This year's annual art exhibition in Dunlap, Tenn., will include about 40 local artists whose works are expected to draw as many as 500 visitors.
The idea behind the exhibition is to get people in the Sequatchie Valley excited about the arts and their creative neighbors, said Nina Hunt, chairwoman of the Sequatchie County Friends of the Library group's art committee. The event isn't a Friends fundraiser, but it's intended to give local artists a venue to show off their work and introduce local residents to the various forms and media used as close as next door.
"For the artists, it gives them the opportunity to display what they've done," Hunt said. "It's not much fun to work in the studio and not get to show off what you do."
If you go
What: Art in the Library Exhibition 2017Where: Dunlap City Hall Training Center, corner of Rankin Avenue and Cherry Street, Dunlap, Tenn.When: May 4, 6-8 p.m. CDT; May 5, 8 a.m.-noon CDT; May 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. CDT; May 7, 12-5 p.m.Cost: Admission is free on Thursday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday, the event is inside the venue of Dunlap’s Valley Fest. Tickets are $8 each day or a two-day wristband is $10. Valley Fest children’s tickets are $2. There is no extra cost for the art show during Valley Fest.Source: Friends of the Sequatchie County Library
While free, the event takes a great deal of effort on the parts of the artists and the volunteers who help organize and set the show up, she said. Hunt said she usually works with 80 or more artists in the effort to get exhibits established.
"We do this without spending any money," Hunt said, "it's all volunteer labor. It takes hours, and we normally exhibit 40 to 50 artists but in order to do that we're working with about 80."
The exhibitors have a hand in rallying others, too.
"The artists themselves help find the other artists for us," Hunt said.
The exhibit, which starts Thursday afternoon, will continue during the weekend Valley Fest music and crafts festival on the Sequatchie Courthouse Square.
Biographical information on the artists will be posted beside each piece, she said. Pieces are not sold at the show but information is available to make purchase arrangements.
"There will be so many imaginative and interesting pieces," Hunt said, noting a photograph of the Milky Way and a sculpted owl so realistic "you expect it to take flight at any moment."
"Both of these works are by new exhibitors," she said.
Jane Indyk, who is in charge of hanging the exhibitions and is also an exhibitor, will display her piece, "Orchids." Indyk urged visitors to get involved by voting for "the people's choice."
Steven Pickett, a well-known local artist, was the people's choice last year with his sculpture, "New Girlfriend."
"There are so many really delightful works in the show this year people are going to have a hard time deciding which one they like the best," Indyk said in a news release.
Linda Howard, member of the art exhibition committee and regular exhibitor, will display her watercolor of two young girls playing at the beach called "Summer Fun."
"Visitors to the exhibition often tell me how much they enjoy seeing the art displayed and how much they appreciate the exhibition as a community event," Howard said in the show statement. "Artists certainly appreciate having an opportunity to show others their work."
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.