McKinney Center Art Exhibition

McKinney Center to host artists Carolyn McLaney and Karen Hitchcock

The McKinney Center will feature painter Carolyn McLaney and glass fusion artist Karen Hitchcock in a new exhibition.

The exhibition opening reception will take place on Friday, July 21 from 5 – 7 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Both artists will be at the opening reception to talk to visitors about their work and to answer any questions. The artwork will be on sale that night and throughout the duration of the exhibition which lasts until Friday, August 18.

Carolyn McLaney is a Bluff City, Tennessee resident. She is a self-taught artist working mostly in acrylics. McLaney’s desire to be an artist began in second grade, but it was not until her retirement that she was able to devote herself full-time to her artistic dream.

A large part of McLaney’s work is done with palette knives and in thick layers. She characterizes these works as her, “slap happily paintings.”  Her inspiration comes from several sources such as color combinations that she sees in her landscapes. McLaney doesn’t start painting with a detailed plan, rather she paints by instinct where her brush leads her. Her subjects range from elements of nature such as birds and flowers to Persian cityscapes. She not only creates 2-D paintings but she also paints on boxes, and other 3-D objects.

McLaney’s goal as an artist is to inspire an emotional connection between the viewer and her work. When someone purchases one of her pieces and they say it makes them happy or that it touches their heart, she feels that she has accomplished her goal as an artist.

Her work can be viewed on Facebook and on Instagram @c.mclaney.art.

Karen Hitchcock is originally from western New York and has lived in East Tennessee for the past seven years.  She is a glass artist and studied glass blowing and fusing at Corning Glass Center, Alfred University and Owatka School of Glass. Hitchcock also worked at Rochester Arc and Flame as a glass fusing instructor and was able to take classes in torch work with glass.

Hitchcock and her husband owned Blue River Studio for 7 years in Elizabethton, Tennessee. She currently teaches fused glass workshops at the McKinney Center in Jonesborough and in her private studio.

At present, Hitchcock has six large Mosaics hung permanently for public display in a walkway in Elizabethton and has just finished five more large panels to go on a building at the Veterans Memorial in Elizabethton, to be hung in May 2024.

Hitchcock’s inspiration comes from nature and she gathers ideas while enjoying hiking, kayaking and fishing and taking lots pictures along the way.   Hitchcock’s work ranges from magnificent vases to beautiful sun catchers and ornaments. See her work on her Facebook and Instagram pages by searching Blue River Studio and also on her website, http://khitchglass.com/.

Her favorite part of teaching is watching her students break their first piece of glass and to witness the look of surprise on their faces! She states that, it is a pleasure seeing people enjoy her work and talking with them about it.

For more information, contact the McKinney Center at 423.753.0562.

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About the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington: The mission of the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington is to provide a comprehensive program through Jonesborough’s Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts which teaches various art skills to all participants through a quality program of instruction open to all segments of Jonesborough’s population. In addition, a primary mission of the Center is to enhance minority participation in the planning and implementation in all activities in Jonesborough while specifically celebrating the contribution of the African-American community in the growth and development of the Town. The activities of the McKinney Center are designed to enhance the quality of life of all Jonesborough residents.

About the Town of Jonesborough: A unique 18th century town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, Jonesborough’s natural beauty, charming architecture, and storytelling heritage have attracted visitors worldwide. Stay a day, a week or forever, and create your own stories in beautiful Historic Jonesborough. Visit www.jonesborough.com for more information.