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Submitted by Michael’s Fine Arts and Framing
Michael’s Fine Arts and Framing is hosting a new show Friday — “The Learning Experience” — as part of the First Friday series of gallery openings.
The show features new work by Dalton native Tommy Payne. The show is made up of a cross section of work ranging from small sketches to large charcoal sketches to finished paintings. The selections were made by the artist to represent the progress of his art.
Payne cites his art instructor Morris Mitchell as the catalyst for all of the new pieces. Mitchell was an instructor at Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Fla., for 42 years and moved to Hixson, Tenn., near Chattanooga approximately six years ago. He currently teaches at the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga as well as private students.
Payne was taken on by his mentor in late 2007 and they have cultivated a great working relationship as well as a close friendship.
The work on display at Michael’s shows Payne’s maturation as an artist, demonstrating his growing understanding of composition and visual literacy. The Learning Experience will be on display at Michael’s at 1325 Dug Gap Road until the end of September, with the opening starting at 5 p.m. today and continuing until 9.
Submitted by Kellie Smith Design Studio
The Kellie Smith Design Studio once again joins forces with the Creative Arts Guild and Michael’s Fine Arts and Framing to showcase and support local artists, Friday featuring the work of local artist John Crews and jewelry designer Lidia Clemons.
The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. The studio is at 200 N. Hamilton St.
Crews has completed more than 200 national and local art/design projects. He has sold abstract and impressionist paintings to locals, contracted with local businesses for various projects, and been commissioned by private buyers for specific pieces.
Organizers say he “strives for his artwork to be edgy while remaining true to classic technique. He draws inspiration from various design elements and abstract expressionist artists like Joan Mitchell and Egon Schiele.” Recently he was selected as illustrator for a children's book authored by Becky Myers.
Currently employed with Shaw Industries’ Hospitality Group as a junior designer, Crews designed the company’s Urban Camouflage Collection, which launched at the 2009 Hospitality Design Show in Las Vegas. He is currently working on designs for another collection that will launch at the 2011 show. He is scheduled to graduate from Savannah College of Art & Design in March 2011.
Clemons is a fiber artist and has worked in many different media. Lately she has concentrated on using recycled materials to make jewelry and functional pieces.
“I enjoy taking an object that has already been used for its intended purpose and giving it new life,” she said.
Her main process involves fusing free-form pieces of old wine bottles and shards of Fenton glass fired in a kiln, adding metal findings and wire.
Clemons has received two degrees from the Savannah College of Art & Design and is employed locally as a textile designer.
