Carnegie Hall’s March/April ArtWalk exhibits opened with three galleries showcasing the works of local Greenbrier County students and two regional artists. The Lobby Gallery (located in the Hamilton Auditorium) features “ADHD vs. AARP” by mosaic glass artist Peggy Owens.
Peggy Owens was sure that her “calling” was to be a teacher. For 37 years she taught elementary school and was the “Magic School Bus” kind of teacher. She returned home to West Virginia in 2018 and became a middle school art teacher. Everyone who knew her was surprised at this, but Peggy was the most surprised.
Once she started teaching art, she was completely taken by the bright colors of the Fauvist Movement and fell head over heels in love with abstract art. Living in Pocahontas County, she felt that no artist could improve upon nature’s beauty so painting landscapes was out, but abstract pieces have different meaning to each person who views them. Kandinsky’s geometric work seemed magical, Van Gogh’s work was breathtaking, and Picasso saw things in ways no one had seen before. Jackson Pollack proved that paint could be everywhere. She was hooked!
Peggy creates acrylic abstract paintings, glass mosaics, fused glass, jewelry, and photography-so far. A friend once labeled her as “Where ADHD meets AARP” because as soon as something catches her attention, she tries it. Her interests other than art are all over the map as well. Although her major loves at this time are art and grandchildren, it should be noted that she has delved into everything from storytelling to roller derby. The bluegrass lover in her owns a banjo and the Irish lass in her owns a bagpipe, but they are no match for the 10-year-old kid inside of her who still likes to throw varied glass into the kiln together just to see if it will blow up. After all, she IS the “Accidental Artist.”
Peggy’s work has been on display at the Cultural Center in Charleston, West Virginia at the Capitol Complex, and has been featured in a Pittsburgh Art Exhibition, as well as in West Virginia, Virginia, and Indiana. It’s hard to tell where you might find her next, but it’s a sure bet that if there is a messy, bright miasma of colors, she will be nearby.
The exhibits are free and open to the public, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and run through the end of April. For more information, please visit carnegiehallwv.org, call 304-645-7917, or stop by the Hall at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg.
Carnegie Hall programs are presented with financial assistance through a grant from the WV Department of Arts, Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.ç
