Going Home

February 1-April 27, 2025

Going Home features artwork centered on memories, dreams, or emotions that define “home” in the literal or emotional sense.  The exhibition includes work by Adrianne Huang, Alison Charchar, Ann Whitehurst, Jo Tomsick, Laura McDonnell, Sydney Boukedes, Teresa Christine, and Vicki Rees 

The artwork will be on display from February 1 to April 27, 2025. A free closing reception will be held at Pullen Arts Center on Saturday, April 26, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Artist Lucy Osborn will create a new chalk mural in February to accompany the Going Home exhibition. The mural will depict illustrated picture frames from floor to ceiling, each displaying different objects and scenes that correspond with the theme of “Going Home.” @luxcorale 

Adrianne Huang 

@hngyrn | huangadrianne.myportfolio.com 

Artist Statement: In difficult situations, we often reflexively think, “I want to go home.” Home is familiarity, sanctuary, and belonging, in good times and bad, yet it can also carry feelings of emptiness, burden, and instability. It is our first memory, and will likely be our last thought. 

Moved by the power of home to shape emotional landscapes, Adrianne Huang’s work captures home at its most bittersweet. Her vividly surreal images draw upon her Chinese heritage and American upbringing to understand home as places, people, moments, and cycles. “厨木” from the photographic series 老家 simultaneously expresses nostalgic warmth and aching grief over a version of home that no longer exists. In My Brother Falls Like Lightning, billowing clouds and contrasting expressions highlight the tension inherent in unbreakable bonds. Two sides of a quiet disappearance, The Seasons Changed in Your Absence and Season’s End assert that greater attachments leave greater voids in their wake, serving as a tender reminder that the cycle of leaving and returning home is inconstant and finite. Heist and Wandering Haven, the ox and rabbit's entries in Huang's annually-updated series on the Chinese zodiac, evoke comfort amid uncertainty, exploring the gravitational pull towards home and the draw of the world away from home.  

Artist Biography: Adrianne Huang’s works on paper engage simultaneously with the hypnagogic and the concrete, casting richly detailed images into layers of visual metaphor. Informed by both the beauty and the unease of being a second-generation immigrant in the South, she examines broader subjects of attachment, regret, and longing. Her subjects inhabit a world of unexpected contrasts and melancholic fantasy, rendered in watercolor, gouache, ink, graphite, and photography. She is currently based in the Triangle and has exhibited work within and outside of North Carolina, including with the Durham Art Guild, NC; Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco, CA; Soft Times Gallery, San Francisco, CA; Gallery Nucleus, Alhambra, CA; and the Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC.  

Alison Charchar 

Facebook Alison Charchar Art | @alisoncharchar.art | www.alisoncharchar-art.com 

Artwork Statement: Much of Alison Charchar’s work is inspired by the simple beauty she finds around her: in human connections, in the simple beauty of nature and how people interact with the world around them. There is so much complexity and nuance to these connections, and she strives to capture these layers of meaning in her work. She often chooses oil paint and oil pastel for their fluidity that allows for lyrical lines, with bold, rich color to express the vibrancy of life. She often layers and juxtaposes different images from life or photos in her work, using the paint almost as a drawing material to find the authentic line and shape she is trying to convey. The layers of images are built, paying attention to the connecting points of a person and their environment, or one object with another. Her work often conveys a nostalgia, a longing to hold the beauty in simple moments. 

Artist Biography: Alison Charchar is an artist that explores abstract and figurative forms in bold color, often with paint in an impressionistic style. She studied painting at Pratt Institute (BFA 2022) and has worked as an artist and art therapist for over 20 years. She is inspired by art as a means of healing, expressing what words often cannot, and connection with others and the world. She was featured in the spring 2024 issue of 27587 Magazine, as well as the 2^nd edition of the Wake Forest Review. She often sells her artwork in art shows and art markets around Raleigh, Durham and Wake Forest. 

Ann Whitehurst 

@aw_quilts 

Artwork Statement: When Ann thinks about going home to visit her parents, familiar food is always part of the experience. Her quilts in this exhibit were made in honor of two of her favorite foods that her mom makes, biscuits and deviled eggs. Each block of biscuits is the same size as her mom’s pan that she always uses. The fabric for the pans is from grandmother’s stash and family clothing. Paprika is an important part of her mom’s deviled eggs, so she made it an obvious element on the quilt. The recipe is also on the back of the quilt. Ann uses quilting to commemorate and honor people, places, and things that are important to her. She prefers to use clothing and other upcycled fabrics for her work. Working on these memory quilts allows her to revisit these ideas and memories in her head as she’s stitching, which is very meditative and comforting for her. 

Artist Biography: Ann uses clothing and other upcycled, donated, or passed-down fabrics to create original design quilts that often represent important memories or ideas. She earned a BS in Design from Clemson in 1993 and has worked in architecture, photography, and advertising. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, she learned how to use a sewing machine to make face masks, which were her gateway to quilting as she experimented with making her first quilt using face masks. Ann lives in Raleigh and enjoys sewing/quilting as a creative outlet, as well as being available for commissions. 

Jo Tomsick 

@jobotfineart| www.jotomsick.com 

Artwork Statement: When asked about her artwork, Tomsick shares, “The things that captivate you as a child are a strong indicator of what will inspire you as an adult. Though my passion for painting has always been present, it wasn’t until I moved to North Carolina that I truly started to hone in on my inspirations and find my artistic voice. The key to making art that feels true to me was “going home” to who I was as a child. Grounding down into my fascination with the natural world, a need for understanding, an interest in myth and metaphor, and a connection to the divine, I found that one symbol kept resurfacing where all these things overlap: birds – or more specifically, the concept of flight. Across cultures, religions, and folklore, birds symbolize the human spirit. Flight is what defines their separateness, and it’s because of this that birds represent divine intermediaries between this world and what lies ‘beyond.’ For me, every painting is a new voyage into that beyond, and an effort to the narrative threads that connect all human experience in my own unique voice. I lean on academic approaches to oil painting, but always leave room to experiment on the canvas. Using dramatic lighting and layering up my canvas helps me discover new ways to express the idea of spirit, while also lending the work an ethereal quality.” 

Artist Biography: Originally from the birthplace of rock, Jo is the only painter born into a family of musicians. She now calls North Carolina home and credits the lush nature of the south Atlantic for nurturing the beginnings of her artistic career. Jo started taking art seriously under the wing of figurative painter Stanka Kordic in high school. She pursued a dual-bachelor’s degree in philosophy and painting at Boston College, and spent the ensuing years working and laying the foundation for a career in thr world of Imaginative Realism. Jo’s imagination is stocked with fairytales that captivated her as a child, as well as a deep fascination with mysticism and nature.  

Laura McDonnell 

@lauramcdonnellart | www.lauramcdonnell.com 

Artwork Statement: McDonnell’s work is characterized by its abstract, loose, and fluid nature. Her strokes reflect the complexity of the human experience, and the intuitive use of color communicates emotions that she encounters in her quest for self-discovery. She believes in the transformative power of art as a means of deep connection with something greater than herself. For her, painting is more than creating images; it is a way to communicate and explore the complexities of the human being and the universe that surrounds us. 

Artist Biography: Laura McDonnell was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1977. She graduated as a graphic designer in 2001, and for 11 years, she worked in the field of design. From 2007-2014, she attended Marcela Hempe’s artistic studio, where she experimented with different techniques and materials. From 2015-2017 she resided in Chile, where she forged and developed her passion for art. She took oil painting and hyperrealism classes with Pierre Revillard. Upon returning to Buenos Aires, she attended the hyper realistic painting workshop with Maximillano Bagnasco. Since 2019, she has been living in Raleigh, United States, where her work has acquired a new depth and personality.  

Sydney Boukedes 

@sydneynb.art 

Artwork Statement: Sydney Boukedes’ artwork explores the themes of love, loss, and memory through acrylics, mixed media, and fiber arts. Inspired by the passing of her beloved Papa, Sydney channels her grief and emotional journey into each piece. Through her art, she seeks to maintain a connection with him, capturing the essence of their bond while navigating the absence he left behind. 

Drawing from the vintage postcards her Nana and Papa collected, Sydney incorporates elements of nostalgia and timelessness into her work. Her use of her Papa’s own handwriting, carefully traced from notes he left behind, adds a deeply personal touch, turning each piece into a heartfelt message from the past.  Sydney's series of postcard-inspired pieces speaks to the way time becomes fluid and distorted in grief—where memories feel vivid yet distant, and absence is felt in tandem with presence. Through this body of work, Sydney offers a space for reflection on how love can transcend loss and create a sense of belonging. Her art serves as a reminder that the love we give and receive lives on, providing a compass to navigate the complexities of life. 

Artist Biography: Sydney Boukedes is an artist based in Raleigh, NC, whose work is shaped by her deep connection to her late grandfather, an artist himself, who introduced her to painting. She was raised in Charlotte, NC, attended UNC Chapel Hill, and spent most of her 20s focused on her career, largely neglecting her passion for art. After caring for her Papa during his illness and experiencing the profound grief of his passing, Sydney moved to Raleigh for a fresh start. Art became a vital tool in her healing process, providing solace and helping her manage her mental health struggles. Although Sydney took art classes in high school, she was largely self-taught and learned to paint alongside her Papa in his garage. His unwavering encouragement fueled her passion for creativity. Today, her work blends acrylics, mixed media, and fiber arts to explore themes of grief, healing, and love, reflecting her journey of self-discovery and the enduring bond with her Papa. 

Teresa Christine 

@tcfineart | www.teresachristine.com 

 Artwork Statement: 'The Matriarchs' is about the interconnectedness between ancestor and descendant. Science states that a female child is born with all of the eggs she will ever carry in her lifetime. With this knowledge it can be understood that a piece of us, no matter how microscopic, has been with our grandmothers, our great grandmothers, and so on. These four portraits represent that connection. Each shows a female figure, wearing a dress that holds the faces of different women from different eras. The pieces can be observed from top to bottom (the main figure is the 'ancestor' and those in her dress are her 'descendants') or from bottom to top (those in the dress are the ancestors and the figure wearing the dress is the descendant). Teresa submitted these works for 'Going Home' because when she thinks of 'home' she immediately things of her mother and the female figures in her life who have always been home to her. 

Artist Biography: Teresa Christine was born in Rochester, NY- but has called Charlotte, NC home for the last 30 years. She does mostly portraiture and her medium of choice tends to fluctuate between acrylic paint and colored pencils. She found her way to art long ago by trying to emulate her 'cool older brother'. An artist in his own right, Teresa was enamored with his skill and vowed to follow in his footsteps. At 10 years old she bought her first sketchbook and never looked back. Teresa’s pieces focus on the experiences and psyche of the African American Woman. She aims to use her art to highlight the strengths, mythology, and beauty that are all vital threads in the fabric of living life as a Black woman. 

Vicki Rees 

Facebook Vicki L Rees | vlrees.com 

Artwork Statement: Painting magnolias began as Vicki Rees’ “pandemic therapy”. When asked about her inspiration, Rees explains, “Before Covid, I visited Lake Johnson with my husband almost daily. Them suddenly, all was shut down and due to his health, we couldn’t visit the crowded park. My alternative was across the street from me at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery. During my walks under towering magnolias and oaks, it was easy to maintain a safe distance from others. I think I calmed my spirit on those walks. I could take a break from the news about politics and protests. I couldn’t forget the pandemic, but I was able to make some form of peace with it. When I finally felt able to paint again, I began this series. It became a two-part process: breathe in nature in the morning, breathe out brush strokes in the afternoon.” 

Artist Biography: Vicki Rees specializes in contemporary realism executed in colorful oils.  When asked about her process, Rees explains, “As much as I admire the soft tones that many artists employ, I never seem to use them in my own work. I favor saturated colors and look for opportunities to use them. I am enamored with dramatic lighting and unusual angles, and the feeling that reflections and light against dark convey. My aim is to capture the spirit of the scene or object I am depicting. I am drawn by both the scope and intricacy of my subjects. Others may see an ordinary tomato on a countertop; I see a star waiting for its close-up.”