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Weirton museum continues tribute to Haworth’s influence

The various works of Weirton resident Kay Mortimer were the featured display Saturday during the annual Robert Haworth Memorial Art Exhibit, held at the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — The influence of Robert Haworth can still be felt in the Weirton community and beyond, and for the last several years the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center has worked to pay tribute to the lessons he taught while working as a local educator.

Saturday, the museum continued that work with the annual Robert Haworth Memorial Art Exhibit.

This year’s featured artist was Kay Mortimer, who presented examples of her work in a variety of media.

Mortimer said Haworth taught his students to not be afraid to make changes to their art if they don’t like it.

“Mr. Haworth was such a sweet guy,” Mortimer recalled. “He never, ever discouraged anyone. He said there was no right or no wrong in artwork.”

She has incorporated those lessons into her work over the years, while has included quilting, ceramics, leatherwork, apholstery, flower arrangements and glasswork.

“My favorite thing to do is stained glass and sewing,” she said.

Mortimer said she prefers to draw her own patterns for her work, something else she learned from Haworth.

“What you like, you might never find in a book,” Mortimer said.

Mortimer said she is the only person from Weirton to ever receive the Freddy Award, which is the highest honor in hobby ceramics. She also has worked with the Hummel painting technique.

Her explorations in artwork, though, began at the age of 4, when her grandmother introduced her to quilting. At the age of 8, she began 12 years of professional sewing lessons. During her junior and senior years of high school, she said, she also attended beauty school and mortuary school.

The Haworth Memorial Art Exhibit was developed by the late Dr. Ray Greco, who wanted to find a way to honor Haworth and the students he inspired throughout his teaching career.

Haworth taught art in Hancock and Brooke counties from 1932 to 1969.

Previous featured artists have included Harry Ameredes, Anthony Sellitti, Bill Ameredes, Mary Ann June, William Zdinak, Virgil Cantini, Herman Capito, Lewis Kessling and Robert Watson.

In addition to Mortimer, Saturday’s show included a presentation from Dwayne Lester, a Weirton native currently living in Maryland, who recently published an art book “Through My Eyes with a Pencil: An Illustrated History of the 100 Greatest African American Athletes of the 20th Century.”

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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