Baltimore Times October 2005

The Legacy Fine Art Show at the Camelot of Upper Marlboro, on the grounds of Evangel Cathedral, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Oct. 21 -23, 2005 drew a huge crowd of fine art collectors from the D.C./Baltimore area. The show offered an upscale venue in which attendees could meet artists, purchase fine art paintings, sculptures, and prints. The show included national art galleries specializing in such Harlem Renaissance artists as Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Gwendolyn Knight and others. The show also featured nationally acclaimed artists Charles Bibbs, Essud Fungcap, Roderic Vines, Brenda Joysmith, Dane Tilghman and many others.

Walter Shannon, co-organizer of the event, partnered with Mitchellville, Maryland resident, Lauren Ishmael, owner of Powerhouse Consultants LLC. "I have envisioned this project for a long time, a collection of African-American artists and galleries bringing together some of the most sought after African-American fine art currently in circulation," said Ishmael.

Among local artists who participated in the show were Karen Y. Buster, a native Baltimorean and Morgan State University graduate and George Nock.

Karen is a graphic artist whose unusual style of hand-cutting using an X-acto knife, originated while silk screening for Bustertizin' Designs. Karen's work has been received by such celebrities as Queen Latifah, Denzel Washington, Cheryl Lee Ralph, Toni Braxton, Jada Pinkett Smith, Charles "Roc" Dutton and a host of others. Karen says, "God has given me a gift, that I love to share with others."

George Nock was destined early in life to become an artist. Inspired by junior high school teachers, one a sculptor, the other a painter, the multi-talented Nock etched, sketched, sculpted and painted throughout high school- amid stellar performance on the basketball court and football field. In 1964, on a sports scholarship, the mild-mannered jock attended Morgan State University, where he majored in Psychology and starred on the football field. After five years in the NFL, where he was a running back with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins, Nock retired and since has focused on building his career creating paintings and sculpture.