Present Tense

The Art of Memphis, 2001-Now

Nancy Cheairs
September
oil on canvas, 50x30

2004-05
Artist Nancy Cheairs

Courtesy of David Lusk Gallery

Of this piece Nancy Cheairs writes, "I am very much aware of how the past influences the present. The past is a living thing, and although it is seemingly invisible, I am constantly reminded of its existence. The past has a transformative power on the world in both literal and figurative ways. There is the personal past, …and there is a collective past which makes up a vast tapestry of memories, feelings and emotions, weaving in and out of one another." Cheairs completed a BFA from the Memphis College of Art, and an MFA from the University of Memphis. While most recognized as a painter, her sculptures of an enchanted forest and multicolored reading room in the children's area of the central library have become an iconic feature of the local public art landscape. Cheairs founded the Flicker Street Studio art academy in 2010, where many local artists teach classes including Hamlett Dobbins, Melissa Dunn, Elizabeth Alley, and Veda Reed.

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