Mechanicsville artist captures spirit of mankind in his woodcuts
January 31, 2008 (Rick Hebert, Herald Progress)
Artist Dennis Winston at work in his Hanover County studio. (H-P Photos by Rick Hebert)
Dennis Winston is an artist who lives in Hanover County and crafts woodcuts that many people find deeply moving. It is said that Winston's woodcuts "capture the strength and spirit of mankind."
In an upcoming public event, "Black History in Story and Song," his artwork will be an integral feature of performances Friday Feb. 8 and Saturday Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackwell Auditorium at Randolph-Macon College.
Winston's powerful work will be presented on screen before the show begins and at intermission. It is also featured in the program and in promotional pieces. The event commemorates the African-American struggle for social equality throughout history.
Winston has been doing woodcuts since the mid-1980s. Having a long involvement in art, he has been a photographer and a painter among other things. Winston was also an art educator throughout the Richmond area. He taught in the Richmond Public Schools, and eventually became recognized enough to be appointed Art Supervisor for the district. He also taught classes at the college level at both VCU and Virginia State University.
Winston likes the fact that he is in "complete control" of the whole process in wood cutting. He begins by sketching the image in pencil onto a piece of wood. He then uses an odd variety of tools to cut, scrape, chisel, poke, and twist the image into the wood and provide an array of textures.
After that he takes a thin coat of oil and rolls it onto the elevated portions of the wood, then places a sheet of paper on top of that and rubs it with smooth block. The result is an intricate reverse print of the original drawing that has a unique appearance of different textures all printed in oil.
Wood cuts are the oldest form of print art on the planet. The technique originated in China but was actually revolutionized and made more popular by the Japanese. It was also popular in Egypt. Winston describes making woodcuts as being "therapeutic" because it is "challenging and it makes you think about what you are doing and representing."
For him, art is a chance to tell people "who I am and where I came from." He explains that he thinks of each piece as a different little story that he is able to tell either about himself, others, or just about ideas and things that he values.
Winston says that a woodcut, like any artform, is all about "taking life's experiences and sharing them."
The featured speaker is acclaimed African-American historical interpreter Jerome Bridges. Bridges' performance will give insightful first-person accounts into slavery prior to the Civil War. He will also give a look into the Civil Rights struggles of 1955-1965 from the perspective of a black newspaper reporter.
Presentations like Winston's and Bridges' have the goal of enlightening audiences and giving them a clearer understanding of the feelings and experiences that African-Americans were faced with throughout the battle for equality.
The George Crawford Memorial Choir, the Traveling Jubilee Gospel Singers and several community choirs will provide music. The performances are co-sponsored by the Hanover Arts and Activities Center and the Hanover AARP Chapter. Admission is free.