“Art of Farming” through a photographer’s eye

“Corn Field During Sunset” by photographer Christy Hunter is one of the featured photos during the exhibition “The Art of Farming” March 7 - April 30, at the Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, Tenn.

 “The Art of Farming,” a look at the rural landscape of West Tennessee as seen through the eyes of photographer Christy Hunter, will open at the Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, Tenn., March 7. An artist reception will take place at 6 p.m., followed by a short tour and presentation by Hunter.

Photographer Christy Hunter

Hunter has been a photographer for over ten years with much of her work centered on gardens, flowers and outdoor nature scenes.  In 2011, she moved from the St. Louis area to Munford, Tenn., where she discovered new subjects along the back roads and countryside of West Tennessee.

According to Hunter, her world was opened to the beauty of things from the past; old stores, houses, barns, and beautiful farmland. As she explored the countryside capturing these scenes, a collection of images began to form around farm life.

“The past is left for us to discover and learn from,” says Hunter. “As I capture images, I try to think about those stories; the shapes, colors and the beauty that farming brings to our lives.”

The exhibition will look at everything from the shape of the plants, the new and old farm equipment, and the types of buildings that are all part of the farming tradition in West Tennessee.

“The Art of Farming” exhibition will be on display through April 30 and is free and open to the public. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.westtnheritage.com or call 731-779-9000.

Guinn goes "Off the Beaten Path" for nature photos

Joe B. Guinn

Photographer Joe B. Guinn knows he has to get "off the beaten path" for the best nature shots. A new exhibit at the Delta Heritage Center, Brownsville, offers a look at his work featuring scenes of West Tennessee. The exhibition Off the Beaten Path: Scenes of West Tennessee can be seen daily now through September 7. A special artist reception will be held Thursday, June 27, at 6 p.m.

Birds and nature caught Guinn's eye at an early age. Once he got a camera in hand, this Tennessee native began to focus on his natural surroundings.

"My favorite photographic challenges are landscapes," says Guinn.

College and a career took him away from the area. When he returned in the 1970s, he discovered his beloved Hatchie River forest and wetlands had dramatically changed. And "not for the better," according to Guinn.

This prompted him to begin the project of photographing what remains of the Hatchie's fragile untouched wetlands and deep forest areas. Off the Beaten Path depicts life in the wetlands and river valleys that include the Hatchie, Reelfoot Lake and Tennessee and Mississippi rivers. Guinn captures this beauty using only natural light and his photos are untouched, except for an occasional cropping.

Great White Egret

"Guinn is able to capture the heart of the river valley," says Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the Delta Heritage Center. "Through his photos, we are able to get a glimpse of life most would never be able to see."

There are also permanent photos on exhibit in the Hatchie River Museum at the Center, according to Clark.

"Daisy Field"

His work has been featured by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy and Environmental Action Fund. Guinn was awarded a Wildlife Conservation Award by Haywood County in 1996. His most extensive exhibit has been in Nashville at Cheekwood Museum.

The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. The public is also invited to meet the artist at a special reception Thursday, June 27, from 6-8 p.m. To learn more about the artist visit www.joebguinn.com