A new art exhibit space will open to the public on Sunday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The opening exhibit is a retrospective of Oak Ridge artist Kristina Henderson Holland, who is also a member of ORUUC.
The exhibition and opening reception are organized by ORUUC’s Art Display Team.
Kristina Henderson Holland studied art at New York’s Adelphi University and Fashion Institute of Technology, including studying abroad in London. The ORUUC retrospective exhibit features 20 of her works, including 10 Tennessee landscape paintings.
“What drives my choice of subject matter can vary from an extreme emotional experience to solely the esthetics of the moment,” Holland said. “The painting titled ‘New Mother’ was the result of a disturbing visit to an acquaintance who had a new baby and whose marriage was collapsing. The painting was therapeutic to help me deal with an upsetting situation I had no ability to improve. On the other side of the spectrum, the still life ‘Pink Elephants’ was inspired by the beautiful surfaces of art glass, lusterware, and the way light passes through sheer fabrics.”
Of her Tennessee landscapes, Holland said, “There’s so much beauty in East Tennessee that it’s easy to be driving, look out, and say, ‘oh, there’s a painting … oh, there’s another!’”
Refreshments will be served at the April 24 reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. At 6, the artist will lead a tour and talk about her paintings. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, at traffic light 2.
Maureen Hoyt is a contributor to Oak Ridge Today.
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