Atonement: Closing Reception

Closing Reception:
December 20th
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Viewers are invited to attend one of The Stirring's two Christmas services which are at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. During these special services, Brittney Owens and Joy Deeann Carson will create original artwork live on stage. Guests can view the exhibit, purchase work, speak to the artists, and enjoy refreshments before or after the services.

Where:
The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018
www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Exhibit description:
The Stirring art gallery is proud to present Atonement, an exhibit in which draws inspiration from the life of Mary. The theme was chosen based the time on the two artists strengths and passions.

“I was really excited about how this exhibit came together,” says Richard Fudge, the Stirring Art Gallery manager. “I’ve been trying to get Brittney’s work in the gallery for some time, and I really wanted a chance to show Deeann’s work again.”

“It was interesting to focus primarily on little Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she is the most well known woman of the Bible. She embodies beauty in her surrender, courage, desperation, and vulnerability.” – Deeann Carson Rieves

Rieves focuses on women from the Bible in her paintings and how she can relate to part of their journey. The she selects which part of the figure can best express the desired characteristic they exemplify- a hand desperately reaching for something lost, and deceitful turn of the wrist, a seductive glance, or a reluctant tilt of the neck. The collaged ambiguous environments give the viewer hints to the story.

“Mary holds to be a selfless, giving individual whose life was dedicated to God. Her example as a mother is a powerful expression of love.” – Brittney Owens

Owens draws inspiration from the Baroque era's use of strong contrast of light and dark, usually portraying pieces with powerful symbolic images to express ideas of good and evil, life and death. Collage is used in her works to add a subtle presence from Christ. Each piece has hidden images that require closer examination in order to find.