Anita Funston wins gold at the North Carolina SilverArts competition in Raleigh.
On September 25, 2015, Anita Funston, was awarded the gold medal, in Sculpture, at the North Carolina Senior Games SilverArts competition, in Raleigh, NC.
Anita Funston lives in Henderson County and has been recently creating art at the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC. Regarding the event, she stated, “It was an honor to represent Henderson County in the State competition and I was thrilled to learn that I was awarded the gold medal.”
Anita qualified for the state competition by winning first place with her sculpture, titled Chief, at The Four Seasons SilverArts competition held in Henderson County on May 7, 2015. “I greatly appreciate how hard The Henderson County Parks and Recreation Department works every year to hold Silver Games and SilverArts; they make it possible for participants to compete locally and qualify for the state competition. “ Funston continued.
The ceramic figurative sculpture is a wall mounted portrait that was Soda Wood Fired.
Tattoos are part of our culture. They are also a strong part of the Polynesian culture. During my research, I came across images of an attractive man with gorgeous thick wavy hair. Chief Juan Tepano, in 1880, was adorned with tattoos on his face and neck. He was the inspiration for this soda wood fired sculpture. Incorporated in the carving of CHIEF are references to healed scarification. It was widely used amongst dark-skinned people where tattooing wasn’t visually effective. The scarification developed into powerful and sensual body modification used by Papua New Guinea, Australia and Ethiopia tribes. The aesthetic outcome was unique to the artist, healing and genetics of the wearer.