Appalachian Center for Craft hosts artist Michelle O’Patick-Ollis exhibition until Feb. 23

February 20, 2022
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Tennessee Tech University’s Appalachian Center for Craft is currently hosting an exhibition of portrait drawings, “There Will Come a Time,” by artist Michelle O’Patick-Ollis, which will run until February 23.

O’Patick-Ollis’ collection depicts the changes and challenges that occur during the aging process. The artist creates psychological portrait drawings that capture both the outward appearance as well as the inner state of mind of her parents. The drawings tell stories of a mother with Parkinson’s disease and a quadriplegic father, enduring the winter of their lives.

Although the stories are personal in nature, they speak to a wide audience. Anyone who has watched a family member grow old, and become imprisoned within their withering bodies, can have an understanding of and emotional connection to the work.

“As I watched my parents decline, I desperately wanted to help them. I wanted to make them happy again. Although I couldn’t do that in reality, I can do that in my artwork,” O’Patick-Ollis said.

“Mom Has Parkinson’s” is a drawing where the artist depicted her mother smiling and dancing. Six arms wave back and forth and the body appears to be swaying from side to side.

“In truth, it is a depiction of how my mother’s body would move as she spoke,” O’Patick-Ollis said. “The more she concentrated on what she was trying to say, the more her body jerked back and forth.”

The artist is able to depict her parents in a way where they seem to be at peace or joyful, yet upon closer inspection, the viewer is able to see a visual hint to the truth of the situation.

O’Patick-Ollis is an art teacher at Indian Trail Intermediate School in Johnson City, Tennessee. She received a master of fine arts from Arizona State University and a master of arts in teaching from East Tennessee State University.

Her body of work consists of mixed media pieces. Painting with different strengths of coffee, she blocks in large areas of her images first and then draws on top of the paintings with sepia toned pencils and graphite.

The Appalachian Center for Craft is located at 1560 Craft Center Dr., Smithville, TN.

February 20, 2022
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Smithville’s Evins Mill, a former estate of US Congressman Joe Evins, is a historic woodland resort situated on a 40-acre property that boasts one of the few Eastern Hemlock forests in the Upper Cumberland.

When it came time to upgrade Evins Mill’s main entrance and complete various other improvements, the property’s owner had no question who to turn to for the design and construction efforts of the highly cherished, charismatic resort. In 2019, Cookeville-based J&S Construction successfully partnered with the resort to transform a small, simple kitchen area into a five-star, commercial galley perfect for serving world-class alfresco dining.

Fast forward to 2022, Manning Overlook, the resort’s bustling event space was in need of some upgrades to allow the space’s marquis deck to be transformed into year-round functionality for its growing number of special events. Superior attention was given to design an enclosure that maintained the building’s versatility to the weather of each season of the year. Custom windows were selected by the owner that will fold up and position out of sight during the warmer months, providing an unobstructed view of the surrounding natural landscape of the resort property. Likewise, in the colder months, the windows will create a barrier between the warm, cozy indoor experience and the beautiful winter landscape.

The main entrance will also be upgraded to include wheelchair accessibility features, including elimination of the entry step and installation of a wider entry door. Additionally, a permanent service counter will be fitted to the left of the main entrance which will be multi-functional for the many events hosted by Evins Mill each year.

J&S Construction is thrilled to be a part of the conversion of Manning Overlook’s existing deck space to allow Evins Mill’s premier hospitality team to continue providing its five-star service during all the beautiful seasons Tennessee has to offer.

Minutes from Center Hill Lake, Evins Mill provides all the amenities of a luxury destination in the intimate setting of a woodland resort. The site includes a 90-foot waterfall, swimming hole, hiking trails and a fishing pond.

For more information, visit Evins Mill’s website at www.evinsmill.com.

February 19, 2022
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Town & Lake Realty is once again setting records! They have been established for just under four years and continue to excel in every possible way. In 2021, Town & Lake Realty closed approximately $57 million in real estate transactions. Ten of their agents were recognized by Eastern Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors and given the “2021’s Award of Excellence”.

Town & Lake Realty prides itself in hiring only the best agents, providing top notch customer service. Their continual training keeps their team on top of the market and prepared to serve our clients and community.

Town & Lake is excited to announce they will be expanding services offered in 2022 for DeKalb and surrounding counties. In the past four years they have changed the market in DeKalb County and raised the bar for excellence. Town & Lake is ready to bring more to their community in the months to come. A community they are proud to call home.

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