WEIRTON Artist Jaci Rice is a little “rusty” at her work.
And that’s brought the Weirton woman personal and professional validation, specifically as one awarded an Emerging Artist Fellowship from the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts for 2020.
Rice was one of five artists selected from around West Virginia whose original works part of her #RustBeltBeauty series were showcased at Taylor Books in Charleston from Oct. 15 through mid-November.
A link to the group show is available at https://tamarackfoundation.org/eaf2020exhibit./
The #RustBeltBeauty series, her website artist statement notes in part, challenges viewers “to discover aspects of beauty hidden in industrial and post-industrial areas like my hometown of Weirton, the monolith of West Virginia’s crumbling Rust Belt. Without stopping to observe the play of light and shadow, the hard juxtaposition of steel against the Ohio Valley hill, or the layers of color that decades of rust and soot have wrought, the full
Through Monday, Feb. 1, several groups are collecting new and gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves for West Virginians in need.
The goal is to collect at least 400 articles of winter clothing. To see drop-off locations or to donate money instead, go to education alliance.org/coats4kids.
There are drop-off locations in Berkeley, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Hardy, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Ohio, Pleasants, Raleigh, Wayne and Wood counties.
The Wayne County location is Fort Gay Middle School, 1 Viking Drive, Fort Gay. Contact Ashley Hostetter, 606-483-0823, to arrange a time.
In Lincoln County, coats can be taken to donation bins at Big Ugly Community Center or the Lincoln County Board of Education. Hamlin Church of Christ at 8041 Vine Ave. is also participating; call Levi Racer at 304-690-9404.