Join us for a special dual reception to celebrate the opening of new exhibitions by two fantastic artists!
Saturday, March 27, 2021 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Auditorium Lobby
This March, SECCA reopened its galleries to the public with several new exhibitions. Join us as we celebrate the opening of Terri Dowell-Dennis' Thinking Through Making, the 19th installment of SECCA's ongoing Southern Idiom series, and Ali Waller's /200, a sculptural installation featuring plaster casts of feminine bodies.
Reception and exhibition admission is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Face coverings are required to be worn at all times while inside SECCA's buildings.
ABOUT TERRI DOWELL-DENNIS' THINKING THROUGH MAKING
On view in SECCA's Preview Gallery, the latest iteration of SECCA's Southern Idiom exhibition series features Thinking Through Making, a collection of works on paper and quilts by multidisciplinary artist Terri Dowell-Dennis. Works on view will be available for purchase.
Terri Dowell-Dennis believes that who we are and where we come from exists in relationship to how we live and what we make. With roots deep in the culture and history of Appalachia and now thirty odd years in the North Carolina Piedmont, she embraces reverence for the earth, a make-do aesthetic, and respect for those whose wisdom comes from unexpected quarters. The artworks in this exhibition, Thinking Through Making, are from a studio practice where thoughts, intuition, and process come together to occasionally touch the hem of mystery.
Learn more about the exhibition here.
ABOUT ALI WALLER'S /200
Tennessee-based artist Ali Waller makes sculpture installations using plaster casts of feminine bodies. In May 2020, the artist posted a call for survivors of sexual assault to join her in coming forward to tell their stories through a large scale installation. The piece comments on the abuse of power and the imbalances of sexuality.
The original installation consisting of 550 plaster casts was sparked after the artist watched the 'Filthy Rich' documentary on Netflix, a commentary on the Jeffrey Epstein story told by survivors of his coercion, rape, and ongoing abuse. In the beginning, the artist intended to cast 200 survivors to reflect the $200 which he paid victims after assaulting them. The artist nearly tripled that number in 5 months.
Ali Waller invites women of the local community to participate by adding plaster casts of their bodies to the sculpture installation. Plaster casts will be displayed anonymously in the installation in SECCA's Community Gallery from March 27 through June 13. Plaster casting appointments are $20, and each cast can be purchased for an additional $80 after the close of the exhibition.
Plaster casting dates begin March 19, open weekdays from 10am to 5pm. Casting will take place on SECCA's campus, in a secure and private location. The process takes 45-60 minutes. To sign up for a time slot, go to: https://square.site/book/L9ZVAWB2HN5E4/ali-waller-chattanooga-tn
Learn more about the exhibition here.