In-Town Gallery is showing off some "Hot Stuff" this month.
"If you give a theme to a bunch of artists, surprising things materialize," say organizers of the August show.
Visitors can meet the artists and get a glimpse of what they've interpreted at an opening reception scheduled 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5.
Among the highlights:
* "What's Cooking," an oil painting by June Teuscher depicting a chef enveloped in a cloud of steam and smoke. Teuscher says she painted this subject twice to get just the composition she wanted.
* "Heat Index," an acrylic painting on black gesso canvas by Sandra Paynter-Washburn. Her subject matter, hot chili peppers, piled up and ready to use in a favorite spicy recipe, is the artist's equivalent of August in Chattanooga.
* Salt-glazed pitcher, a subtle reminder to stay hydrated from Roger Harvey. The artist makes salt-glazed pottery and wooden functional items. The heat of the kiln renders his wheel-thrown pottery permanent and usable.
* "Yosemite Flame," photographed last fall in Yosemite Valley by Spears McAllister. "Normally, I work very hard to eliminate all motion taking my photographs," McAllister says. "This photograph, however, is the second in a series that includes deliberate camera motion to create different effects in the image. The camera motion gives the impression of flames in the fall colors of cottonwoods along the Merced River."
* "Glitter Spice," a Poppy Jasper pendant from a collection of sterling silver and copper jewelry by Barbara Murnan. Self-taught, Murnan says her work has evolved from wire-wrapped pieces to combinations of stones and techniques inspired while she practices yoga. "It is all one-of-a-kind, and you would never see another one because I could not duplicate it even if I wanted to," she says.
* "Beach Music," a painting inspired by a series of photos surreptitiously taken while on a beach vacation. Jennie Kirkpatrick says the grouping of girls and gulls "reminded me of so many similar scenes of myself and friends that I just had to commemorate it in a painting."
In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave., is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (until 8 p.m. on first Fridays) and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, find the gallery on Facebook or call 423-267-9214.