Murfreesboro, TN, June 2, 2020 - Murfreesboro Cultural Arts will host a virtual reception featuring the works of local artist James Threalkill on June 12 at 6 p.m. The exhibit, Kaleidoscope of Color, opens June 2 and runs through July 23. Via Facebook, viewers will take a virtual tour of the City Hall Rotunda exhibit while hearing about the art from Threalkill, who will also participate in the Boro Art Crawl's virtual event the same evening. The event may be found at facebook.com/CulturalArtsMurfreesboro.

About the Artist

James Threalkill is a native of Nashville, TN. Upon graduation from East Nashville H.S., Threalkill earned his way to Vanderbilt University on an athletic football scholarship. After completing his degree in Fine Arts from Peabody College of Vanderbilt, he returned to the public housing community of his youth as an art instructor for the Metro Nashville Board of Parks and Rec. He used his creative skills as an artist and teacher to develop neighborhood youth art programs while serving as the Community Services Director for the Edgehill Center, Inc.

Threalkill became a nationally recognized artist and advocate of the arts and has received many awards during his career. He developed a mural painting program with students from Edgehill and received an Emmy award in 1994 for a mural created for the Viacom Television Network. He has served as a Commissioner for the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission and has worked for the Mayor's Office of Nashville during the Bredesen administration as an arts and community services liaison. During his travels to South Africa in 1995 to create a mural with South African art students, he also had the opportunity to visit with President Nelson Mandela. Threalkill was an Artist in Residence in Colombia, South America for the Centro Colombo Americana organization where he painted murals with students and lectured at various high schools. He was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia in South America to lecture at various universities throughout the country. He co-illustrated a successful children's book series entitled: "Visions: African American Experiences," that was featured on Sesame Street.

Threalkill's art will be on display in Murfreesboro City Hall through July 23. To learn more, visit Facebook.com/JamesThrealkillArt, www.etsy.com/jamesThrealkillArts.

James currently resides in Murfreesboro with his wife Cassandra and their two daughters Keziah and Zoe.

For more information, visit the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department's Cultural Arts page at www.murfreesboroparks.com.

The Boro Art Crawl was founded in 2015 by a group of local artists who wanted to help foster the artistic community in their hometown. For more information about the Boro Art Crawl visit www.boroartcrawl.com.

Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to providing vibrant public spaces and inclusive programs delivered with visionary leadership and caring staff that engage the individual and strengthen the quality of life of our community.