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Nell C. Tilton

Statement

The focus of this exhibit is a collection of abstract paintings that recall elements of specifically two demolished buildings - one destroyed before Hurricane Katrina, the Rivergate Convention Center, and one demolished after and because of Katrina, St. Frances Cabrini Church in Gentilly.

My emphasis in these paintings is to capture the essence of the buildings and to represent the feeling of turmoil, destruction and a sense of loss for those creations by using form, color, value, and textural properties of the paint.

These structures were treasures because they were the result of a vision, a collaboration of many talented artists and craftsmen expressing their dream and creativity, special skills, abilities and brilliance through their art. They were places for a community to gather, exchange ideas, worship, practice commerce, or come together and celebrate. They were treasures because of the innovative designs and engineering feats that were revolutionary at the time of their construction in the 1960's.

My father, Nathaniel C. "Buster" Curtis, Jr. was an architect, artist, and historian. He loved people, his family, his heritage and his work. He was the Chief Project Architect and Director as well as the designer of the Rivergate Convention Center and held the same title for the Louisiana Superdome. He was a gentle, humble man who was very talented and proud of his accomplishments. He died in 1997, almost two years to the day after the demolition of the Rivergate began. This exhibit is dedicated to his memory and his love of architecture.

Selected Exhibitions

2009 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts Drawing Invitational
2008-1997 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Annual Christmas Miniature Exhibit, group invitational
2008-2003 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Faculty Exhibition
2008 - 40 Days 40 Nights, Invitational Katrina Exhibit, Baton Rouge Louisiana Archives Building, Baton Rouge, LA
2008-2006 - Carol Robinson Gallery, Artists of Faith, City of Faith, group invitational
2008-2004 - Carol Robinson Gallery, Annual Christmas Show, group exhibit
2007 - La Nouvelle Salon, World Trade Center, New Orleans, group exhibit
2006 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Katrina (Hurricane) Exhibit, group invitational
2006 - Femme Fest, group exhibit honoring Women in the Arts
2006 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Mardi Gras Exhibit, group invitational
2004 - Louise Finke Watercolor Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Assoc., Covington, LA, group invitational
2004 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 2-person show
2000 - Art in Bloom, New Orleans Museum of Art, participating artist
1994 - Nathaniel Curtis Gallery, New Orleans, LA, 3-person exhibition in conjunction with Art for Arts Sake
1992 - Evans Gallery, New Orleans, LA, watercolor and figure drawings, 2-person show
1988 - Nathaniel Curtis Gallery, New Orleans, LA, solo exhibit in conjunction with Art for Arts Sake,

Selected Juried Competitions and Awards

2005 - Tammany Art Association 40th Juried Artists Exhibition
2005 - Art with a Southern Drawl, University of Mobile, juried show, two paintings accepted
2004 - Louisiana Art and Artists’ Guild, 35th Annual River Road Show
2004 - Artworks for the Earth, 1st Annual Juried Exhibition, Duque Art Center, New Orleans, LA
2003 - Louisiana Artists: An All Media Show, Baton Rouge, LA
2003 - Louisiana Watercolor Society 33rd Annual International Exhibition, juried competition
2003 - 34th Annual River Road Show, Baton Rouge, LA
2001 - Fresh Art Festival, Juried Festival sponsored by the Arts Council of New Orleans
2000 - Associated Women in the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA,
1996 - Louisiana Watercolor Society Member Show, Honorable Mention
1995 - Louisiana Watercolor Society 25th International Exhibition, juried competition
1993 - Artist Guild of W. Feliciana Art Show, St. Francisville, LA, First Place
1992 - New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts Student Show, Honorable Mention
1992 - Juried Louisiana Watercolor Society Member Show, 2nd Place, Honorable Mention
1991 - Recipient of the Shirley Lemann Creativity Award, New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts

Education

1966 - AA, Mount Vernon Junior College, Washington, D.C.
Newcomb College, New Orleans, LA
1988-1998 - Extended study at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, New Orleans, LA
Workshops with nationally and internationally known artists such as: Katalin Gergo, Alex Powers, Jean Dobie, Lauren Zarambo, Tony Couch, Robert McCoy, Marilyn Hughey Phyllis, Cheng Khee Chee, Allison Stewart, Katherine Chang Liu, master printer Craig O'Brian and John T. Scott

Affiliations

Louisiana Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
Arts Council of New Orleans
Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans
St. Tammany Art Association

Teaching

2004-2003, August - Instructor of Abstract Art, workshop for adults, The Colony at Country Day, Metairie, LA
2002 to present - Instructor of Abstract and Experimental Art, New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts

Featured Publications

Studio Visit magazine, Volume Five, 2009
Studio Visit magazine, Volume Four, 2008