Celebrating an icon

An artists’ reception for Soon-Bok Lee Sellers was recently held at Aldridge Gardens. Daniel Moore, noted sports artist, planned the event and the exhibit, which ran through the middle of March at Aldridge Gardens and includes the works of Sellers and her students from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The event celebrated her 35 years teaching at W.A. Berry and Hoover High Schools and later as Director of Art Education for Hoover City Schools.

More than 150 guests enjoyed the lovely setting and renewing old friendships while they viewed paintings and sculpture by Daniel Moore, Terry Beckham, Chris Knopf and others. Sellers’ family was on hand to help Sellers record the event with pictures of her students, fellow teachers and art community patrons who enjoyed sharing memories of Seller’s years teaching and mentoring her students. Tynette Lynch, Rip Weaver and the Aldridge Gardens staff provided refreshments.

Sara Swindle, Jane Wilson and Anne Bishop, all of whom had taught with Sellers at Berry High School were there as well as Lori Salter-Schommer and Councilman Gene Smith. Hoover Arts Alliance board members Pat Bendall, Winnie and Charles Cooper, Linda and Richard Chastain, Carolyn and Robert Kolar, and Rip Weaver presented Sellers with a canvas signed by many of the attendees.

 Kathy Wheeler Tate, David Tate and Cary Moore, representing the Bluff Park Art Association, and Belle Jordan and Linda Williams, representing Artists on the Bluff, congratulated Sellers on the years of dedicated service to her students and the community.

As a teacher, Sellers has enriched the lives of her students, and as an artist, she has brought recognition to her community.

-Submitted by Linda Chastain