Graham, Cooley to be celebrated at Second Friday ArtWalk
Emily Cooley will entertain at the Second Friday ArtWalk.
Tina Graham's photography will be on exhibit at the gallery along with other examples of her work.
The work of an artist whose work sits at the junction of photography, fiber, form, and curiosity will be on exhibit for the upcoming ArtWalk in Marion. During the event, Wytheville’s Emily Cooley will perform.
The Appalachian Spirit Gallery, 144 West Main Street in Marion, will host the Aug. 14 Second Friday ArtWalk from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature art, photography, fiber art and handmade books from Tina Graham and an outdoor concert by Cooley.
For about a decade, Tina Graham has been making handmade books — journals, artist books, and experimental structures. Bookmaking grew naturally out of her lifelong relationship with cloth. She began as a quilter, piecing together color and pattern, and later discovered the transformative world of fabric dyeing, both with commercial and natural dyes. That discovery shifted her work from traditional quilting into creating hand-dyed and hand-painted textiles, and eventually into the realm of fiber art. She was also able to incorporate her interest in mixed media and photography into her books.
According to Graham, "many of my book cloths are made from fabrics I created over the years — cloth that carries the memory of dye baths, brushstrokes, and layered experiments. In my studio, these histories cross pollinate: fabric becomes structure, color becomes narrative, and the book becomes a vessel that holds both process and story.”
Graham enjoys nature and landscape photography and participates in Highlands Camera Club in Abingdon.
“I am continually inspired by learning — from books, workshops, and the rich world of online classes. Many mixed media courses use bookmaking as a way to gather and honor the class samples creating a history of process and I’ve embraced that approach in my own practice. Each book becomes a record of exploration, a place where techniques, materials, and ideas converge,” said Graham.
She concluded, “My work sits at the intersection of photography, fiber, form, and curiosity. These handmade books reflect a decade of experimentation, a love of materials, and an ongoing desire to bind together the many threads of my creative life."
Cooley’s invitation to perform at the Appalachian Spirit Gallery comes as a result of the vocal ability she has worked to perfect through the torch singing traditions of jazz and blues. In returning to these genres, she strives to pay homage to lifelong idols Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday while still honoring her enduring love of rock music.
The evening’s setlist will include jazz interpretations of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” and Joni Mitchell’s “Edith and the Kingpin,” alongside jazz selections by rock pioneers Bonnie Raitt, Dusty Springfield, and Bette Midler.
Rhythm and blues legend Ruth Brown and jazz greats Peggy Lee, Dianne Reeves, and Herbie Hancock will also be honored through standards such as “One for My Baby,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” and “Pick Yourself Up,” as well as deeper cuts, including “I Ain’t Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again,” Randy Newman’s “Guilty,” and Bobby Freeman’s “Do You Want to Dance?”
The setlist is designed to showcase Cooley’s vocal versatility while maintaining the intimacy and mystique suited for the Appalachian Spirit Gallery.
The gallery is run by the Appalachian Spirit Artists Association, a 501(c)3 organization composed of artisans who share jobs to fulfill the group’s mission to celebrate the arts, traditions, lore and spirit of the Appalachian Mountains by demonstrating the work of local talent.
Refreshments will be served. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs listen to listen to the music.
The monthly Second Friday ArtWalks are always free and open to the public.
