COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT projects focusing on fellow artists living and working in South Central Appalachia—including East Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and Western North Carolina.

EAT/ART space

A pop-up gallery from a dining room in Appalachia featuring emerging regional artists.

VISION: to create opportunities for emerging and established artists to exhibit and sell their work while showcasing local food culture in an innovative alternative venue.

ROLE: Founder / Director / Curator

Storytelling around a campfire at Yard pARTy 2024.
Group panel discussion for the Tennessee Triennial's Within Normal Limits exhibit.

Timeframe: 2020 - ongoing

# Exhibits: 14 in-person, 10 online

# Artists Featured: 57

Every year since the pandemic, EAT/ART space has created opportunities for artists in a way that adapts to the ever-changing needs of its community.

With an estimated 450+ attendees over the course of its inception, the pop-up gallery is a way to connect and experience art in a relatable, personal environment.

A view of the lawn at Yard pARTy 2023.
Campfireball at the Written in Real Time narrrative-themed exhibit in fall 2024.
Creatives gather at Elderbrew in Bristol, TN to network and connect.

Local Artist Meetup

VISION: Facilitate creative innovation through regular gatherings for creatives of all disciplines to network, connect, promote each other, and share each others’ work in the East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and Southwest Virginia area of Appalachia.

ROLE: Founder / Organizer

# COMMUNITY PARTNERS: 10
# GATHERINGS TO DATE: 30
# NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS: 350+

Timeframe
2019 - ongoing

Artists gather at Little Animals Brewery for a panel discussion on selling art in Johnson City, TN.
Artists gather at local non-profit Create Appalachia's co-working spaces in Kingsport and Johnson City, TN.

Many thanks to the half-dozen volunteers and all our community partners who have supported this community-based project so far.