Former UNCP Art Chair Janette Hopper to Debut Solo Exhibition

Janette K. Hopper, former chair of the Art Department at UNC Pembroke, will present a new solo exhibition, Acute Observations: Expansive Experimental Works Inspired by Water & Sky, at Red Springs Artspace from November 16 through December 14.

An opening reception will be held Sunday, November 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Red Springs Artspace, located at 200 S. Main St., Red Springs. Guests can meet the artist, enjoy light refreshments and view more than 15 new large-scale oil paintings inspired by nature and the Carolina landscape.

As part of her commitment to giving back, Dr. Hopper will donate 60% of the proceeds from each painting sold during the reception to benefit the UNCP Art Department or Biology Department — the buyer’s choice — with the remaining 40% going to support the Artspace gallery, which is owned by former UNCP philosophy professor Dr. Jeffery Geller and his wife, Irina Shin-Geller.

“I know art students are always in need of supplies and scholarships, and I’ve also learned that biology student research funding has been cut in recent years,” Hopper explained. “If people will be generous and buy a painting, I can do my part to support the next generation of UNCP students.”

The exhibition will feature Hopper’s newest body of work — large-scale oil paintings that reflect her deep connection to the natural world, along with a selection of masks created from organic materials, including pinecones, feathers and fungus. The show captures her fascination with water, sky and light and her belief in the restorative power of nature.

“Every painting begins outdoors,” Hopper said. “I kayak, I hike, I observe closely. My paintings are about the healing nature of the outdoors — what it brings to your life and how it renews you. I hope visitors leave with a sense of peace, encouragement and appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us.”

Hopper was a member of the Art Department faculty from 2002 to 2012, including six years as department chair.

An internationally acclaimed artist, Hopper has exhibited her work in over 300 solo and group shows in the U.S. and abroad, including the Frye Art Museum, Lincoln Center and galleries in France, Denmark, Germany and Spain. Her artwork is featured in over 60 public collections, including museums, universities and civic institutions.

Now based in Wilmington, Hopper continues to paint, teach and advocate for arts accessibility.

“I respect UNCP so much and loved my time there,” Hopper said. “I hope my former students and friends will come to the show — it would mean so much to see everyone again.”