Middle Tennessee State University Department of Art and Design will host an artist reception and 10th anniversary celebration of the Murfree Art Gallery, a collaborative project with the Rutherford County Property Assessor’s Office and the MTSU Departments of Art and Design, Electronic Media, and Photography.
The free public event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the gallery’s location in Room 218 at the Rutherford County Office Building, 319 N. Maple St. in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The event will also unveil an exhibition featuring paintings by Lascassas, Tennessee, artist Sandra Swayne.
“This enduring partnership has been a beacon for creativity, fostering a vibrant cultural hub that transcends boundaries and enriches our community,” MTSU Art and Design Chair Jimmy Mumford said. “Together we’ve cultivated a space where artistic expression thrives, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of inspiration. Here’s to a decade of shared vision, artistic triumphs, and the commitment to shaping a future where the arts continue to flourish.”
The celebration will include a short program spotlighting the gallery anniversary with refreshments and brief remarks by Mumford, Rutherford County Property Assessor Rob Mitchell and MTSU College of Liberal Arts Associate Dean Jeff Gibson.
Mitchell, who has been an instrumental part of the gallery since its inception, said the collaboration has been a great example of “using public spaces for the public good.”
“This collaboration demonstrates how governments and institutions of higher education can work together to benefit our community,” Mitchell said. “Students have an opportunity to interact with local government and practice their skills in advance of furthering their careers.”
Swayne, a self-taught artist who began painting in 2017, will also speak about her work.
“As a child growing up, I’ve always had the desire to create the images that plague my mind,” Swayne said. “I always try to instill emotion and nostalgia in my pieces.”
Her works are done in oil and acrylic with a style that evolved into a brightly colored impressionistic background with a realism subject.
Swayne’s exhibit is one of dozens to grace the two-chamber art gallery.
The event is made possible by collaboration between MTSU’s College of Liberal Arts, College of Media and Entertainment and the Department of Media Arts, with support by photography professor Jonathan Trundle.
Free parking for the Murfree Gallery is located behind the Rutherford County Office Building at the corner of West Lytle and West Burton streets.
For more details, call 615-898-5532 or email Eric.Snyder@mtsu.edu. Learn more details about MTSU Art and Design programs and gallery exhibitions by visiting https:// mtsu.edu/art/.
— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)
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