Julia Barthel art exhibit March 14, 2009

Southern State Community College invites the public to view an exhibition of artwork by a former student, Julia Barthel, 1944-2001. Barthel's prints and paintings will be on display through March 30 at the Appalachian Gateway Center on SSCC's South Campus, 12681 US Route 62 South, Fincastle.

The Julia Barthel art exhibit is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 noon to 9:40 p.m., and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Hours are subject to change due to events scheduled at the Appalachian Gateway Center. Prior to visiting, please call Amanda Lewis, 1-800-628-7722, ext. 3520, to confirm exhibition hours.

An open house will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Family and friends will be gathered at this time to discuss the artist and her work.

Born Feb. 7, 1944, in Cincinnati, Julia Beyer Barthel moved to Mt. Orab in 1954 and graduated from Mt. Orab High School (now Western Brown) in 1962. Family and friends nicknamed her "Judy," but it was not until she started painting that she became "Julia."

She was married to the Rev. Randy Barthel for 30 years. Julia and Randy left a family business in the 1970s to begin their studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. While at Asbury, Julia studied art and general studies.

The Barthels ministered to churches in Hamersville, Columbus, Toledo and Hyde Park. One of the highlights of their ministries was the year they spent in India teaching at a missionary school. Julia became a widow in 1995 and returned to Brown County to pursue her lifelong love of painting.

Longing for a degree in art, she transferred to Wilmington College and earned her bachelor of art degree. She continued her art studies with James D. Werline at Southern State Community College and became a member of the Leesburg Brush and Palette Guild and the Appalachian Artisans Guild.

Julia's mediums of choice were watercolors and pastels, perfect choices in allowing her to accomplish the result she wanted in her florals and landscapes. Although she occasionally painted landscapes, her first love was flowers. The softness of her paintings express the kind, caring and loving person she was; they convey the joy she brought to all those who knew and loved her.

Besides painting, Julia also liked to sing, entertain and work in her garden. Her backyard in Sardinia was truly a work of art and her door was always open to visitors. She enjoyed painting on location and in small groups with friends. Many times you would see her painting group in the Fellowship Hall at Winchester Presbyterian Church sharing their skills with each other.

After Julia passed away in 2001, a scholarship was created in her honor. Family and friends have endowed the Julia Barthel Art Scholarship, annually awarding $500 to a Southern State Community College student focusing on art classes, specifically watercolors and pastels of flowers, painted landscapes and still lifes. For more information about the scholarship, please contact SSCC's Office of Student Financial Aid at 1-800-628-7722, ext. 2612. Priority deadline is March 15.

Official Website: http://www.sscc.edu