The ElectricCoArt Bistro regularly changes it’s art displays. Currently it is featuring work by Robert Pennix, a Lynchburg artist. Pennix held a session, Friday, where people could view his work and talk to him.
Pennix, an Amherst County native, currently lives in Lynchburg. He’s always been interested in art but pursued a career in law enforcement. He’s a retired corrections officer having worked for the Blue Ridge Regional Jail. He had always been involved in art, doing work for people from time to time on commission. Retirement let him become more involved with art.
Part of his show consisted of pencil drawings of famous people.
“That’s my preferred medium,” he said, noting that there are no colors to mix.
Part of his work involved sensitive issues about relations between police and the black community. These are paintings done with acrylic paints. Pennix said he started out with oil but switched to acrylic because it drys faster. Of course, he is pro-law enforcement but recognizes that there are some police officers out there who never should have been police officers.
Pennix is involved with teaching black teens how to act if pulled over by a police officer. He advises them to turn on their lights and have their car registration and license affixed at the top of their visor. He advises them to be respectful and remember that, if the officer behaves badly, that can be taken care of later. His badge number will be on the citation he gives you and you can lodge a complaint about his behavior the next day.
Trevor Hicks, a jazz saxophonist, provided background music for the show. Hicks is from Lynchburg. He and Pennix met when both were students at Liberty University where Hicks majored in music.
Hicks started playing saxophone in middle school. He said he likes that instrument because it’s very versatile.
“It can be adapted to any genre of music,” he said.
Hicks has been playing for a little over 20 years but this year he became a full time musician.
Pennix’s art will remain on display at ElectricCoArt Bistro through the end of this month.
