I am Her and She is Me & No Boundaries Exhibits

Event Promo Photo For I am Her and She is Me & No Boundaries Exhibits

Time:

February 10 - March 14

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Location:

The Arts Center
320 North White Street
Athens, McMinn, TN 37303
US
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“I AM HER AND SHE IS ME” AND “NO BOUNDARIES” EXHIBITS
CELEBRATE BLACK EXPRESSION AT THE ARTS CENTER FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE ARTS CENTER IN ATHENS

ATHENS, TN — Athens Area Council for the Arts (AACA) is proud to host two exhibits by regional Black artists: I Am Her and She Is Me, by Dominique Pruitt, and No Boundaries, by Calvin Walton. These exhibits are open to the public from February 10 through March 14, 2025, with Artist Receptions on Thursday, February 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, at The Arts Center. The reception features a poetry reading by artist Dominique Pruitt.

“Every woman I have met in any setting inspires me by how strong, beautiful, and driven they are,” says artist Dominique Pruitt. “The world makes us feel like we can’t be certain ways or do certain things and that everything about a woman is wrong.”

By sharing her vision through these works, artist Dominique Pruitt pushes back against what the world says, by sharing all shapes, shades, and sizes of women loving themselves and authentically being themselves.

This work is made possible, in part, by many resilient women in her corner, but Pruitt wants to acknowledge one particular friend, Brooke Montague, who has always seen women figures in Pruitt’s abstract art. This vision inspired Pruitt to create paintings of women and style them in her own way.

This collection is a new exploration and a specific focus on capturing femininity and self-acceptance. Pruitt challenged herself to paint the figures in universal skin tones so that everyone can see themselves in the paintings and not be restricted by race. When people look at these paintings, she wants everyone to say “I am her and she is me.”   

Dominique Pruitt (Creative Goddess) is a Chattanooga local artist who finds positivity through art despite mental health battles. The support of the HART Gallery and AIM Center has helped Dominique to develop a variety of techniques and skills. When she first started, she was battling depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and was looking for an outlet.

Pruitt is a mixed-media artist who advocates for mental health and shares stories of what she has been going through mentally and emotionally during the process of creating. In doing so, she hopes to reach those who struggle with mental health and give them hope that they can find something that they are passionate about to help with mental health issues.

I Am Her and She Is Me is available to the public for viewing for free in the Willson Exhibit Room and Hallway Gallery during regular business hours - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and during certain special events. For more information about this exhibit please visit athensartscouncil.org/exhibitions. 

Calvin Walton’s journey is a continuous evolution—a commitment to honing the gift of creating. He strives to expand his abilities, exploring a diverse range of subjects, from nature and music to the human experience and abstract forms. His techniques primarily involve acrylic on wood, mixed media, and occasional resin finishes. Each piece is a vibrant expression of his vision, bringing forth powerful and vivid creations that invite viewers to engage with the world through the artist’s eyes. Walton invites the viewer to explore the dynamic interplay of color and texture in his work, where creativity knows no bounds.

Calvin Walton was born in Athens, Tennessee, and currently resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia with his wife, Michelle, and son, Caleb. Calvin’s interest and talent in art began when he was a young boy and flourished throughout his school years. Convinced he had found his calling, Calvin pursued visual arts and embarked on a journey to develop his own unique techniques and style.

No Boundaries is available to the public for viewing for free on the Gallery Wall in the Peggy Dow Performance Center during regular business hours - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and during certain special events. For more information about this exhibit please visit athensartscouncil.org/exhibitions. 

All AACA programs are supported by premiere sponsors Edward Jones of Athens, Tennessee Valley Authority, Willsonthropic, Inc. and Mintie C. Willson, and Wolfenden Family Pharmacies. Additional support comes from presenting sponsors: Friendly City Festivals and Muddy Waters Two Wine and Spirits. All other sponsors are recognized on AACA’s website.

 

More information about AACA programs is available at athensartscouncil.org, or over the phone at 423-745-8781. Staff is available via phone, or in person, at The Arts Center.  Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Arts Center is located in Historic Downtown Athens, Tennessee, in the Main Street District, at 320 North White Street.

The Arts Center 320 North White Street
Athens, McMinn, TN 37303
US
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