GIVING TULLAHOMA High School and Tullahoma Virtual Academy art students a unique opportunity to showcase their artistic talents is the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center (TFAC). The arts center will showcase students’ work in an exhibit Nov. 5-26 in the center’s upstairs gallery. The exhibit will feature artwork from advanced art students, including current Art II students.
According to Tullahoma High School (THS) art instructor Kelly Orr, this will be the first time students taking Visual Art during the fall semester will have the opportunity to have their work on display in an exhibit setting at the arts center.
“The Tullahoma Fine Arts Center has been so great in working with us,” she said. “We are having not only this show, but also one in the spring. In the past, it’s just been the spring show. Normally, the [Tullahoma City Schools] arts night is the only chance students in the Art II class get to showcase any of their work in such a public setting.”
Students also enrolled in the National Art Honor Society will display their works of art for the November show.
Once a THS art student herself, Orr went on to pursue art in college that would eventually bring her back to teaching art at her alma mater. She added that she is excited that the students will have this opportunity to experience what many professional artists wait years for.
“To have it not only showcased as a place for the community but an actual fine arts center, is really special for them,” she explained. “They will have the opportunity to hang their artwork and to understand how it works. I didn’t have the opportunity until I was in college, so it’s great they can experience it now.”
TFAC President Joshua Cole said the center is happy to celebrate students who offer a refreshing approach to local art.
“The fine arts center is always excited to do collaborations with the city school system,” he said. “Usually we do a spring show with someone from high school, but there’s two different classes that go through during the school year, so we decided to do a fall show and the spring show so that all students could really have an opportunity to show their work at the center.”
Cole also welcomes artists of all levels and ages to come and further hone their artistic skills with the plethora of art classes that are offered at the center. Everything from oil to watercolor to even the culinary arts is offered at the center. GN
