A new interactive exhibit will open in the Ross Gallery at Central Campus on Aug. 15.

A stray photograph in a thrift store or flea market depicts an unknown person from the past. Their dress, their hair, and the discoloration of the photograph indicates a person from the past. Questions such as, “Who were they?,” and “What is their story?,” come to mind the longer we take in the image. While for many of us it may be easy to set the photograph down and continue on with our own lives, artist Eva Crawford reclaims these images from the 1940s and 1950s, giving them new life by recreating them as life-size drawings.

Following the passing of her father in January of 2021, Crawford sought to create a body of work focused on the preservation of memory. Crawford reclaims lost memories through the use of portraiture, transforming antique film photographs into large-scale drawings and paintings that invite the viewer to create their own stories and memories about the individuals in the artwork.

“Reclaimed Memories” also includes an interactive station with antique photographs. This station encourages gallery visitors to create their own memories, stories, and artwork about the people in the photographs. The stories will be collected and displayed as part of the exhibition.

WHEN: August 15 – October 6, Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or by appointment

WHERE: Central Piedmont Central Campus, Overcash Center first floor, Ross Art Gallery

ARTIST LECTURE: Artist Lecture and reception is September 29, at noon,  at Central Campus in the North Classroom Building Auditorium, Room 1123.

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Amelia Zytka at amelia.zytka@cpcc.edu. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Central Piedmont Arts and our Art Gallery blog.