Murfreesboro’s Church Street Gallery Launches “ArtTalks”

For the proprietors of downtown Murfreesboro’s Church Street Gallery (CSG), the choice of what artwork will adorn their space isn’t about matching colors and textures with a particular decor. They feel that art is a conversation starter that can and should prompt serious discussions.

That’s why owners Maredith Clayton Metier, Mary Miller Veazie, and Eric Snyder are launching the “ArtTalks” Conversation event series for CSG. ArtTalks will be part of the ongoing event programming for the gallery. The plan is to pair a lineup of guest artists and speakers for a moderated Q&A discussion. Topics will include the aesthetic of the art, its medium, the technique employed, creative inspiration, social impacts of art on the region, and other questions of note for creators and art admirers.

The first monthly ArtTalks event is scheduled for Friday, March 5 at CSG, and it will feature Coordinator of Art Education for MTSU Art and Design Dr. Debrah Sickler-Voigt, Dr. Leah Lyons, Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts, and Assistant to the Dean, Dr. Lucy Langworthy. Co-owner of CSG Eric Snyder—who serves as Coordinator for the MTSU Department of Art and Design, Todd Art Gallery, and Saturdays at Todd—will moderate the first ArtTalks event for the interdisciplinary MTSU art show “Be the Missing Piece.” This initial ArtTalks event will showcase the work of faculty and students from MTSU’s College of Basic and Applied Sciences and College of Liberal Arts, who created 10 ten giant puzzle pieces for a temporary art installation in September 2020.

CSG selected the “Be the Missing Piece” event because it shows the broader, life-enriching aspects of arts education facilitated by STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). As CSG is an advocate for art of all kinds in Rutherford County, the co-owners of CSG wanted to show how MTSU’s creative output was important to the professional art community. This exhibit was selected because the preparation, labor involved, and dedication to a shared vision exemplifies the values CSG seeks in artists who are to be showcased by the gallery.

“I am thrilled to be starting the ArtTalks series with the ‘Be the Missing Piece’ exhibit,” says Eric Snyder. “All aspects of this project, from conception to completion, showed the creativity and hard work of MTSU’s students and faculty—and what can be accomplished through the spirit of cooperation that exists between the community and MTSU’s students, faculty, and staff members.”

“Be the Missing Piece” will be on display in the Todd Art Gallery from February 24 through the Art Talks event and the subsequent Saturdays at Todd (S@T) workshop. The workshop and exhibit will include an interactive Zoom meeting, and “art stations” that invite visitors to make their own puzzle pieces or paper mosaics to add to the exhibit. The exhibition wraps up Saturday, March 13, 2021. Todd Art Gallery, Todd Hall, Room 224A is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campus restrictions for wearing masks and social distancing apply.

The ArtTalks event is open for anyone wishing to attend, but prior registration is required since it is a private event with alcoholic refreshments served on-site. Protocol for COVID-19 safety must be observed. Guests may attend the event via Zoom by contacting [email protected] to request the event link.

For further information about the event, attendees are encouraged to visit the Church Street Gallery website, and follow the gallery on Facebook and Instagram.