By Ann Nichols
Staff Writer
When Alan Shuptrine was driving home from a business trip in Nashville, he spotted an old abandoned church just off I-24 near South Pittsburg, Tenn. He made his way to the church and took a photograph, just as the sun was going down. The remaining light cast an eerie glow on the peeling white paint and lapboards, which Shuptrine found intriguing.
The watercolor painting he created from this photograph, "Eternal," serves as the anchor piece and title of his show that opens today in Exum Gallery in St. Paul's Episcopal Church. A reception will be held this afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m.
The show is composed of watercolor landscapes, architectural structures and beach scenes that are completed in Shuptrine's detailed style. Also included in the exhibit are several gold-leafed crosses that he constructed, water gilded and embellished with sgraffitoed designs.
"Last year, upon the death of my wife's great-uncle, I designed and built a special cross as a tribute to his lifelong service to his church and as a memorial to his widow," said Shuptrine.
The cross was on display in his gallery for a couple of weeks before it was shipped to the church in Indiana. It got so many positive comments that he decided to do a series of them.
With his paintings, the artist says, his heart remains in the South.
"There are so many things in this region I find interesting," he said.
Shuptrine explained that the common thread tying the artworks in his show together is his desire to explore those things that have "left a deep plate mark" on his life -- a person, place or symbol that has stood its ground with steadfastness.
"Eternal" continues through Jan. 9.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St., is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 266-8195.
Contact Ann Nichols at annsnichols@aol.com.