ABOUT
Barbara Collins Eure works in a variety of mediums including clay, wood, paper, and fiber. Harmony is created in her paper batiks by using subdued colors and strong rhythmic patterns. She creates pottery and ceramic tiles using high fire clay that can be used to decorate interiors as well as exteriors of homes and offices. The images exemplified in her masks, influenced by African ritual masks, show stylized portraits of mythical figures or archetypes. Their expressions are downplayed while her stylized sculpture shows strength, compassion and a strong sense of pride and personality. Her massive and dramatic relief woodcarvings, using recurrent alternation of strong patterns, dimension and depth add character to any setting. Her clay reliefs of unintended images convey the power of God's gift and His continued presence in her and our lives.
Eure was Born With a Veil or Caul with the powerful Gift of the Spirit of Seeing. She was born on the Delmarva Peninsula of the Chesapeake Bay in Eastville, VA. She believes that God uses her hands and eyes as conduits to form unintended images of Christ and Angels. The presence of Christ’s images appearing gives her revelation as to her real calling and that is to show the world that His presence is going to be felt in greater abundance each day and that He is real.
Barbara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from the University of Maryland (Eastern Shore) where she studied under the late Jimmie Mosely. She later studied Raku Pottery making in Europe while on tour, with the artist Jim Moon and other art enthusiasts, to the town of Bassona Del Grappa, Italy. She taught in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System (N.C.) and Forsyth Technical Community College. Barbara owned and managed The North Carolina League of Creative Art & Crafts, Warehouse Arts, and Collector’s Choice, fine arts and crafts shops for 11 years. She served as guest lecturer at Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was a guest artist at her alma mater, the University of Maryland (Eastern Shore), where she collaboratively studied with her cousin Earnest Satchell, chairman of the Art Department; collectively they focused on advanced hand building and glazing techniques. Eure was Exhibit Consultant/Coordinator for the CIAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 1997 & 1998 and served as the Exhibit Coordinator/Consultant for the National Black Theatre Festival up to the death of it’s founder, Leon Hamlin. She has been Artist-in-Residence for Delta Fine Arts in Winston-Salem. Barbara is a Juried Member of Associated Artist of Winston-Salem, Exhibiting Member of The National Alliance of Artist from Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). And she has served on the Board of Directors of Piedmont Craftsmen, The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts (SECCA), Associated Artist and Whimsical Women. She retired in 2015 as the Pottery Specialist at Summit School in Winston–Salem after 20 years of service to become a full time Professional Artist.
Eure’s commissioned work includes the cover of Minorities and Women in Business Magazine, the cover of the Special Exhibit Portfolio for the Delta Sigma Theta’s Reflections art exhibition and designed the cover for the Homecoming brochure for her alma mater University of Maryland, Eastern Shore Homecoming 1969 A Shade of Soul. Ms. Eure also Designed and produced candleholders for the Chapel at Prairie View A & M University in Texas, a woodcarving for the Farmers Cooperative in Tuskegee, Ala. and patterns for batiks and bags for Southern Living Magazine and it’s affiliates. She was commissioned to create pottery for the Smithsonian Institute Afro American Museum Shop, Washington, D. C.; Surf Unlimited, Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.; and River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tenn. She has designed prototypes for designer Alexander Julian. Her work has been a part of the Highpoint Master Crafts Fabric Showroom, and Proctor & Gamble in Greensboro, NC has her work in their Corporate Collection. Her work can be seen in her home gallery and local shops, homes and galleries.
She has been featured in books, brochures and magazines such as Winston-Salem’s African American Legacy, The first Black Artists Invitational Art Exhibition, A North Carolina Experience in 1990 Milton Rhodes Gallery, The 16th Annual NAAHBCU Artist’ Exhibition, Fayetteville State University Fine Arts Series, Oval Message Magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Her home, gallery and studio were featured in Winston-Salem Living Magazine, Artistic Contemporary Living.
She shares her talent by teaching classes to adults & children in her home studio outside Winston-Salem in Pfafftown, NC and her work can be seen in her Home Studio/Gallery by appointment.