Community members enjoy painting.
February 13, 2025 | 6:30 pm @ Tusculum University
Have fun creating a Mediterranean landscape and enjoy a meal in a relaxing setting during a painting event atTusculum University.
Valentine’s Painting Night returns Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center. Tusculum’sCenter for the Artsinvites community members to the building for a creative evening and opportunity to take home a keepsake from this fun event. Valentine’s Painting Night serves as a fundraiser for Tusculum’s art program and is part of the Center for the Arts’ Painting with the Masters series. That series was created in 2023.
This is the third year Tusculum has held Valentine’s Painting Night, and it has sold out in the past. Organizers encourage those who are interested to purchase their tickets for the event as soon as possible because space is limited. The event is open to people of all ages, and individuals can come by themselves or bring someone with them. No prior experience with painting is required.
“We love holding this event and providing an opportunity for community members to express themselves on canvas,” said Rouja Green, director of the Center for the Arts. “This is a terrific way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a different manner or simply savor a night delving into painting. We look forward to welcoming the community to the Center for the Arts for this memorable night.”
The event will last about two hours. It will start with a buffet-style meal featuring a Mediterranean spread followed by the painting starting at 7 p.m. Attendees will also enjoy live music, and the Center for the Arts will have a photo booth for those who would like their pictures taken.
Leading the painting session will be Benjamin Conley, assistant professor ofart and designat Tusculum and director of the Clem Allison Art Gallery, which is housed in Annie Hogan Byrd. He will guide participants through the painting process and provide one-on-one feedback and assistance as he visits each station.
By the end of Valentine’s Painting Night, participants will have an enhanced knowledge of color, basics of composition and rendering as well as take a deep dive into Mediterranean landscapes.
Conley has served as a Tusculum faculty member since the summer and has hit the ground running. In the fall, he took the lead on holding “The Great Southern Box Show,” a modern art exhibit by Johnson City artist Katie Murphy, and presenting a show of various media produced by Greene County residents.
He also oversaw the senior capstone exhibitions of two of his students – Juliana Ailyn Flores Martinez and Landry Tea. All of these events were held in Annie Hogan Byrd, the home of the Center for the Arts, which is the umbrella for all Tusculum arts programming. He also directed a mini-renovation of the Allison gallery.
A young artist, Conley has already amassed an impressive portfolio of exhibitions in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. He has held 22 exhibitions since 2020. He has also participated in a number of collaborative art projects.
He has earned several awards and honors, including a best in show first place award for his exhibit “Good Grief” at the Fischman Gallery in Johnson City.
Conley holds a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from East Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Science in art education from Lee University.
“I welcome the opportunity to work with local artists at all levels of development and look forward to leading Valentine’s Painting Night,” Conley said. “Even if you do not have any experience with art, please join us. This evening provides a great avenue to learn, develop additional artistic skills and bring home something that can hang on your wall and be shown to others if you like. The Tusculum Center for the Arts is all about supporting our region’s quality of life and people’s creative spirit.”
The cost for Valentine’s Painting Night is $40 for individuals and $70 for couples. The price covers all supplies for the painting as well as the food and entertainment. To purchase tickets, visithttps://bit.ly/3PAUW4r. There is a maximum of two people per painting station.
Anyone with questions can email Conley atbconley@tusculum.eduor Green atrgreen@tusculum.edu.
To learn more about Tusculum’s academic art program, visithttps://site.tusculum.edu/art-and-design/. Additional information about the Center for the Arts is available athttps://site.tusculum.edu/center-for-the-arts/. Further details about the university can be accessed atwww.tusculum.edu.
Category: Art