The Lee University art classes have officially moved to their new home at the former Mayfield Elementary building. Professor John Simmons says the new site is a welcome blessing to the art program.”

Our new facilities are terrific!” says Simmons. “We finally have plenty of space for the studio art classes.”

“We are very happy with the move as it will give us the ability to add additional art classes in the future.”

Mayfield’s former cafeteria and kitchen area is now a home for ceramics classes. Simmons also hopes to add a sculpture class in the enlarged class space.

Above the cafeteria a large space has been devoted to two-dimensional art such as painting, drawing, and design. It includes a work space for matting and framing art as well as a small lounge and reading area. A large display space lines the hallway approaching the upstairs classrooms.

Simmons and other art instructors have been waiting since last summer for the move. It began as a discussion in professor Dirkson’s offices about making room for the new School of Religion building.

Shortly into the last fall semester, art classes were temporarily moved from the Art Houses on Parker Street into the former health clinic and the adjacent storage building. In the meantime plans were being made to demolish those buildings as well to make room for the new Natural Science and Mathematics building, so the art program held its breath as its patiently waited for the acquisition of Mayfield.

Thankfully, Mayfield was purchased and soon underwent extensive renovations. Physical Plant crews worked long hours to paint and repair what had been the school cafeteria and classrooms above that area for the new art facilities. Thanks to the hard working crew, art classes were officially moved in to their new home for the spring semester.

Simmons offered his warmest thanks to those involved in the lengthy move. “

We want to thank Dr. Conn for making the space available and Physical Plant director, Larry Berry, and his crew for all of their hard work. They have done a great job. We invite the Lee community to stop over and look around.”

The paintings of local artist Susan Seaton are currently on display in the Lee University DeVos Humanities Center on the campus of Lee University through the month of October. Her work consists of oil paintings reflecting her childhood as seen through references to old photographs.

“My painted images are based on family photographs and slides taken over forty years ago at holidays and other gatherings. These are “Kodak Moments” distilled in snapshots: projections of happy times,” said Seaton of the exhibit. “My subjective understanding of the past is not made know on the surface of the photos. While the nostalgic, iconic nature of the poses suggests idyllic American collective memory such as birthdays, family reunions, and holidays, the painted images question the appearance of the ideal.”

“Visitors to the show are bound to relate to the familial presentations of scenes that everyone remembers about family gatherings,” said Lee Assistant Professor of art John Simmons. “At the same time, these works are very artistically dynamic, displaying creative skill with both the paint brush and palette knife. Family memorabilia has here been raised to the level of fine art.”

Seaton holds an MFA in painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Her paintings have been shown at many venues in Chattanooga and Philadelphia. She serves as an adjunct professor of art at Lee University and is a lecturer on foundation drawing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The exhibit is open during normal weekday hours and is free to the public. For further information, please call 614-8224.

Submitted by the Office of Public Information