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Vicki Dameron of Union Mills has a photography exhibit "Mountains to Sea" in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Art Gallery, Tucker Student Center through November 21. Tucker Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 9pm, Saturday, 11am to 9pm and Sunday, 1 to 9pm.
Dameron is a teacher, photographer, videographer, producer, writer and community volunteer having spent several years working with Relay for Life in Rutherford County.
The road the road to the "Mountains to Sea" exhibit that opened in last month, began in 2021 when Dameron was asked by members of the Department of Communication, Art, and Design at Gardner-Webb University to be a substitute, adjunct professor while they conducted a search for a new chair for the department.
While Dameron was teaching at GWU, the Chair of the Department of Visual Art, Professor Doug Knotts, asked if she would be interested in participating in the first gallery show of the fall.
"The answer was yes. I was honored, humbled, and ready for the challenge." said Dameron.
"I was honored, humbled, and ready for the challenge." said Dameron. "It took me most of the summer to choose, prepare and print enlargements for the exhibit. It is titled "Mountains to Sea" - Vicki Dameron Photography.
"The turnout for the opening was fantastic," Dameron continued. "It was amazing to see former students, my family, and old friends. It truly warmed my heart. And I had the privilege of working with and meeting new people at the opening."
The exhibit includes enlargements printed on acrylic, metal, canvas and gatorboard. Landscapes include the flora and fauna of the mountains of western North Carolina, as well as the beauty of the sea and its birds.
GWU Graduate Assistant Evan Schenk helped Dameron with hanging her pictures and marketing of the exhibit and GWU Visual and Performing Arts Media Manager April Shauf encouraged Dameron to exhibit her work, as did. Knotts, all leading to the exhibit.
Her photography murals, highlighting the beauty of western North Carolina, are also displayed throughout the Asheville Regional Airport. The Asheville Convention and Visitor's Bureau staff also chose Dameron to be featured as one of seven explorers in an Internet video titled "Explorers of the Blue Ridge Parkway." She was a member of a talented team that created the Interactive Wall located at the Parkway Headquarters in Asheville. More than 100 of Dameron's images are featured on the I-Wall.
Dameron began her photography and writing career in 1982 studying mass communication at Palm Beach Junior College where she worked at the college paper, The Beachcomber, and in the photography lab as a technician.
In 1991 served as an on-air host at WNCW-FM in Spindale at Isothermal Community College for four years.
She has also worked in print and television media for many years, and taught Broadcast Production at Cleveland Community College in Shelby for 15 years beginning in 2002.
Dameron taught photography and videography at GWU in 2021 and 2022.
Dameron was also among those instrumental in the success of Rutherford County's Relay for Life event raising money for the American Cancer Society. For 13 years, she worked as a committee member for Relay For Life. Dameron produced videos, public service announcements, and created press releases for the events.
Rutherford County's volunteer teams raised more than $1 million for cancer research. For her work with the American Cancer Society in Rutherford County, Dameron received the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Dameron has also worked with KidSenses Children's InterACTIVE Museum in Rutherfordton and has worked for Habitat for Humanity in Avery and Buncombe counties and for Grandfather Mountain in Linville.
Dameron and her husband Penn live in Rutherford County. They have four children and three grandchildren.
