UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 7, Page 14
October 13, 1994
Professor's 'Couch Potato Drawings' on display at UNC

     Works by local artist James E. Newton, director and professor of
the Black American Studies Program, are currently on display in the
Glass Gallery at the Hanes Art Center at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
     Newton was the first African American to earn a master of fine
art degree from that university in 1968.
     The exhibit, on view through Oct. 20, includes 25 pieces of work,
mostly drawings, including several panels of "Couch Potato Drawings,"
a term coined by Newton to describe a series of works completed in the
past few years.
     The "Couch Potato Drawings" are unique and constitute highly
personalized expressions of childhood and imagery of hometown and
family from the rural southern New Jersey town of Bridgeton. While the
images are personalized, they reflect themes with universal appeal.
     The drawings are dominated by bold lines and stark figures. In an
almost carton-approach, Newton's drawings reflect a keen observation
of social reality and a sensitive memory of things past.
     In addition to his work with the Black American Studies Program,
Newton is a senior fellow in the University of Delaware's College of
Urban Affairs and Public Policy's Center for Community Development.
     He received his bachelor's degree in art from North Carolina
Central University in 1966 under the tutelage of sculptor Ed Wilson.
While earning his master's degree from Chapel Hill, he studied with
Kenneth Ness, George Kachergis and Robert Howard. He received his
doctorate from Illinois State University.
     Newton has taught at West Chester State University, Illinois
State University, Western Illinois University, the University of North
Carolina and the University of Delaware.
     His art work has been on exhibit in solo shows at North Carolina
A&T University, Delaware State University, the Christina Cultural
Center, Florida A&M University, Illinois State University and the
Jewish Community Center of Delaware.
     He is a frequent exhibitor in select juried and invitational
shows throughout the country, and his work is represented in many
private collections and in the permanent collections of Atlanta
University Negro Collection, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware,
West Chester State University, Hatch-Billops Collection and the
University of Delaware.
     His major art awards include first place in Sculptures and
Graphics at the 1972 National African American Annual Art Exhibition,
first place in graphics in the 12th annual National Conference of
Artists Exhibition, a purchase award from the New Directions Gallery
at Illinois State University, second prize in graphics at the 54th
annual workshop for writers and artists and second prize in drawing at
Expressions '81 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
     Newton is listed in 250 Years of African-American Art, Who's Who
in the East and Who's Who Among Black Americans. He has been profiled
in the International Review of African American Art and the Western
Journal of Black American Studies.
     His writings include a book on The Other Slaves:  Mechanics,
Artisans and Craftsmen and other publications on African American art.
                                                          -Beth Thomas