WorkSpace artists to display works inspired by Hunter pieces

No fooling, 14 of the almost three dozen artists who rent studio space at Chattanooga WorkSpace have spent the last nearly four months working on pieces inspired by a single work they chose from the permanent collection at the Hunter Museum of American Art.

The challenge was the idea of Hunter curator of education Adera Causey and Chris Thomas, executive director of Public Markets, which manages WorkSpace and several farmers markets in the area.

Each of the 14 artists was invited last December to visit the museum and find a piece that inspired them. The finished pieces will be revealed on April Fools Day during one of the monthly open houses the spaces hosts. Some artists chose pieces that matched works they normally produce; some went in other directions.

Artist Molly Hussey primarily works in oil on canvas, creating landscapes through a glazing technique in which she layers paints on top of each other. She says the challenge pushed her to try something a little different. She chose a glass sculpture called “Torrid Lascivious Gasp” by Stephen Rolfe Powell as her inspirations.

She changed her mind several times during the process on what the finished piece would look like.

“The colors are inspiring but also challenging,” she says.

Fellow artist Hollie Berry used several propane torches to burn images on a piece of plywood for her piece, inspired by “Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia” by Edward Moran. She uses the grain in the plywood to create part of the image as well as the charring caused by the flames.

“I love doing this,” she says of the process.

She will do a demonstration of her technique during the showcase as well.

Works by other artists include a musical piece by Rick Rushing, a floral design by Susan Bruce and handmade dolls by Mary Lisa Chesnutt.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.