Past Events
February 2024
“The Earthworm and the Hawk”
The Earthworm and the Hawk is the overlap between two states of being.
In the private and non-verbal world of Melissa Dunn’s sketchbook, she burrows deep, generating drawings intuitively from her imagination. As the pages fill up, she steps back and shifts perspective, becoming more objective. The lay of the land comes into sharp focus. Here she maps out, poses questions, and acts decisively.
September 2023
“The Molasses Man & Other Delta Tales”
“The Molasses Man & Other Delta Tales” serves as an anthology of stories based off of Ahmad George’s life and experiences with people they’ve encountered here and not. These works feature scenes with existing and non-existing figures from folklore and mythology sourced from the American South, elsewhere, and created.
April 2023
“Entrances, Exits and the Spaces Betwixt”
“Entrances, Exits and the Spaces Betwixt” presents contrasting aspects of personality, showcasing the yin and yang of pneuma. The exhibit represents a mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation within a palpable dreamscape. Works presented depict and embrace ideas of transitory spaces visually, mentally and physically.
November 2021
Opening Reception for Contingency Plan
On view through January 23
Contingency Plan showcases the work of nine graduating seniors in Studio Art and Photography at the University of Memphis. Despite quarantine and classes taught on Zoom, these students have persevered to make work exploring identity, humor, vulnerability, resilience, function, intuition, and memory.
Participating student artists: Tess Cleary, Ethan James McVay, Reanna Ruddick, Matthew Shibata, Erica Vanhaute, Vlad Volkov, Faith Waggener, Ashley Whitt, and Kristen Williams
Contingency Plan
Opening Friday, Nov. 19 from 6-8 pm
Contingency Plan showcases the work of nine graduating seniors in Studio Art and Photography at the University of Memphis. Despite quarantine and classes taught on Zoom, these students have persevered to make work exploring identity, humor, vulnerability, resilience, function, intuition, and memory.
Participating student artists: Tess Cleary, Ethan James McVay, Reanna Ruddick, Matthew Shibata, Erica Vanhaute, Vlad Volkov, Faith Waggener, Ashley Whitt, and Kristen Williams
February 2020
Here Is Where We Meet: Dennis Congdon & Susan Lichtman
** This exhibition is temporarily suspended.
Here Is Where We Meet features large-scale paintings and works on paper by Dennis Congdon and Susan Lichtman in the Crosstown Arts West Gallery.
Opening Reception — Here Is Where We Meet
Opening reception for new work by Dennis Congdon and Susan Lichtman in the Crosstown Arts West Gallery.
Family Workshop: What’s Your Favorite Color?
Patrons will engage with work from Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity, on view in the West Gallery, before choosing a color to represent their current mood.
Using colorful painted objects, participants will create their own still-life sculpture using their chosen color as the focal point of their arrangement. They will then use oil chalk and black paper to create a colorful still-life picture of their arrangement.
January 2020
Artist Talk: Creative Destination with Pam Santi
Pam Santi, local artist and community collaborator, will discuss how she uses her artwork to engage the community and create inspired works. This talk is in conjunction with Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity.
Panel Discussion: Colorful Conversation
Artists Anthony Lee, Susan Maakestad, and Justin Bowles, who have work on view in Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity, will join a panel moderated by Dr. Todd Richardson (co-founder of Crosstown Arts), discussing their work and use of color in their art.
After-School Workshop: Wheel of Color
Students will engage with work from Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity in the West Gallery. They will then create their own inspired works based on randomized criteria, which will be determined by spinning a giant color wheel.
Over the course of four weeks, students will complete 3-5 works each, to be displayed in a pop-up gallery the following week (February 1-6).
December 2019
Family Workshop: What’s Your Favorite Color?
Patrons will engage with work from Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity, on view in the West Gallery, before choosing a color to represent their current mood.
Using colorful painted objects, participants will create their own still-life sculpture using their chosen color as the focal point of their arrangement. They will then use oil chalk and black paper to create a colorful still-life picture of their arrangement.
November 2019
Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity
Group exhibition featuring artists whose use of color is a primary consideration in their work. Our senses are affected by the vibrations of color immediately and intrinsically.
This exhibition will focus on the meaning, sensitivity, and passion that the intensity of color creates.
Opening Reception for Color Schemes: The Value of Intensity
Group exhibition featuring artists whose use of color is a primary consideration in their work. Our senses are affected by the vibrations of color immediately and intrinsically.
This exhibition will focus on the meaning, sensitivity, and passion that the intensity of color creates.
August 2019
Scott Carter: Counterpoint
Join us for an exhibition of new work by Scott Carter. The artist’s intent is that this body of work reflects a fragile intertwining of music, performance, and sculpture while reflecting both digital and intuitive methods of problem solving in the studio.
Opening Reception — Scott Carter: Counterpoint
Join us for an opening reception for new work by Scott Carter. The artist’s intent is that this body of work reflects a fragile intertwining of music, performance, and sculpture while reflecting both digital and intuitive methods of problem solving in the studio.
May 2019
Opening Reception — Masterworks: Abstract & Geometric
Opening reception for an exhibition that illustrates the diversity of quilting today through quilted art works that represent a range of styles across the abstract art spectrum.
Masterworks: Abstract & Geometric
These works represent 29 internationally recognized artists working in the quilt form who have been featured in the new book Art Quilts International: Abstract & Geometric by Martha Sielman. Participating artists come from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and across the US. The works of art represent a range of styles across the abstract art spectrum.
This event is in conjunction with Stitched: Celebrating the Art of Quilting — a festival at Crosstown Arts with art exhibitions, public quilting workshops, and a Gathering ….
February 2019
Kenturah Davis + Desmond Lewis Panel Discussion
Panel discussion with artists Kenturah Davis and Desmond Lewis. Moderated by Brian R. Jobe.
After the discussion, the public is invited to visit the studio of Desmond Lewis at 3:30pm. His studio is located at 2856 Lamb Place in Memphis.
Opening Reception for Kenturah Davis + Desmond Lewis
Memphis artist Desmond Lewis and Kenturah Davis (an artist working between Los Angeles, New Haven, and Accra, Ghana) were selected by Delta Axis and Locate Arts/Seed Space to exhibit their work together based on their innovative sensitivity to material, their exploration of social and relational content, and the critical acclaim associated with their work.
Kenturah Davis + Desmond Lewis
Seed Space + Delta Axis present: Kenturah Davis + Desmond Lewis
Memphis artist Desmond Lewis and Kenturah Davis (an artist working between Los Angeles, New Haven, and Accra, Ghana) were selected by Delta Axis and Locate Arts/Seed Space to exhibit their work together based on their innovative sensitivity to material, their exploration of social and relational content, and the critical acclaim associated with their work.
Opening: Friday, Feb. 15, 6-8 pm
On view: February 15-March 10
Panel discussion: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2 pm
December 2018
Homeward Bound Opening Reception
Opening reception for a group show addressing the complex theme of “home.”
A place of home has very different meanings to all of us. Sometimes it is a memory, a sense of place, a person, a dream, a certain chaos, a metaphorical anchor, a roof over our heads.
Homeward Bound
Open call to all artists to address the complex theme of “home.” All mediums encouraged, painting, photography, performance, sculpture, mixed media, video, and sound.
A place of home has very different meanings to all of us. Sometimes it is a memory, a sense of place, a person, a dream, a certain chaos, a metaphorical anchor, a roof over our heads.
Conversation with Larry Dodson Jr. & Shuronda Cauley
Join us for an intimate conversation with the children of The Bar-Kays — Larry Dodson Jr. (son of Larry Dodson) and Shuronda Cauley (daughter of Ben Cauley).
In conjunction with Give a Damn! Music + Activism at Stax Records, on view at Crosstown Arts through Dec. 2.
September 2018
Opening Reception — Give a Damn! Music + Activism at Stax Records
“Give a Damn,” a title taken from the 1970 Staple Singers song, is the culmination of a year-long examination of Stax Records’ commitment to political activism, community engagement, and social justice in the years following Dr. King’s 1968 assassination in Memphis.
This exhibition is presented by The Stax Museum of American Soul Music and hosted at Crosstown Arts. It features never-before-seen artifacts including Isaac Hayes’ 14-foot long custom-made office desk, stage clothing worn by Johnnie Taylor and Isaac Hayes, rare photos and documents, short films, music, and original artwork contributed by Shelby County students.
Give a Damn! Music + Activism at Stax Records
On view: September 28-November 30
Opening reception: Friday, Sept. 28, 6-8 pm
“Give a Damn,” a title taken from the 1970 Staple Singers song, is the culmination of a year-long examination of Stax Records’ commitment to political activism, community engagement, and social justice in the years following Dr. King’s 1968 assassination in Memphis.
This exhibition is presented by The Stax Museum of American Soul Music and hosted at Crosstown Arts. It features never-before-seen artifacts including Isaac Hayes’ 14-foot long custom-made office desk, stage clothing worn by Johnnie Taylor and Isaac Hayes, rare photos and documents, short films, music, and original artwork contributed by Shelby County students.
March 2018
Young Collectors Contemporary
Young Arts Patrons is pleased to present Young Collectors Contemporary, a four-day art experience.
Part exhibition/part immersive professional development seminar/part contemporary arts conference, Young Collectors Contemporary is a cutting-edge art fair that is multidisciplinary in scope. The goal is to expand the spectrum of emerging artists to new and existing collectors to support the arts economy.
January 2018
Don’t Look for My Heart: Opening Reception
Opening reception for new work by Terri Phillips — a canopy of black garments that loom over a pond of demolished confections, evoking a scene of quiet despair and a state of ruin.
Imprismed: Opening Reception
Opening reception for a multidisciplinary exhibition by Emily C. Thomas. Part visual boot camp, part torture dungeon and New Age sanctuary, IMPRISMED constructs a dialectic between the repression and cultivation of psycho-sexual energies through the ages.
Terri Phillips: Don’t Look for My Heart
A canopy of black garments that loom over a pond of demolished confections, evoking a scene of quiet despair and a state of ruin.
Emily C. Thomas: Imprismed
An exhibition of paintings, sculpture, and digital objects that constructs a dialectic between the repression and cultivation of psycho-sexual energies through the ages.
