Textured glazes add depth to 2-D, 3-D art by Maddin Corey, Ellen Franklin

Sunday, October 6, 2013

IF YOU GO• What: Texture and Glaze• Where: In-Town Gallery, 26-A Frazier Ave,• When: 11 am.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday• Admission: Free• For more information: 423-267-9214

photo Sunflowers that appear backlit by the sun draw the eye in "Here Comes the Sun" by Maddin Corey.
photo "Faith" is part of a collection of clay, fabric and concrete dancers by Ellen Franklin.

Maddin Corey and Ellen Franklin's new art exhibit is a show-and-tell of what they did on their summer vacation.

The two lifelong friends attended a workshop in Sewanee, Tenn., where they learned glazing techniques for a variety of mediums. Corey and Franklin utilized that knowledge in the 2-D and 3-D artwork they are showing in "Texture and Glaze" at In-Town Gallery.

Corey has mounted a vibrant exhibit of glazed oil paintings that reflect end-of-summer scenes, celebrations of late-summer harvest. Franklin's work is a collection of expressive dancers ranging in height from 12 to 21 inches. The figures are made of clay and fabric over a wire armature, then glazed in bronze to achieve a green patina.

"I hope visitors will be touched by them," says Franklin. "I have named a few, such as Praise and Faith; some people get that from them, others might just see they are beautiful dancers. I want them to walk away with a feeling of beauty from the figures."

Neither woman tried their hand at artwork -- other than children's crafts, jokes Corey -- until they were in their mid-20s and their children were starting school.

"Then we tried everything!" Corey laughs. "We were always looking for different mediums to express ourselves. We still haven't decided on the one that suits us best after 30 years. We still want to know what we're going to do when we grow up."

"I'm so interested in trying new things. I love things with texture," adds Franklin. "Each medium has its own special quality and I'm not able to stick to one. I love to find something new and interesting and express my artistic thoughts in a new way."

Their exploration of new, untried treatments led them to the workshop at St. Andrew's School. There, artists were taught how to layer oil-and-water-based glazes to achieve unusual effects depending on the texture to which it was applied. Corey and Franklin discovered that glazing enhanced the depth of work in both their mediums.

Both artists are native Chattanoogans who graduated from Girls Preparatory School. Corey says neither had a background in art before launching their do-it-yourself art exploration.

Franklin received a degree in biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a nursing degree from UT Center for the Health Sciences before working as a nurse at Erlanger for a short period of time. Now the painter and sculptor is a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society and a member of the International Acrylic Painters Society. Her work is displayed in Gannon Art Center and Gallery.

Corey earned an English degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She specializes in fine art portraits, has been honored as a Tennessee Top Ten portrait artist, and has shown at Shuptrine Fine Art Group and River Gallery.

Contact staff writer Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.