Nothing Ever Happens in the Memphis Art World — this is what I hear from people all the time, even from some artists. They wonder why Nashville gets all the credit and has all the money.
Whatever. Nashville has no soul. Nashville wishes it had the visual arts energy that Memphis has, dreams of having the type of thought-provoking artists that Memphis has. They wish they had the cool people Memphis does to make things happen. But, we will save that for another blog post for another time.
Last week I wrote about a diverse range of events that were taking place in Memphis over the course of one weekend. These were just the events that opened last weekend and did not include all of the activities and exhibitions that were already open and on view to the public. There is the same diverse group of exhibitions and events that are happening this weekend.
There are two exhibitions that open at MCA’s Rust Hall Gallery in Overton Park tonight from 6-8 p.m.
The first is “Once More With Feeling: A Founders’ Day Celebration” by Murray Riss and Dolph Smith. Riss and Smith have been fixtures at MCA and the Memphis art scene for years. According to the press release, Cat Pena, coordinator of exhibitions and lectures, states “Our Founders’ Day Exhibitions carefully weave threads of talented and pivotal individuals in MCA’s past with the current fabric of students and faculty. These opportunities are not only a celebration of the culmination of two successful careers in the visual arts, but a way for students to become more familiar with the work of fellow members of the MCA family” — a statement that has much more meaning with the recent passing of Margaret Metz, trustee and part of a family that has long had a significant role at MCA, acquiring the naming rights of Metz Hall, a dormitory and studio for MCA students.
Also opening tonight at the Memphis College of Art is “I Am America: Memphis Musicians” by alumna Siphne Sylve. Sylve is a recent graduate and current project manage at the UrbanArt Commission. She asked several artist and musicians in town — Phantom 9, Tame, Eso, and others — their top 10 influences. She then researched this list, created a body of work, and the results are on view in the Alumni Gallery. Sylve states that the list from each artist she asked was unexpected in diversity and range. The paintings became about the study of the relationship of the M.C. vs DJ and the early generations of hip-hop.
