“Burning Bright,” an ETSU student painting exhibition, is on display through Nov. 30, at Nelson’s Fine Art Gallery downtown.
The exhibit, including about 25 pieces of work, opened on Nov. 1, and the opening was attended by many faculty members and students of the art department, as well as a slew of family and friends.
The works range from abstract to realism, and from figurative paintings to landscape paintings. The pieces in the show include different types of painting techniques and materials.
A joint arrangement between assistant professor of painting at ETSU, Mira Gerard, and gallery owner, Dick Nelson, brought about the show.
“It’s important to me that students are involved beyond the trappings and assignments of class,” Gerard said. “Being an art student is also about trying to figure out how you are going to involve yourself in your career after school.”
Gerard said that the art of painting is like performance art in that the art making and the showing are important components.
“I’m really proud of the students and I think the work is fantastic,” Gerard said.
Nelson said that the pieces are strong and that the instructor makes a great difference in the success of the students.
The gallery is filled with work and the owner is pleased. “There are not really any other venues around here for student work off campus,” Nelson said. “It’s a good opportunity for students to show off campus.” “Burning Bright” takes its title from the William Blake poem, “Tyger,” which features a fantastic tiger creature. Gerard equates art to a fantastic, mysterious thing like the tiger.
Nelson’s Fine Art is located at 324 E Main St. For more information, call the gallery at 926-2931.

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