y Chris Berendt

Staff Writer

Ann Holland wants to share a heartfelt story, one that can be told and passed on to others without speaking the first word.

A professional photographer, Clinton native Holland has set out to share images captured over the years through her own lens, images that hold a special significance. Whether a family picture, a peek into nature, a sports snapshot or a look up at a Sampson County church steeple, each image has its own narrative and holds a deeper meaning to Holland.

Holland is the featured artist at the Small House throughout February and will have some of her work on display from Feb. 2- March 5. The theme of her exhibit is “Images from the Heart.”

“The title pretty much says it all. Of course, it is Valentine’s month, so February is pretty appropriate,” said Holland, who said the aptly-titled theme also describes her passion for photography. “These are things I love, things that have meant a lot to me, and they tell a story. I want people to say ‘I wonder what the story is behind that?’ I think you’ll see a little bit of everything. Each picture came from the heart.”

Pictures range from sports stills when Holland’s husband, current East Carolina University athletic director and fellow Sampson native Terry Holland, was still coaching to “travel pictures” and those depicting tall ships coming in from Beaufort. Holland said a “fair share” are also from Clinton, with one showing Clinton firefighters using a fire hose to spray children down on a hot day and others sharing a glimpse of some area churches.

Holland said her passion for photography has grown with each year. It started when she was a young girl, taking pictures of her family with her Brownie camera, and would later continue when she used a camera as an outlet during games her husband was coaching, in an effort to not continually worry about the outcome.

“It was kind of a distraction, instead of worrying if they win or lose,” said Holland, who would take pictures of the players and hang them up on the wall. When they graduated, she took the framed picture off the wall and gave it to them.

While Holland said she enjoys taking pictures of birds and animals, people have inspired her most as she has tried to continue to learn and grow as a photographer.

She would be hired to take private family pictures and sports photos for newspapers when the Hollands were located at Davidson College in Charlotte and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. When they moved to East Carolina, Holland found it was “just an art Mecca.”

Holland said the Small House showing is just the third show she has done, and will be her first solo exhibit.

She has had previous shows in Greenville and Charlottesville, that also included others’ work. The display in Charlottesville stayed up for a year and included work from three others, including a photographer from National Geographic.

Holland attested that she was nervous at her first showing, but those anxious feelings morphed into feelings of excitement when she saw the work meant something to others.

“I just said, ‘I think I’ll become an artist,’” said Holland. “I always loved looking through the lens and seeing something I could pass on to someone else. I like to look through the lens and see what the story is. I do see a story.”

She said she is looking forward to sharing those stories at the place she was raised.

Holland, 65, moved away from Sampson County following her graduation from high school in 1963. She has come back often to see her mother, Katie Johnson, 97, a longtime local teacher and resident of Clinton. Her father, Millard Johnson, was minister at Rowan Baptist Church for more than 30 years.

“My mother loves people, and I love people,” said Holland. “My mom taught storytelling to me and I loved to listen to her. Through my photography, I get to tell the story.”

When Terry and Ann Holland came to Clinton to emcee the “Dancing with the Clinton Stars” event in January 2009, then-Arts Council executive director Lisa Turlington asked Holland about possibly showing some of her work at the Small House. More than a year later, Holland’s work will be on every wall of the house.

“The Arts Council is thrilled to have her come and show her work,” said Turlington. “She’s quite accomplished, and we all appreciate the success of homegrown palette, and it’s a great way to focus locally to learn more about the photography and to be able to recognize it as an artform.”

Additionally, Holland will be teaching a workshop in photography from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. Those interested are invited to “capture the heartbeat of life through photography.” They are asked to bring their own camera. The class, offered at limited cost, is open to 12 participants. Holland said she hopes to see a mix of young and old so they might also learn from, and feed off, each other.

A Latin teacher for 25 years, Holland said she has never taught photography.

“I’m interested in telling them how I do that, how they can get better,” said Holland, who concedes she is still learning. She has had the fortune of being taught by some who have taken photos professionally for years, including renown National Geographic photographer Sam Abell.

Good photography is born out of passion and a willingness to learn, said Holland, who hopes to pass some of that on during the workshop.

“I am a professional photographer and that journey was not because I went to school for it and learned,” she said, “it was because of my love for it.”

Following the photography workshop, an artist’s reception for Holland will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 4.

Leading up to the start of the month-long display, the Sampson County Arts Council asked for about 30 to 40 pieces from Holland to display. In her anticipation and excitement, she picked closed to 60, and hopes there is room on the wall to display each and every one of them.

“I’m excited about it,” said Holland. “I have many more pieces than I thought I would have because I got so excited about it. It’s just very fun. I’m looking forward to it.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.