Artistically different

Staff writer

dmajor @pntonline.com

link Derek Major: Staff photo

Corey Pickett’s piece of the Black Panthers is on display at Eastern New Mexico University’s Golden Library Thursday. Pickett’s work known as Out Of The Box will be on display until Feb. 27.

On a typical night Corey Pickett stalks the sidelines, gives his team direction and works the referees as Clovis Christian’s high school basketball coach.

On his own time, Pickett is an artist. His works are on display until Feb. 27 at Eastern New Mexico’s Golden Library.

Pickett, who is from Georgia, has about 10 pieces on display in the Runnel’s Gallery as part of a show called Out Of The Box, celebrating people who did things differently such as comedian Redd Foxx, R&B singer Aaliyah, the Black Panthers and others. His work is on display until Feb. 27.

“For this show I just wanted to do something out of the box,” said Pickett who graduated from Eastern in 2000 with a bachelor’s in fine arts. “So I picked people who thought out of the box and did things differently.”

Pickett, who is in his first year at Clovis Christian after coaching at Clovis High school for the past five years, doesn’t take the traditional approach of painting on canvas. Instead, Pickett uses painted cardboard in random places.

“I don’t paint. It’s just the colors of the cardboard and glue,” said Pickett, who served four years in the Air Force. “I’ve been doing it this way for about six years; its a style I developed through the years, just kind of whatever I can find.”

Being a coach and an artist are disciplines that have a lot in common according to Pickett.

“They both take patience and discipline,” said Pickett. “It always relaxes me. I can take time for myself and be creative.”

Art has been a passion for Pickett his entire life and he has exhibited in California, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky. Some of his favorite artists include Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol and Picasso.

“Ever since I can remember I’ve been interested in art,” Pickett said. “It’s always been something I’ve done. When I’m not teaching or coaching, I’m creating art work. I was excited and very happy when I got my first show, but also very concerned that my work wasn’t good enough.”

Pickett one day wants his art to be something he can concentrate on full time.

“I’d like to take it as far as I can go with it,” said Pickett. “I’m always going to do it.”