Community gathers at Cameron Art Museum to see Stay in the Light exhibit

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A special exhibit was shown at the Cameron Art Museum Thursday evening. The art in the Stay in the Light exhibit features history from the viewpoint of the artist, Charles Edward Williams.

Williams, who grew up in South Carolina, says his upbringing included teachings from his grandmother and church. His grandmother made sure he understood the importance of love.

Williams shared a story from his childhood when he dropped a lawnmower on his grandmother’s arm. and instead of yelling at him. she looked at him and told him just how much she loved him and then told him to help get the lawnmower off her arm. She also kept Williams in church and educated him on biblical teachings.

“Art comes from every life, every life is valuable, every experience is valuable. And to see him capture the episodes of his life is just what all the great masters supposedly did,” Emily Page said.

“I like to describe my work as more as posing questions and so my process is I typically start from a photograph and then I put the photograph aside and I work intuitively. What that means is that I’m conscious of myself and the medium that I’m using and then the research. So I like to say that I let the content drive the aesthetics of my work and that’s what makes it inviting and carries the spirit from the photograph to what I’m trying to share,” said Williams.

You’ll be able to view Williams’ artwork in person through March 26.