Award-Winning Artists Showcase Art At NSU Exhibit

TAHLEQUAH - Two award-winning artists will showcase their latest collection of work, created while on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, at an exhibit at the Northeastern State University Gallery from Thursday, Jan. 18 to Saturday, Feb. 3.

"Against the Wind II" features a collection of paintings from NSU Associate Art Professor Lance Hunter and Adjunct Art Instructor Sylvia Nitti. The exhibit will open with a special reception at on Thursday, Jan. 18 from 7-9 p.m. at the NSU Gallery.

The couple created the exhibit while on a leave of absence from NSU last year. The oil and watercolor paintings were created during the nine-month trip to Cyprus. The influences of Greek culture and the color, texture, and light of the island are apparent in many of the images.

"The exhibition showcases contemporary images of the female form juxtaposed and layered with images from Cyprus," said Hunter. "What we have done is recreate the original version of this exhibition, which had a successful debut at Kypriaki Gonia Gallery in Larnaca, Cyprus in June 2006."

One of the Cyprus-inspired paintings by Hunter is featured in the current issue of International Artist magazine. The oil painting "A Woman's Touch" is featured in the December/January 2007 issue as one of ten finalists selected in an annual international art competition sponsored by the publication. International Artist magazine is distributed globally with editorial offices in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore.

Hunter has exhibited his paintings and drawings in galleries in Europe and in many major cities in the United States. These cities include New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Portland, St. Louis, Houston, and Philadelphia. His work was selected to exhibit in the 135th Annual International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society in Manhattan. His paintings have been selected for awards in the Adirondacks National exhibition of American Watercolors in New York and the Eastern Washington and Texas Watercolor Society's Annual Exhibitions. A watercolor of his daughter is featured on the title pages of the book "Splash 8: Watercolor Discoveries" a popular anthology of contemporary watercolors published by Northlight Books.

In Oklahoma, Hunter painted "Our Future," a large mural on the exterior of the Youth Central building in downtown Muskogee before leaving for Cyprus. Upon returning to the United States, he was commissioned to paint a portrait of Judge David Peterson for the Tulsa Law Library.

Nitti is a Greek Cypriot artist who has exhibited her artwork in Europe and numerous national exhibitions in the United States. These include the National Pastel Exhibition of the Pastel Society of New Mexico and the 16th National Exhibition of the Eastern Washington Watercolor Society. Her work was also selected for the 74th Grand National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional League in New York and for "Pastels U.S.A." 17th Annual International Exhibition in California. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her vibrant mixed media work combining watercolors and pastels.

Nitti teaches classes in drawing and pastels. Hunter teaches figure drawing, painting, and watercolor classes. The couple resides in Tahlequah with their two children, Brooke and Chase.