Artwork by Anita Smith
February 7, 2025 @ Johnson County Center for the Arts
The Johnson County Center for the Arts first featured art show of 2025 celebrates works created during this year’s 12 for 12 New Year’s Challenge, a challenge taken up by area artists to complete a piece of art a day for the first 12 days of January.
Created six years ago by artist and Johnson County Center for the Arts Executive Director Cristy Dunn, the 12 for 12 Art Challenge has grown from one artist to approximately 13 participating artists this year.
“I’ve enjoyed it immensely, it has been rewarding to practice my skills and learn new things,” said watercolorist Anita Smith, a first time 12 for 12 participant. “The hardest part of the challenge was producing a painting each day. I’m not used to working that fast but the daily deadline helped me stay focused and inspired me to allocate time to paint in order to meet my goals.”
“I’ve wanted to do Cristy’s Challenge before but it felt like a stressful thing. This year it just felt right, and I enjoyed it very much,” said artist Temple Reece. “I noticed more beauty during the first days of the year because of this challenge. It inspired me to create more and in some different ways. I also have a few larger paintings in my head that I wouldn't have had without the 12 for 12.”
The Johnson County Center for the Arts represents over 100 different artists who work in a variety of mediums. Fabric artist Connie Moody joined the challenge this year and when asked what she thought was the hardest part Moody said, “Narrowing my scope. There’s a world of possibilities. Slow stitching is just that—slow. I knew I needed to work on a small scale to accomplish one piece per day for 12 days. I landed on an idea that allowed me to complete a piece per day of textile collage and then to marry them all together in a much larger collage, we’ll see where the journey ends. The easiest part was staying in my pj’s and stitching on snowy days.”
Painter, potter, and jewelry maker Tara Belk also took up the challenge and worked with her favorite medium, acrylic paints. Belk wondered if using the challenge as a means to try different mediums wouldn’t be even more intriguing.
When asked if they would attempt the 12 for 12 in 2026, artists Smith, Belkand Moody were certain they would, with Reece feeling unsure. All of them expressed the need for preparation and planning. Belk said, “I spent too much time deciding subject matter each day, which became the hardest part of it.”
Come celebrate with the artists when the show opens Friday, Feb. 7from 4-6 p.m. at the Johnson County Center for the Arts’ Gallery on Main at 129 W. Main Street, Mountain City, Tennessee. There will be live music and refreshments. For more information stop by the Gallery on Main or visit www.jocoartcenter.org.
Category: Exhibits