Wayne-O-Rama counting down final days

Chattanooga fun house closes Sept. 30

Wayne-O-Rama contains large caricatures of famous Chattanoogans, such as actor Samuel L. Jackson.
Wayne-O-Rama contains large caricatures of famous Chattanoogans, such as actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Hunter hosts ‘The South of Wayne White’

Join Dr. Jennifer Beech from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s English Department for “Faculty Dialogues: The South of Wayne White” at Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View.Her in-gallery walking discussion on perceptions about the South, as inspired by the artwork of Wayne White, will begin at 6 p.m. today, Sept. 21.The gallery tour is included in regular museum admission of $15 for ages 18 and older, free for ages 17 and younger accompanied by an adult, free to active-duty military personnel and their families.

After drawing more than 12,000 guests - some from as far as Japan, Israel and Russia - Wayne-O-Rama, Chattanooga's history fun house designed by Emmy-winning artist and Chattanooga native Wayne White, will close its doors on Sept. 30.

Wayne-O-Rama will remain open as it winds down to Sept. 30. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday - leaving area residents eight days (counting today) to visit.

Wayne-O-Rama was presented by the Shaking Ray Levi Society, an arts education nonprofit that has brought music, film and art to Chattanooga for more than 30 years. Its yearlong installation at 1800 Rossville Ave., Suite 108, was sponsored by See Rock City Inc. with support from the Benwood, Footprint, Lyndhurst and McKenzie foundations.

Visitors see Wayne White's Magic Lookout Mountain and experience larger-than-life puppets and installations depicting Chief Dragging Canoe, blues singer Bessie Smith, Chattanooga broadcasting legend Luther Masingill and a host of notable Chattanoogans.

After Sept. 30, the pieces of the installation will be stored temporarily and eventually put on display at various locations throughout Chattanooga.

Since opening, the venue has hosted puppet shows and a concert series. However, education is at the heart of Shaking Ray Levi Society, and students from around the region have learned national social studies standards through Chattanooga's history and White's creativity.

Educators have used videos from PBSLearningMedia.org in a partnership with WTCI, Chattanooga's local PBS station, to engage students in the city's history while inspiring their artistic creativity.

Wayne-O-Rama admission is free, but donations are accepted to support the educational outreach of Shaking Ray Levi Society.

For more information: www.wayneorama.com.

photo Wayne-O-Rama contains large caricatures of famous Chattanoogans, such as actor Samuel L. Jackson.

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