Meet the Artists: Respiratory Space

In the next week, we'll be posting about the artists taking part in this year's festival. For this first post, we'll introduce you to the artists behind the Respiratory Space exhibit.

Respiratory Space features work by four Roanokers who are employed as respiratory therapists. You can see their work in person at Speakeasy (108 Campbell Ave. SW) from January 26-Feb. 5. An artists' reception will take place on February 4th at 5pm.

(Photo of bear made by Denise Valente.)

TIM CARROLL: Tim graduated in 2005 from VCU’s Painting and Printmaking department with an emphasis in Lithography. Due to a lack of resources, such as a press, Tim switched mediums to work in oil paint.

Post-degree, Tim did not want to teach art so he researched a career change. Tim’s father was a paramedic at REMS for many years. (His father was also a failed ceramicist by the name of Chuck Carroll.) Tim discovered the career alternative of Respiratory Therapy while working at a print shop. In short, Tim said, “Hell, yeah!” to respiratory and enrolled in The Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Tim works as a Respiratory Care Assistant and will graduate from the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Spring 2008 with an AAS in Respiratory Therapy.

Tim has shown his art at the Anderson Gallery at VCU, the VCU Commons and several Bars, Salons and Coffee shops. He has also shown at the Studios on the Square in Roanoke.

JEFF SHEPPARD: Jeff grew up in Southwest Virginia and became a Journeyman Brickman out of high school. In his mid-20s, Jeff went to college to become a Respiratory Therapist.

Jeff has been a RRT for almost 26 years. He now works on the Transport Team, transporting neonates and children to and from the Medical Clinic here in Roanoke. As part of this work, he has traveled up and down the East coast from Maine to Florida.

Jeff started drawing 15 years ago and this hobby has continued to take up more and more of his time. In the fall of 2007, Jeff went back to college at Virginia Western Community College beginning his pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts. Jeff also plans on to transferring to VCU to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art.

DENISE VALENTE: Denise was born in 1975 in Malone, NY the daughter of a Psychologist and a Social worker and the sister of one older brother. She grew up in Niskayuna, NY a left handed child of divorce and remarriage.

Denise pursued a BFA at University of Buffalo, SUNY and transferred to Alfred University, School of Art and Design because Denise felt that UB was huge and ugly and cold and she just didn’t want to spend four years there.

Denise earned a BFA from Alfred in 1998 with a concentration in Painting and Ceramics. That fall, Denise accepted an Artist in Residence position at the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Bucks County, PA. The following two summers Denise spent in Martha’s Vineyard making ceramic tile for functional installations with a friend. During this endeavor, Denise met her then future husband, Jesse Laplante, and began making the Muslin dolls that are being shown as part of Respiratory Space.

The winter and spring of 2000 Denise and Jesse lived briefly in Roanoke, VA before moving to Berkeley for almost four years. While in California, Denise maintained an artist studio where she lived. She also worked at Trax Gallery. The Sebastian Ward gallery later moved into the space and Denise showed her dolls and stuffed animals there. Denise’s stuffed animals were received warmly and Denise began selling them. While living in Berkeley, Denise was in two group shows in the 8th Street Gallery in Berkeley. Denise worked as the Manager of Café Fanny Granola until she decided to move back to NY and become a Respiratory Therapist.

Denise earned her AAS in Respiratory Care from Hudson Valley Community College, accepted a position in Roanoke as an RT and moved to Roanoke with Jesse in 2005. Denise maintains a studio in her home and sells her stuffed animals at the Roanoke Print Works in downtown Roanoke.

RANDY BAYNTON: Randy was born in Port Jervis, New York or New Jersey--he’s never been able to remember which. He has a degree in Philosophy from the College of William and Mary and also served in the Marine Corps as a Field Radio Operator in the Second Reconnaissance Battalion.

Randy has been a Respiratory Therapist for twenty-five years and currently works on the Neo-Peds Transport Team.

He has been married twenty-two years to a wonderful woman whose only fault is her questionable choice of husband. They have a twenty-year-old son who is attending JMU and is intelligent and good looking.

Randy has always loved art and has taken classes, public and private, in drawing and painting.

(Photo of bear made by Denise Valente.)