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Home > VISUAL ART & MUSEUMS > Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center presents Works by Matthew Deric Gore, Hannah Maxwell Rowell and John Watts

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Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center presents Works by Matthew Deric Gore, Hannah Maxwell Rowell and John Watts

Presented by Centennial Art Center at Centennial Art Center

February 4-March 23, 2011

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Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center will exhibit works by artists Matthew Deric Gore, Hannah Maxwell Rowell and John Watts. An opening reception will be held on February 4, 5:00pm-7:00pm.

Nashville native Matthew Deric Gore began painting as a young child. Later, at Glencliff High School, he studied art with Barbara Shannon Cox (who he says was not only a great teacher then, but is now a good friend). The last fifteen years, since earning a degree in Visual Communications, he has worked as a graphic designer, illustrator and instructor. About his paintings, he explains, “The craft of painting is important to me… I plan my paintings carefully, giving consideration to composition, color and mood… By closely observing light, volume, form and color, I paint not only objects, places and people, but also the space and air around them, and, I hope, the mystery within them… Although I’ve been painting for many years, the transformation of pigment and oil into an image is still like magic to me. It seems like I have captured a bit of the essence of the world and presented it framed upon the wall. This powerful and compelling idea keeps me searching for interesting, evocative subjects to paint.” About his works that will be exhibited in the Art Center exhibit, Matthew shares, “Painting is like an incantation to me, a spell that captures a bit of the mystery and drama of reality. I hope that these works convey a sense of that mystery and drama, and of the magical experience of working with paint.”

Hannah Maxwell Rowell, of Bon Aqua, TN, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art from Middle Tennessee State University and teaches art at The Renaissance Center (Dickson, TN). She has participated in many exhibitions of her paintings and works on paper over the years, and recently her works were featured in Nashville Arts Magazine, won Best of Show at Nashville Fusion, was exhibited in Nashville Gallery and Art and Invention Gallery’s renowned Tomato Art Fest. Her work is currently represented by and available at Art and Invention Gallery and the Tennessee Artisan Market at The Renaissance Center. In her Artist Statement, she reveals, “I am interested in representing a reality where reverence for nature and disregard for laws of nature coexist. Where magical elements are blended with realism to access a deeper understanding of reality. Within my work is a deeply felt homage for the feminine, science fiction, healing, dreams and quantum reality… Charcoal, as a medium is a combination of chaos and control. I find the messiness inherent in the medium a great joy and challenge to work with, sometimes submitting to the chaos and at other times overcoming. It can be very soft, thick and heavy, precise, or fade into nothingness. Through drawing, I search for meaning and find that the psychic landscape evolving is both personal and collective, familiar and elusive.”

Franklin, TN resident and sculptor John Watts was born in Paducah, KY. He received a Masters Degree in Fine Art from the University of Georgia and is currently an associate Professor at O’More College of Design (teaching Design Fundamentals and Sculpture). John’s artistic endeavors have taken him many places, including Italy – to study bronze casting and stone carving – and Ireland (with O’More College’s Global Studies Program) where he studied Celtic art in preparation for his own creation – a six foot Celtic Cross for O’More’s campus. He reflects, “Nashville has been good to me sculpturally. I’ve received several commissions, and have been re-acquainted with my college mentor, Mel Chin, who has used my skills for several pieces in stone and wood. O’More College has recently arranged for several honor students and myself to design a public art piece for the city of Franklin, so I couldn’t be happier artistically. The secret is to be flexible, and apply your talent to whatever medium comes your way.” Describing the works he will exhibit at Centennial Art Center, he says they “…are largely figural, with a sense of classicism mixed with humor/surrealism. I have a streak of contempt coinciding with a sense of awe for humankind, and an appreciation for people who seek Truth in whatever form: Art, Religion, Science, Nature, all of which strive to know our Creator, and perhaps become the Creator, or become one with. The word ‘apotheosis,’ meaning the elevation of someone to divine status, is a recent intrigue of mine, and humankind amuses me with its array of failed attempts…”

Centennial Art Center’s gallery manager, Lena Lucas, says, “This will be a powerful, thought provoking exhibit. Matthew, Hannah and John each create art built upon highly developed technical skills and strong personal philosophical foundations.” The Art Center’s Director, Brenda McSurley says, “It is with great pleasure that we kick-off our 2011 series of exhibits with works by these three unique and talented artists! So many great artists live in and around Nashville, and we are fortunate and honored to be able to offer such a fine venue for them to present their works to the public.”