Photographers of our world come to Sneads Ferry

Shanghai and Sneads Ferry? They actually have more in common than it may seem. Both towns will be featured in an art show at the locally operated Thurston Art Gallery in Sneads Ferry.

The gallery, which has been in operation for 28 years, will be hosting the month-long photography event, "Photographers of our World, from Shanghai to Sneads Ferry!"

Beginning on July 1, local teacher and art gallery owner, Sherry Thurston will be displaying the works of three different photographers from all over the world.

Local Photographer John Echo will be sharing his photography, which consists of many representations of North Carolina. He refers to his works as "of lighthouses and other parts of typical North Carolina." He has won awards for his work, including one from the Wilmington Art Association. When he's not doing photography he is often painting.

However, his method of taking photographs is anything but typical. When shooting from the land, Echo prefers to make his art from the seat of his motorcycle. If a better picture could be taken from the water, then he can be found in the middle of the ocean perched on his jet ski waiting for a shot.

Echo, who is retired after many years working in a production company, is very happy to reflect on a life doing what he loves.

"I always wanted to be a photographer. I was lucky to get to do it. Some people go into the Navy like I did, and have, say, a PhD. in ceramics. The next thing you know, they make you into a cook! I actually got to do what I wanted to do. I even got to photograph the launching of the Nautilus," laughed Echo.

While Echo is passionate about speaking on photography, he is almost refreshingly pragmatic when dealing with a current physical setback - cancer.

"They say life is what happens to you when you make plans. Every day is new. One day is good, then there's the next day! Today happens to be a bad day, but I'll be back to full speed soon," said Echo, who plans to be at the show when it opens in July.

Sneads Ferry artist Harvey Bradshaw is another former military man who will be showing off his talents at the art gallery. When asked about his background and his artwork, he speaks the way many former military members are known to eat: swiftly and efficiently. When asked, he lists his accomplishments and his passions, not in a bragging way or in a modest way, just in an accurate way.

"I was born in Sneads Ferry. Tenth generation Onslow County. Our family now is in its twelfth. I attended UNC with a degree in journalism. Retired from the Marines in 1980."  Though he is very much a local, Bradshaw's photographs will be showing a different part of the world. He fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to Africa with his son's family, and he made sure to bring along his camera. But don't worry; this isn't a boring family slideshow that he will be putting on the walls of the Thurston Art Gallery. Instead it will be a diverse collection of native African wildlife, doing exactly that - living wildly.

Included in the set, will be a picture of an elephant debating with a car who exactly has the right-of way, and a picture of a group of vultures eating a 250 pound Warthog. This act of nature captured the vultures finishing their meal in just 17 minutes.

The third artist to be featured at the art gallery will be Phillip Jarrell. His art will be making a trip from Shanghai, China to the Thurston Art Gallery for his first gallery show in the United States. You may remember him as the co-writer of the 1970's number one hit "Torn Between Two Lovers," but the gallery show will be all about his photography.

Jarrell has spent the last six years living in China. Before that, he has lived in close to a dozen well-known cities across the world. According to gallery owner, Sherry Thurston, Jarrell's work "testifies to the cultural differences as well as to the many commonalities, we the people of the world have to share. His images are soaring and in color and symbolism. The work reveals ancient Chinese imagery shown in an ultra-modern form." This show will also be highlighting his appreciation for his Southern heritage.

The first day of the event will be on July 1 from 6 to 8 p.m., and will continue through August 2. The Thurston Art Gallery is located at 328 Peru Road in Sneads Ferry. For more information, contact Sherry Thurston at 910 327-1781.