Joseph Sorel is a self-taught artist, born in Providence and raised in Pawtucket and Central Falls. He first discovered his interest in art working in clay, but notes that his sister was “the artist in the family.” He later began to draw, paint and explore new media. His works include pastoral scenes as well as portraits of children, animals and religious subjects.

Sorel really began to explore art in earnest when he was incarcerated for about seven years following his time in the service during the Vietnam War. During this time, he began drawing roses on letters to his mother and gradually progressed to oil and acrylic painting on large canvases.

An exhibit, “The Art of Joseph Sorel: New Work and A New Life,” will be held at the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church Chapel Gallery, 134 Mathewson St., Providence, from Jan. 2 to 30, with receptions with the artist on Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. and Jan. 25 at noon.

Coordinators of the exhibit said, “This is Joe’s first major exhibit and through the sparkling eyes of children, animals and the beauty of nature, we see into the heart and soul of a man who is being reborn as a creative artist.”

For information about the gallery, call (401) 331-8900.

Athletic Hall of Fame: The following 12 distinguished athletes, coaches, officials and administrators will be inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic League High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 on May 6 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

Charles Ajootian of Classical High School was a Rhode Island State, New England and National high school shot put champion in the 1960s. He was coached by the legendary Al Morro. His record throw of 62’ 5.25” has been the Rhode Island State standard since 1964. While competing at Harvard University, he was the school’s first track athlete to win an individual NCAA title.

William “Bill” Francis Almon, the 1971 Providence Journal Bulletin Honor Roll Boy, was an All-State student-athlete selection in basketball and baseball at Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. He attended Brown University, where he was a two-time All-Ivy League and named the College’s Baseball Player of the Year in 1974. He went on to a 15-year Major League career.

Mary Burke was a Providence Journal two sport All-State student-athlete at Toll Gate High School in the early 1980s. She played basketball and volleyball, earning three All-State honors in both sports. She was a Converse All-American as a prep player and named the RI Words Unlimited Schoolgirl Athlete of the Year for 1983. While at Providence College, she starred on the Friar basketball team for four years. She is head women’s basketball coach at Bryant University, a position she has held for the past 17 years.

Manuel “Manny” Correira, a native of Bristol, spent 21 years as sports editor/photographer for the East Bay Newspapers. For 15 years, he was The Providence Journal’s East Bay sportswriter before returning to East Bay Newspapers. He rejoined The Journal in 2002 before retiring four years later. He was a high school sports reporter who always maintained perspective when writing about high school student-athletes.

Jim Dionizio was a three-sport standout for the Cranston East Thunderbolt and named the 1987 Rhode Island Schoolboy Athlete of the Year by USA Today. He was selected All-State in football, basketball and baseball by The Providence Journal. He played football and baseball at Colby College. He is a teacher in the Cranston public schools and an assistant football and baseball coach at his alma mater.

George Egan is “Mr. Rhode Island High School Hockey” for his total dedication and advocate for Rhode Island high school hockey. He was a high school coach at both Coventry High School and Ponaganset High School and is the RIIL director of hockey for the past five years. He was twice named Hockey Coach of the Year by his colleagues. He established the official hockey site that maintains every statistic on high school hockey players.

John R. Gray, is the principal of Barrington High School and a 15-year member of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Principals’ Committee on Athletics and its current chairman. He served as RIIL director of golf for 14 years. He was named 2006 Sports Ethics Fellow by the Institute of International Sport for his commitment to high school sports and fostering the important role athletics play in the educational experience of the high school student-athlete.

Richard “Dick” Hazard has served four decades as a basketball official, officiating supervisor and official assignor. He remains active as an assignor for RIIL boys basketball games. He serves as a role model and mentor for other officials for his dedication and professionalism.

Arthur “Art” J. Kershaw III was a legendary coach at East Greenwich High School from 1963 to 2002. He coached football winning five Super Bowls, as wrestling coach winning a division title, and led the Avenger baseball teams to 10 divisional titles. He is the only coach at East Greenwich High School to win championship titles in three major sports.

Jerome “Jerry” Morgan coached boys’ basketball at Hope High School for 32 years and football for 29 years. Winning state basketball championships in 1986 and 1994, he was named Coach of the Year both years. A 1961 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa where he played football, he went on to play professional football.

Christina (Batastini) Sheehan, Classical High School graduate in 1996, was a Providence Journal All-State in three sports: cross-country twice, basketball three times and outdoor track three times in the long jump. She attended Stanford University, where she played basketball for four years including a trip to the 1997 NCAA Final Four.

Michael “Mike” Stenhouse was named the 1976 Journal Honor Roll Boy while at Cranston High School East. A star baseball player, he was an All-State for three years batting .580 in his senior year. He attended Harvard University, named twice the All-American first team in baseball and then spent nearly a decade playing professional baseball.