The Todd Art Gallery in the Department of Art at Middle Tennessee State University presents a joint exhibit of work by artists Chandra DeBuse, Dustin Farnsworth, Phil Haralam, and Lisa Johnson. As artists-in-residence at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee they combine today’s contemporary artistic vision with a commitment to continue the rich heritage of traditional craftsmanship found in the east Tennessee region.

Chandra DeBuse

With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Masters of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of Florida, Chandra DeBuse describes her work as functional pottery which incorporates narrative imagery, pattern, and form to reflect human attitudes towards play. The intimacy of her work she states is, “of using a handmade object infused with bouncing lines, candy-colors, low-relief and hand-drawn elements,” which, “beckons users to ponder the playful message illustrated on each…”

Dustin Farnsworth

After concluding formal studies at Kendal College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dustin Farnsworth moved to the “epicenter” of Appalachian craft in Asheville to work and study under sculptors Stoney Lamar and Brent Skidmore. Originally from Lansing, he is known for his skill at woodworking and printmaking. He comments, “[My] current work explores the narrative that unfolds as industry leaves the communities built upon its promise. [My] hand-carved and sewn figurative sculptures blur the line between realism and vintage plaything, encapsulating the eerily life-like qualities of marionettes and their inherent innocence to examine the relationship between human beings and their physical and mental environment.

Phil Haralam

Phil Haralam uses the complex exterior and interior levels of human nature to represent the psychological underpinnings which present themselves in social form and structure. Therefore, he combines sculpted forms and graphic imagery into non-representative psychological portraits. He says, “Each piece evolves from a central form, upon which I layer additional visual information through painting, incised line, and applied decals. Through the interaction and juxtaposition of these visual elements I create layered compositions that emulate the seemingly random associations embedded within the human psyche.” Haralam holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Guilford College and a Masters of Fine Arts from Indiana University.

Lisa Johnson

Lisa Johnson’s work involves metalsmithing and jewelry. Her undergraduate work at Ohio’s Miami University was followed by a Masters of Fine Art from Indiana University. Of her current work, she states, “The work I create exhibits vast methods of construction from both metalsmithing and ceramic disciplines.” Her works convey her further interest in, “the juxtaposition of puns, translations, irony, and duality. Through identifiable objects my obsession with redefining the recognizable is a direct expression of observations or experiences that communicates as appealing, stimulating, and sometimes humorous.”

The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts Exhibition opens in the Todd Art Gallery January 12, 2012 and runs through February 2. A reception honoring these artists is scheduled in the gallery for 6 – 8 pm on January 18, 2012 with student lectures slated throughout Todd Hall earlier in the day.

Todd Art Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. The gallery is closed on state and university holidays. For parking, directions or other information: Eric Snyder, 615-898-5653