“All That Blooms and Grows,” a show by potter Laurie Graham and painter Julie Turner, will open with a reception Friday, July 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. at In-Town Gallery, 26-A Frazier Ave., where their work is the featured collection this month.
Their love of nature and Chattanooga’s colorful, textured landscapes are the inspiration for this collection.
Graham received her bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University’s Appalachian Center for Crafts. Although she has worked in other media, she says, “After my first clay class I knew I was called to be a potter.”
She creates pottery on the wheel and building by hand. Not feeling bound to a narrow approach when working in clay, she will often press leaves and other organic materials into clay as part of the creative process. Whether she’s creating a 3D face on a flower pot or a painted sunflower, all are intended to bring joy to those who see her work.
“Sunflower on Spring Green” by Julie Turner. / In-Town Contributed ImageTurner’s passion for art started at age 5 with drawings she made to adorn her love letters to Elvis. Throughout her life she continued creating art in her free time as she pursued a successful corporate career.