Artists’ Reception at MVAC

Clouds & Wood Dominate MVAC’s October Exhibit

Mountain Valley Arts Council features art by Gretchen McKee, an amazing quilt by Anne Barrett, and members of the North Alabama Woodturners Association in its October exhibit.  Please come meet the artists during the Artists’ Reception on October 10^th from 5:30 – 7 PM and bring friends back to enjoy the exhibit from October 3^rd – November 3^rd at the MVAC Gallery at 440 Gunter Avenue in Guntersville.

Anne Barrett of Grove Oak has been a prize-winning hand-quilter and quilting teacher for many years.  This new quilt is made of one-inch squares and a few that are divided further into halves and quarters.  The pixelated look gives the quilt both a 3-D and contemporary style to it.  And then, Anne hand-quilted it!  Other fall-themed quilts will also be in the exhibit.

Gretchen McKee of Langston works in both oils with cold wax and watercolor.  Her current landscape work in oils and cold wax illustrates tumultuous clouds that make you nearly hear weather alert alarms. The emotions they invoke are unambiguous and riveting. Her watercolors are miniatures of Alabama scenes that draw you in for a closer look and leave you smiling.  The exhibit also includes notecards of Gretchen’s watercolor work.

Gretchen McKee is a graduate of the Auburn University Fine Arts program with a major in Printmaking and minors in Painting and Illustration. Her original intent was to be an illustrator of children’s books, but she quickly discovered her passion for oils and watercolor painting.

Gretchen is drawn to abstracts due to its intuitive nature and its contemporary feel.  Abstract painting is a natural fit to landscape painting, her second love.  She lives in Langston near the Tennessee River which provides endless inspiration.  Her interpretation of the landscape around her is represented through abstract views of the beauty, emotion, and soul of the area.

Gretchen’s art was part of MVAC’s year-long exhibit in Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth’s Montgomery office suite in 2022 and 2023 as well as several exhibits in the MVAC Gallery over the past few years. She also teaches private art classes at a private school.

The North Alabama Woodturners Association creates beautiful wood-turned pieces of art that should not be a surpirse.  With 70% of Alabama covered in forests with over 200 different kinds of hardwoods and this area being the sole source of chittum wood, they have nearly endless options of woods to use.

The Association which was established in 2008 meets monthly to share technique demonstrations and “show and tell” sharing.  Newer members have access to a wealth of knowledge since so many of the members have decades of woodturning experience. NAW embers participating in this exhibit include Dennis Brooks – Valhermosa Springs, Bill Cash – Arab, Gary Hales – Boaz, Howard King – Cullman, Steve Kreps – Cullman, Tom Wing – Grant, and Slaten Tate – Huntsville, and more.

Generous MVAC members and business sponsors such as the City of Guntersville, Citizens Bank & Trust, Rodney’s Flowers, and Sand Mountain Toyota made these exhibits possible.