The Signal Mountain Art Guild is a group of talented folks who have been gathering together for over three decades. All artists, they have been meeting every Thursday at the Mountain Arts Community Center to create art. Painters in this group include Barbara Voss, Coco Dauer, Robin Howe, Mark Cobb, Lynne Mayer, Richard Rice and Liz Klinefelter, and they will showcase their works at the Exum Gallery at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 305 West 7th Street.
Much of the art around Chattanooga and the surrounding areas is located in art galleries and museums.
However, having art displayed in the church is not something new. A church, its interior, the liturgy, and the music are all considered art forms. Since its inception in 2008, the Exum Gallery at St. Paul’s, named in memory of Franklin Exum, who made a generous contribution prior to his passing, has hosted numerous shows featuring many local artists, including Suzanne Mortimer, Jake Kelley, Lolly Durant, Bradley Wilson, John McLeod, Mary Ferris Kelly, Lolly Durant, Lee Fritch, Denton Ridge, Lee Glascock, Terry Rafferty, Durinda Cheek and many more.
The year Exum Gallery opened, St. Paul’s, in conjunction with Second Presbyterian, hosted an international art show, “ICONS in Transformation.” Over one hundred abstract expressionistic pieces were displayed by the Russian (now Swedish) artist Ludmila Pawlowska. This particular exhibition could only be viewed in churches and cathedrals around the U.S., as required by the artist herself. St. Paul’s sold over $40,000 in works from the show. Part of that revenue benefitted orphanages in Russia while another part went to St. Catherine’s Shelter for Women and Children in Chattanooga.
The show featuring artists from the Signal Mountain Art Guild opens on Friday, July 8, at 5 p.m. at the Exum Gallery, and all are invited to meet the artists and enjoy wine and refreshments on opening night. This special show will hang from July 5 to Aug. 10.
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Ferris Robinson is the author of three children’s books, “The Queen Who Banished Bugs,” “The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds,” and “Call Me Arthropod” in her pollinator series. “Making Arrangements” is her first novel. “Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity” is a collection of true tales about man’s best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a FREE pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.