Local artist's exhibit will honor late wife

GAINESVILLE - An art exhibit opening at the Quinlan next month will showcase the work of Gainesville artist Jim Chapman and honor his late wife, Marta, for her work with at-risk children.

Marta passed away in November at the age of 43 after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2006. Before she died, she and Jim took one final trip to Cortona, Italy, in September.

The artwork in the April 3 show, titled, "A Light in Italy," was done by Jim during that trip. The show will feature about 17 watercolor sketches and six or seven wire sculptures based on those sketches.

"Italy is a country with a very strong foundation in Christianity and a lot of icons in old churches," Chapman said. His artwork fits in with those themes, and includes sketches of Jesus, angels and churches.

"That was what was all around me," he said.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Marta Chapman Memorial Foundation. The foundation, which works with local schools to financially help at-risk children, is administered through the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Marta Chapman taught at East Hall Middle School for six years, and was known to many of her students as "Mama."

"She just really had a knack for helping kids that were heading for trouble," Chapman said. "We wanted to continue her special gift as a memorial."

Chapman's artwork will be available for purchase at the Quinlan event, which is free to attend and open to the public. The art will be on display through May 25.

To contribute to the fund:
Make check to: The Marta Chapman Memorial Foundation
Send to: North Georgia Community Foundation, 615F Oak Street, Suite 1300

Phone: (770) 535-7880 Contact: Janice Ward

For more information, log onto www.ngcf.org. Look under the heading "About Us," then under "NGCF Community Funds" to view the Web site for the Marta Chapman Memorial Fund.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/208030