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ARTWORK BY BERNIE CASEY TO APPEAR AT THELMA HARRIS ART GALLERY
Artist with ties to the
Bay Area returns for an Artist Reception
to showcase 20 recent works
 OAKLAND,
California, May 9, 2003 ¾ Oscar-winning actor Sidney
Poitier and author, radio and television personality Tavis
Smiley are inviting the public to attend an artist reception
for educated fine arts painter Bernie Casey. Casey will
be in Oakland to present "Hopes and Dreams and Spring",
a collection of his 20 most recent works, at The Thelma
Harris Art Gallery, 5940 College Avenue, Oakland, California,
telephone (510) 654-0443. The artist reception begins at
5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2003, with a talk by Bernie
Casey scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The public is invited and
admission is free. The exhibit will run from May 9 through
June 30, 2003.
MMr. Casey, who received
both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Fine Arts degrees
from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio,
has remained committed to fine arts throughout his life.
With more than 30 solo exhibitions to his credit, Casey
is especially excited about this one because of his former
ties to the San Francisco Bay Area. When asked about the
title of this exhibition Casey said: "Hope is the cornerstone
of all our possibilities: it allows our dreams to come true.
For no matter how unrelenting winter may seem, spring is
inevitable."
Director of the gallery,
Thelma Harris, said: "We are excited to present the
work of outstanding artist, Bernie Casey. Hopes and Dreams
and Spring is a collection of colorful, fun and fanciful
work that touches the child in each of us and radiates sheer
joy."
As an art educator, one of
Mr. Casey's crowning achievements was to serve for 20 years
as Chairman of the Board of America's largest university
of art and design, The Savannah College of Art and Design
(SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia. At SCAD, Casey not only helped
to guide the growth of the University, but was actively
involved in recruiting students, encouraging them to combine
their creative ability with education in the pursuit of
career opportunities in fine arts. "Bernie is the most
exceptional human being I have ever met. He has no 'average'
in him! He is powerful in motivating young people to set
high goals and then work hard to achieve them, not only
in art - but in all of life's pursuits," commented
former SCAD president, Richard Rowan.
Casey's paintings continue
to be acquired by a prestigious list of collectors which
include Dr. Maya Angelou who said: "I cannot see what
Bernie Casey sees. Casey has the heart and the art to put
his insight on canvas and I am heartened by his action.
For then I can comprehend his vision and even some of my
own. His art makes my road less rocky, and my path less
crooked." Oscar winning make-up designer Stan Winston
and his wife Karen also own original Casey art, and when
asked about his work said: "Bernie Casey - his art,
his truth - poetic, inspirational - a gift to us all."
Grammy award winning singer, songwriter Bill Withers said:
"A Bernie Casey painting is a window into the mind
and soul of a man with an uncommon range of gifts and interests.
Bernie is tough enough to have enjoyed a stellar professional
football career, yet sensitive and vulnerable enough to
reveal his inner most self in his paintings. He seems to
be interested in almost everything and it shows in what
he allows himself to feel and reveal through his art."
Other collectors include:
author Terry McMillan, Nicole David, Arnold Rificin, Quincy
Jones, Fisk University, NBA sports legend Bill Russell,
Phoebe Beasley, Burt Reynolds, NFL sports legend Jim Brown,
Sidney Poitier, and Tavis Smiley who commented: "If
I could paint, I would want to paint like Bernie Casey with
substance, style and savoir-faire."
While Casey's "first
love is art," he also has an extensive list of other
accomplishments that read like that of the "Renaissance
Man" that he is. As an actor in film and television
with more than 40 roles to his credit, Casey has played
roles in films from: Guns of the Magnificent Seven,
The Glass Shield, the James Bond Film - Never
Say Never Again with Sean Connery, Sharky's Machine
with Burt Reynolds, Once Upon a Time…When We Were
Colored; to television roles in: The Simple Life
of Noah Dearborn, The Last Brick Maker in America, Just
Shoot Me and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. One
of his latest works is a screenplay entitled "The Dinner."
Mr. Casey wrote, produced, directed and acted in this non-fictional
work dealing with contemporary social relationships.
As a former athlete in the
NFL, Mr. Casey was a first round draft pick of the San Francisco
49ers, where he played as a wide receiver for six years.
Before retiring, he played the same position for the Los
Angeles Rams. As an All-Pro Wide Receiver, Mr. Casey is
a football all American and is a member of the Mid-American
Conference and Bowling Green State University Athletic Halls
of Fame.
Casey lectures at colleges
and universities and addresses groups and organizations
throughout the United States. He has participated and exchanged
ideas with artists throughout the world, including representatives
from behind the Iron Curtain. In 1976, Casey was selected
to represent the North American Zone in the Second World
Black and African Arts and Culture Festival held in Lagos,
Nigeria.
About Thelma Harris Art
Gallery
Located in the heart of Oakland's
Rockridge district, Thelma Harris Art Gallery is a full-
service gallery, specializing in paintings, sculpture, and
mixed media art. The gallery exhibits both Work Progress
Administration (WPA) artists as well as contemporary masters.
The gallery provides a full range of services including
art education, individual and corporate consultation, museum
quality framing and installations.
Contacts
For media information contact:
Terhea Washington at (443) 285-0999.
For information about Thelma Harris Art Gallery, call (510)
654-0443 or info@thelmaharrisartgallery.com.
 
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