’s Masters Fellowship in Literature: Fiction. Travalini, an internationally award-winning writer and educator, teaches English and creative writing at Wilmington University. She has taught creative writing to encourage critical thinking at youth detention centers statewide, which led to Teaching Troubled Youth: A Practical Pedagogical Guide, an award-winning book with an important message on the human condition. In addition, she has taught poetry and playwriting at various Boys and Girls Clubs. In 2014, Travalini received the Governor’s Award for the Arts for her extensive career and work in education. Travalini, co-founder and coordinator of the Lewes Creative Writers’ Conference, is currently working with Fort DuPont to have the children of Governor Bacon remembered by serving the children of today. Her passion for creative writing has led her to “promote the need to include everyone in the conversation.”

2019 Individual Artist Fellows

Masters Award ($10,000)

Established Professional Award ($6,000)

Emerging Artist Award ($3,000)

Honorable Mention

To contact an individual artist, please email or call: Roxanne Stanulis, Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services, Roxanne.Stanulis@delaware.gov or 302-577-8283.

The next deadline for Individual Artist Fellowship applications will be Thursday, August 1, 2019 by 4:30 p.m.

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278. Image: 2018 Award Winners exhibition at the Biggs Museum. Painting (right) by Thomas del Porte, 2018 Established Professional, Visual Arts: painting

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

This year features four 2018 Artist Fellows
in disciplines ranging from fine craft to sculpture

Wilmington, Del. (August 9, 2018) – The Mezzanine Gallery presents monthly solo exhibitions of work by Delaware artists in disciplines including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, folk, and media arts. The opportunity to exhibit is available to emerging and established visual artists who have won Individual Artist Fellowships or have been chosen by the annual Gallery Panel.

Opening receptions are typically held the First Friday of the month to coincide with the City of Wilmington’s Art Loop from 5–7 p.m. Receptions are free and open to the public. Each month, the artist will be in attendance to greet visitors, and answer questions about his or her work. The artwork is generally available for purchase directly from the artist.*

2018-19 Mezzanine Gallery Schedule

Meet the Artist Video Series

Learn more about former Gallery artists with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series.

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. *No commission is taken by the Gallery

View past Mezzanine Gallery exhibitions on our Flickr page: Delaware Division of the Arts

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.