The Todd Art Gallery at Middle Tennessee State University is welcoming a fascinating cacophony of color to its cool, calm exhibit space with its new display, “Summer Noise,” through Saturday, Sept. 11.

Jered Sprecher

University of Tennessee School of Art professor Jered Sprecher’s work includes massive 20-foot paintings that incorporate oils, wool rugs and paper alongside striking tabletop installations with drawings, fossils, copper wire and even a robin’s egg.

His exhibit will be open in the Todd’s spacious main gallery, Room 224A, located in the heart of the MTSU campus at 542 Old Main Circle.

“8.25 Minutes 2,” one of six 76″ x 56″ oil on linen paintings, wool rug, hanging hardware, tape, printed materials, and drawings on paper comprising an installation by Knoxville artist Jered Sprecher, is part of a new exhibit, “Summer Noise,” at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery through Saturday, Sept. 11. Cilck on the image to see a larger version. (Image courtesy of b. cole2016; artwork courtesy of Jered Sprecher)

Sprecher’s “Summer Noise” is free to the public weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Guests must follow MTSU’s mask and other health safety requirements.

Sprecher also served as a visiting artist for MTSU students on Sept. 2 and his keynote talk that same day in Room 224A was open to the public.

The 2009 Guggenheim Fellow and 2019 recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Individual Artist Fellowship uses both his phone and a digital camera to capture images that he uses as inspiration and sometimes includes directly in his work.

He says his paintings “extract elements from the high and low of visual culture. This culture and crush of images is in constant flux.”

“In our day-to-day life, one is seldom afforded the time to comprehend what one is viewing under the barrage of images produced by humankind. I try to grasp a single moment, a glance, a small epiphany,” the Knoxville, Tennessee, resident says.

More information about Sprecher and his work is available at his website, www.jeredsprecher.com.

MTSU’s Department of Art and Design, which is part of the university’s College of Liberal Arts, offers undergraduate degree programs in art education, art history, visual arts, studio art and graphic design.

The department also regularly invites artists of all kinds and at all levels of fame to exhibit in the Todd Art Gallery, conduct workshops and lecture in classes.

A campus map is available here, and directions and guest parking permit information are available here.

For parking, directions or other questions, contact Todd Gallery coordinator and director Eric Snyder at 615-898-5532 or eric.snyder@mtsu.edu.

For more information about MTSU’s Department of Art and Design, visit www.mtsu.edu/art. MTSU’s College of Liberal Arts website is www.mtsu.edu/liberalarts.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)