Peggy King & Elaine Vars

The works of local artists, Peggy King and Elaine M. Vars was on display at The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center in Huntingdon, Tennessee from January 18 – March, 2008.

About the Artists:

Peggy King

Peggy King has deep roots in Northwest Tennessee although most of her life, education, and career have been spent in Michigan. Peggy returned to her Martin area home place in 1993, where she has continued as a teacher, community arts advocate, and visual artist.

Peggy King has exhibited in several states. Locally, she has exhibited at UT-Martin, Paducah, Mayfield, Jackson, the West Tennessee Regional Art Center at Humboldt, and the Renaissance Center in Dickson. She has worked in many public and private collections here and elsewhere. Commissions for large works have included private homes as well as major churches and public buildings in Tennessee and Michigan.

A source of pride for Ms. King has been the establishment and success of the Weakley County Arts and Humanities Council, established in 1999, which serves to provide cultural enrichment for the children and adults of Weakley County. She is a member of TACA (the Tennessee association of Craft Artists), has served on the state board of directors of Tennesseans for the Arts, and the Westover Center for the Arts in Union City.

Peggy’s love of art has been life long. Her career as an art educator and advocate has given her the opportunity to explore many facets of art. The subjects for her work are often figurative, abstract, or may contain biblical references. She strives to make her work thought provoking; a reflection of her concern for what we are about.

Peggy King works in a variety of media; however, vitreous enamel provided the most challenges for her. Vitreous enamel is literally pigmented glass fired on metal, usually copper or steel. She uses this medium in a painterly approach, sometimes using paint and canvas in her compositions in a collage technique.

The works showcased by Peggy King, in this exhibit, consist of mixed media acrylic paintings and vitreous enamel collage of a variety of subjects.

Elaine Vars

During early childhood, Elaine M. Vars learned many artistic skills from her family; millinery from her maternal grandmother, floral and dress design from her mother, the art of tying flies from her father, and weaving from her maternal aunt.

Prior to moving to Tennessee, Elaine was a California award winning Fiber Artist and past president of the Creative Handweavers Guild. Her paper tapestries and woven canvases reflect a continued interest in weaving.

Elaine has lived in England, on the East Coast, the West Coast and in the South: studying art at colleges in Georgia, California, and Tennessee. While traveling extensively in Europe, Great Britain, Central America, Mexico, the Virgin Isles and Hawaiian Isles, she visited museums and galleries, studying the art of the regions.

Elaine has exhibited her works at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center at Humboldt, the Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center in Jackson, and in many group shows throughout Jackson and Memphis. She is a member of the Jackson Art Association, Memphis/Germantown Art League, Tennessee Watercolor Society, and Tennesseans for the Arts. Peggy is represented by the Dixon Fine Arts Gallery in Jackson and the Corinth Art Gallery in Corinth, Mississippi.

The works showcased by Elaine M. Vars, in this exhibit, consist of a variety of works on canvas and a variety of works on paper.

The Dixie is located at191 Court Square in Huntingdon, Tennessee 38344

For information call Executive Director, Leigh Warren, at 731.986.2100 or e-mail lwarren@dixiepac.net.

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