The ETSU Department of Art and Design and the Slocumb Galleries will be presenting the ‘Best of Tennessee Craft: Northeast’ exhibition in partnership with Tennessee Craft. This exhibition will feature both master and emerging craft artists at Tipton Gallery from October 21 to November 22.
“The Tennessee Craft is a statewide organization and every year they will have the Best of TN Craft in Nashville, but this time we are only featuring the Northeast chapter. So the exhibition will only include the Northeast Tennessee Craft artists,” shared Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, director of Slocumb Galleries.
The gallery will provide art from artists like Kayla Byrd, Richard Dwyer, Nancy Fischman, Jason Flack, Kathryn Jenkins, Mindy Herrin Lewis, Kenneth Lewis, Pam Faw, Louise Nuttle, John LaChance, Taylin Meneese, Kassandra Van Roosendaal and Janice Snapp.
“So, these are not just artists, they are community leaders. Mindy Heron is one of our faculty at the Art and Design. She is the jewelry and metalsmith faculty, and at least three in the show, Kayla [Byrd], Kassandra [Van Roosendaal], and Kathryn [Jenkins] are her students,” explained Contreras-Koterbay.
There will be a gallery talk and reception for “Best of Tennessee Craft: Northeast” on Friday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Contreras-Koterbay stated, “…and it’s just perfect timing, especially with this time and these efforts [from Hurricane Helene] to kind of reach out to our neighbors in the community.”
With the chaos that Helene has brought on our community, the Tipton Gallery hopes that this gallery talk and reception will provide students with a break and a time to relax and enjoy both the art and the community around them.
‘It’s inspirational for our youth to see these are their neighbors and families who are making this amazing craft work and craft practice and they can do it too,” shared Contreras-Koterbay.
The Tipton Gallery is open for viewing every Thursday and Friday 5 to 7 p.m. with extended hours on receptions and by appointment. Located at 126 Spring St. in downtown Johnson City. Please email Karlota Contreras-Koterbay at contrera@etsu.edu to schedule an appointment.
