"Life Perspectives" through the eyes of seven West Tennessee artists

Sister Series IV by Artist Jere Williamson is among the pieces on exhibit during "Life Perspectives"

Seven award-winning West Tennessee artists share a collection of their works during an art exhibition opening to the public October 3 at the Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville. The exhibit "Life Perspectives," organized by Brownsville artist Jere Williamson, features his personal pieces as well as those of noted artists Bill Bailey, Dr. Tim Hacker, Susan Hyback, Lendon Noe, Mary Spelling and Tuva Stephens.

Williamson is a Brownsville native who graduated from the University of Memphis in 1967 and began teaching art in Jacksonville, Florida. He went on to earn his Masters' of Fine Art  and taught at three Florida colleges before returning to Brownsville in the 1980s. His art has earned him numerous awards and has been included in eight museums, corporate buildings and numerous private collections.

"I'm excited to be showing in my hometown," says Williamson. "Most pieces in the show are watercolor, but you'll also see colored pencil and mixed media, too."

Bill Bailey worked for 30 years as an electronics engineer before devoting himself to painting in 1992. He attempts to capture the "Southern landscape and people" in his works and was selected among the "ones to watch" by Watercolor Artist Magazine in 2012.

Dr. Tim Hacker of Bartlett, Tenn., began studying art in high school. Since that time he has studied with numerous nationally-known artist such as Charles Harrington, Frank Francese and more. The Memphis-Germantown Art League has honored Hacker with the Spectrum Award and in 2011 he received the Westy Award from the Bartlett Arts Commission for his continued support of the visual and performing arts.

Susan Hyback, of Somerville, Tenn., has enjoyed life as a commercial illustrator and fine artist. She has a fervor for painting wildlife and animals. Two highlights of her career has been inclusion in "The Best of Wildlife Art" and acceptance into the Kentucky National Art and Wildlife exhibit.

Jackson, Tenn., native Lendon Noe enjoys using a combination of media to create her themed works. For the last 15 years her work has focused on natural history. She uses drawing, painting, collage, image transfer and assemblage to bring her award-winning pieces to life.

Mary Spellings, of Mercer, Tenn., loves to capture light and life in her paintings. She has won numerous awards for her paintings in regional and national competitions and most recently was awarded the "Annie Pitcher Award" from the Mississippi Watercolor Society Grand National Exhibition.

Tuva Stephens, of McKenzie, Tenn., was an art and drama director for 34 years before pursuing art professionally in 2009. In 2010 she was  a featured artist on the Nashville-based TV program Tennessee Crossroads. She likes to capture those "fleeting moments that captures my heart ... and causes the viewer to create their own story."

The 30 piece exhibit, showing a unique perspective of West Tennessee life through the eyes of the individual artists, will premier during an Artist Reception Thursday evening, October 2, and remain on display October 3 through November 14 at the Delta Heritage Center. Admission is free.

"Two Sides to Every Story" art exhibition opens March 1

John Sadowski

John Sadowski has been painting for over 40 years. His work has found its way into private and corporate collections throughout the United States. Beginning March 1, for a limited time, his work will be on display at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville. A special preview and opening reception for "Two Sides to Every Story" will be held Friday evening, March 1, at 6 p.m.

Sadowski, a Memphis artist, has for many years painted representational art, in particular local landmarks. In his collection, viewers will recognize buildings and street scenes from places such as New Orleans, Oxford, Miss., Jackson, Tenn., and of course Memphis. Sadowski has also painted many scenes of Brownsville that will also be included in the exhibition. His painting style reflects on the character and personality of these places more than serves as an architectural rendering.

Halfway Station

Sadowski also experiments with nonrepresentational art. He begins this art process with hand selected wood for the stretchers he builds himself. His inspiration comes while stretching the canvas and priming the surfaces. These abstracts are formed from layers of paint that has been added and subtracted and carefully placed until he can proclaim the work complete.

Romanticism Interrupted

Whether realism or abstract, Sadowski's art reflects the lifelong experience of a seasoned artist with the enthusiasm of one who has just begun his pursuit to artistic expression. "Two Sides to Every Story" combines these two distinct styles in a unique show available to the public through April 20.

For more information about the artist, visit www.sadowskiart.com. 

To learn more about the show, contact the Center at 731-779-9000.

Sonnets to Orpheus opens April 13

Lendon Noe

"Sonnets to Orpheus" is the name of the latest exhibit to be presented April 13 - June 2, at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, Tenn. The collection of mixed media art is the work of Jackson, Tenn., native Lendon Noe and explores a series of poems written by German poet Rainer Maria Rilke depicting the Greek mythical musician, Orpheus.

"Rilke’s sonnets are filled with beautiful metaphors that to me are breathtakingly visual," says Noe. "While I don’t seek to illustrate his work, I have been immeasurably inspired by it."

Noe is the former Professor of Art at Lambuth University where she taught for 28 years. She has recently opened a studio and gallery at DCA/DCPR in Jackson and is a partner and instructor with Silver Creek Workshops.

"My work hovers between realism and pure abstraction and I am attracted to many different media and techniques."

Noe began as an oil painter but explains that she now does a lot of drawing, incorporating acrylics and inks, collage and image transfers. Inspired by nature, many of the works in the Orpheus collection depicts trees and nature.

" I look for poetic references and metaphors involving all kinds of plant life and birds."

The public is invited to a special exhibit opening and reception Friday evening, April 13, 6-8 p.m., to meet the artist and learn about her inspiration and interpretation of the sonnets.