2016/17 season details coming soon!
2016/17 season details coming soon!
Leah Peeks grew up in Fall Branch, Tennessee, a glorified interstate exit off of Interstate 81, just down the road from Dollywood. Her first major art pieces were a series of paintings in the early 1990’s composed while listening to Electric Youth and Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em on repeat, on the exterior of her bedroom furniture, with puffy paints stolen from her little sister. Her parents were naturally thrilled. She has since studied art history, taught art, curated art exhibits, directed art spaces, and made art in Tennessee, Virginia, and New York.
Leah recently quit her day job running a whiskey bar in Charlottesville, Virginia, and put everything she owns in a storage unit to spend time living on islands, sitting on beaches, and focusing on her art practice. She plans to spend her creative time in Key West listening to Pet Sounds and podcasts about science while happily putting colors on things, thinking about time, layers, and the colors of the water, and carving tales of her tragic love life into wax
Artist Clifford Ward had a number of other careers before pursuing his art full-time. He was pre-med for three years, then switched majors and received a B.A. in speech communications from Rider University. He worked for a textbook publisher, and later moved to a smaller start-up publishing company in Philadelphia. When the company he worked for went out of business, Ward channeled his energy into creating art, which had always been an outlet for him. He began working at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture after first serving as an apprentice in 1997-1998; became a member of staff; and then became a member of technical teaching staff in metal chasing.
In 2000 Ward served as part of an eight person team from Museum of Natural in NY and the Johnson Atelier Technical of Sculpture on the articulation of the biggest, most complete and most controversial dinosaur (T-Rex) ever found: SUE
Besides his full time art career, Ward teaches art to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities at the Center for Creative Works in Hamilton, NJ.
Ward’s studio is located on the beautiful 47 acre sculpture park, The Grounds for Sculpture, in Hamilton, NJ. He is a permanent artist in residence. As a permanent artist-in-residence there, he creates sculptures, paintings and enhances clothing with his art.
Woodrow White is an artist/illustrator based in Oakland, CA, a graduate of California College of the Arts (BFA 2014). He’s been in several group shows nationwide and has had his work featured on sites such as Hi-Fructose and BOOOOOOOM. His past work has been lifted from the imagery of filmmaking and stagecraft, tied to his upbringing in Los Angeles and its entertainment industry. He uses his wide cache of inspiration to discuss the allegory of painting and illusion.
With one of the tallest buildings – and most spectacular views – in town, the Hugh’s View rooftop terrace serves as The Studios’ creative space in the sky. The terrace sits four stories above street level and offers panoramic views of the island. The Kitwald Stage glows in the golden twilight of our sunset performances.
With original seating from its days as a Masonic temple, the Helmerich Theater has been updated to also include floor seating. As a black box theater, the set up is intimate but professional, and sets the stage for concerts and performances that leave guests feeling like they really got to know the performer.