ART EXHIBITIONS

The Ballroom Gallery seeks to encourage the appreciation of visual art and inspire our children, local artists and guests.

Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 10:00a - 4:00p CT.

DONNA TWYFORD’S “FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING” EXHIBIT / MARCH 8 - APRIL 24, 2025

The Dixie Carter PAC is proud to announce a new exhibit, “Figuratively Speaking,” opening March 8, 2025 . This exhibition features the watercolor paintings of Hot Springs, Arkansas artist Donna Twyford and explores our connectedness to one another and to our surroundings. Striving to depict the nuanced moments that define us as individuals, you’re invited to step inside each painting and pose the questions, hear the answers and become part of the narrative. The exhibit will be open from March 8, 2025 to April 24, 2025 with a free reception on March 8, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. that is free and open to the public.

Donna Twyford, who embarked on her artistic journey in 2013 has rapidly made a name for herself in the art community. With no formal training, Twyford was drawn to the medium of watercolor and has committed herself to daily practice. She has participated in numerous juried competitions, earning accolades that highlight her growing prominence as an artist, including a recent honorable mention at the 2024 Women in Watercolor International Competition and selection for publication in “Splash 25- The Best in Watercolor.”

Twyford reflects on the process of creating watercolors by stating, “Being able to surrender to what is happening on the paper, to be the guide and not the manipulator, is the biggest challenge for me. I love detail… and struggle with removing unnecessary elements. Realism is a serious turnoff for many artists and critics, but for me it’s more about examining every crucial part; of seeing small things most glance over and ignore. I’m learning to see art where others do not.”

In addition to her exhibition, Twyford serves an as artist and partner at the Art Group Gallery in Little Rock where she continues to inspire through teaching and collaborates with fellow artists. Donna is a signature member of National Watercolor Society and a Diamond Signature member of Mid-Southern Watercolorists. Her artwork has consistently been recognized in prestigious exhibitions, including Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor USA, including awards at the Mid-Southern Watercolorists Annual Juried Exhibition and National Watercolor society.

The gallery is free and open to the public M-F from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information on this and other art exhibits, contact Dana at dwyatt@dixiepac.net.

Interested in exhibiting or have questions about the Ballroom Gallery?

Please email Dana Wyatt at dwyatt@dixiepac.net.

PAST EXHIBITS

TIM PAFFORD EXHIBIT
NOVEMBER 2 - JAN 25, 2025

Tim Pafford is a retired pastor and renowned artist from Camden, Tennessee. He is skilled in an array of media, including watercolors, casein, ink, oils, graphite, colored pencil, and pastels; all of which will be on display during his art exhibit in the form of portraits, still lives, landscapes, florals, wildlife and waterfowl themed artwork. Mr. Pafford has taught art classes in Kentucky and across Middle and West Tennessee since 1976. Mr. Pafford states, “My purpose as an artist is to be able to reflect the beauty of all living things through my art by expressing the essence of light, color, and emotion. I would like for people to see the light of God in the beauty of His creations while sharing the joy of aesthetic and artistic expression with others.”

8TH ANNUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBIT
AUG 12 - OCT 25, 2024

The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center is proud to have on display a group exhibition of student work created during this summer’s sessions of Art, Painting, Paint and Pen, Photography, and Pottery Camps.

A total of 70 students are represented in the gallery, ranging in age from 4-17 years old. In the gallery, you will see creations of ceramics, watercolor and acrylic paintings, ink drawings, digital photography, printmaking, and paper quilling. The artwork will be on display from Monday, August 12, 2024 through Friday, October 25, 2024.

“3rd ANNUAL HSSD STUDENT ART EXHIBIT”
MAY 6 - JULY 27, 2024

The Huntingdon Special School District and The Dixie Carter Performing Arts & Academic Enrichment Center are excited to announce the upcoming art exhibition, the 3rd annual Huntingdon High School Art Exhibition. This juried art exhibition will take place at The Dixie in the Ballroom Gallery.

“WANDERINGS”
FEB 10 - ApR 27, 2024

Angela Wilson lives in Huntingdon with her husband and two sons. She is the proud owner of A. Wilson Photography and has been taking portraits of families, seniors, and children for the last eleven years. Much of her professional work is portraiture; however, one of her other great loves in life is travel. Angela’s exhibit showcases her "Wanderings". True to its name, the photos are from simply driving the backroads of West Tennessee to traveling to some of the most remote places far outside the U.S., including several pieces from one of her favorite trips to the country of Haiti. Angela states, “When I look through my lens, I hope to bring out the beauty and interest that others may not see.”

“INSPIRE” NOV 4 - JAN 27, 2024

Dana uses several different mediums to create her art. You will see in this exhibit examples of her graphite, colored pencil, conte crayon, ink, acrylic paint, oil pastels, oil paint, watercolor paint, and gouache work. Dana states, “My artwork is inspired by the things in my life that I love and enjoy. There is a story behind all of my artwork, with a connection between the subject matter and the time in my life that I created it. My artwork is my story.”

“THE 7TH ANNUAL DIXIE STUDENT ART EXHIBIT”
SEPT 23 - OCT 28, 2023

This is a group exhibition of student work created during this summer’s sessions of Art, Painting, Photography, and Pottery Camps. A total of 57 students are represented in the gallery ranging in age from 4-17 years old. In the gallery, you will see creations of ceramics, watercolor and acrylic paintings, ink drawings, digital photography, printmaking, and paper collages.

“BEYOND THE DIXIE”
SAT, MAR 4 - APR 29, 2023

Bill Bangham is a retired photojournalist, writer and editor from Memphis, Tenn. Three publications he edited were frequently recognized annually alongside National Geographic, German Geo, Time, and The New York Times for Best Use of Photography by a magazine in Pictures of the Year international and Best of Photojournalism. He is currently working on personal projects and speaks at colleges, universities and for professional organizations.

“CONTINUUM” BY JOAN GREENGRASS
SAT, NOV 5 - JAN 28, 2023

Joan Greengrass describes her art in “Continuum” as “a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct. This is the best way to describe how I paint. I still see things as I always have but the way I approach putting the paint onto the canvas has evolved out of growth and necessity.”

THE 2022 DIXIE SUMMER CAMP STUDENT EXHIBIT

This group exhibition of student work was created during this summer’s sessions of Art, Photography, and Pottery Camps. A total of 30 students are represented in the gallery ranging in age from 8-13 years old. In the gallery, you will see creations of ceramics, watercolor paintings, wire and aluminum sculptures, ink drawings, digital photography, and paper landscape collages.

KATIE TROKEY
FRESH CUT

February 5, 2022 - April 27, 2022