ART EXHIBITIONS

The Ballroom Gallery seeks to encourage the appreciation of visual art and inspire our children, local artists and guests.

Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 10-4P CT. The gallery is free and open to the public.

🎨 Artist Reception Update 🎨

The artist reception for Erik Stonebraker and his work, Colors in the Canvas, originally scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 3, has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a future TBD date.

We’re looking forward to welcoming Paris, Tennessee artist and musician Erik Stonebraker soon and will share the new reception date as soon as it’s confirmed.

Thank you for your understanding! We can’t wait to celebrate this exhibit together soon.

ERIK STONEBRAKER’S “COLORS IN THE CANVAS” EXHIBIT LAUNCHES MON, FEB 2

The Dixie’s Ballroom Gallery is proud to present a new art exhibit titled “Colors in the Canvas”, by Erik Stonebraker. His artwork will be on display from February 2, 2026 through April 24, 2026. An artist reception will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 6:30-8:30P (because of road conditions, this has been postponed to a future TBD date) with the artist present to talk about his work and share his musical talent. The artist reception is free and open to the public.

Erik Stonebraker is a self-taught acrylic artist based in Paris, Tennessee, working in a style he describes as Casual Contemporary Abstract. His bold use of color and simplified forms has earned him a growing national collector base, with works held in private collections across multiple states. Stonebraker has received recognition from the Paris–Henry County Arts Council, including an Honorable Mention for Best in Show (2022) and First Place (2025). His work has been featured in regional publications, galleries, and media, and he is known for creating art that consistently brings joy, often described by collectors as work that “makes them smile” and “makes them happy.”

The gallery is free and open to the public M-F, 10-4P. For more information on this and other art exhibits, contact Dana at dwyatt@dixiepac.net.

Artist Statement

Erik Stonebraker is a self-taught acrylic artist whose work is defined by bold color, simplicity, and an approachable contemporary sensibility. He began painting nearly nine years ago while living in Las Vegas, and since relocating to Paris, Tennessee almost five years ago, his artistic practice has flourished. This period of growth has led to a rapidly expanding audience of collectors and followers, with his paintings now held in private collections across Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, Idaho, and Tennessee.

Stonebraker’s work has received notable recognition within the regional arts community. In 2022, he was awarded an Honorable Mention for Best in Show at the Artist Showcase presented by the Paris–Henry County Arts Council. He later earned First Place at the same showcase in 2025, further affirming his evolving artistic voice and impact.

Community involvement and charitable work are central to Stonebraker’s practice. For the past four years, he has participated in the Paris–Henry County Arts Council’s Farm to Table charity event, where he paints live and donates the completed work to be auctioned for a worthy cause. He has also taken part in live painting events benefiting organizations such as Second Harvest in Camden, using art as a means to support and uplift the community.

His work and career have been featured in numerous publications and venues, including PARIS! Magazine, The Paris PI Newspaper, The Camden Chronicle, Paris Academy for the Arts, Camden Central High School, and the Good Day Paris Podcast in October 2024. His artwork is also represented at Daylight Gallery in downtown Camden, Tennessee, where he occasionally teaches art classes.

In June 2023, Stonebraker established a private studio at his home, where he creates new work and offers one-on-one art instruction. His first studio was located in a historic elementary school built in 1893, now home to the Paris Academy for the Arts—an environment that helped shape his early artistic development.

Stonebraker describes his style as Casual Contemporary Abstract, focusing on the emotional power of color and the beauty of simplicity. Above all, his goal is to create work that connects with viewers on a joyful, human level. The two most common responses he receives from collectors -“Your art makes me smile” and “Your art makes me happy” - perfectly capture the spirit and intention behind his work.

Interested in exhibiting or have questions about the Ballroom Gallery?

Please email Dana Wyatt at dwyatt@dixiepac.net.

PAST EXHIBITS

DAN KNOWLES “MODERN ICONS”
NOVEMBER 6, 2025 - JAN 23, 2026

The show highlighted Knowles’ multi-disciplinary talents, featuring paintings inspired by surrealism and pointillism, alongside his work as a musician, instrument builder, and composer.

9th Annual Dixie Student Art Exhibit

Featuring works from students in The Dixie’s summer art, photography, paint, pottery, and theatre classes, this exhibit showcases a wide range of talent and imagination.

THE 4TH ANNUAL HUNTINGDON HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION

Organized by Huntingdon High School art teacher Dana Wyatt, the juried exhibition featured work from over 60 talented student artists in grades 9 through 12. The exhibition showcased a wide range of styles—from expressive abstracts to finely detailed realism—and includes pieces in graphite, ink, colored pencil, and paint.

DONNA TWYFORD’S “FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING” EXHIBIT / MARCH 8 - APRIL 24, 2025

Donna Twyford, who embarked on her artistic journey in 2013 has rapidly made a name for herself in the art community. With no formal training, Twyford was drawn to the medium of watercolor and has committed herself to daily practice. She has participated in numerous juried competitions, earning accolades that highlight her growing prominence as an artist, including a recent honorable mention at the 2024 Women in Watercolor International Competition and selection for publication in “Splash 25- The Best in Watercolor.”

TIM PAFFORD EXHIBIT
NOVEMBER 2 - JAN 25, 2025

Tim Pafford is a retired pastor and renowned artist from Camden, Tennessee. He is skilled in an array of media, including watercolors, casein, ink, oils, graphite, colored pencil, and pastels; all of which will be on display during his art exhibit in the form of portraits, still lives, landscapes, florals, wildlife and waterfowl themed artwork. Mr. Pafford has taught art classes in Kentucky and across Middle and West Tennessee since 1976. Mr. Pafford states, “My purpose as an artist is to be able to reflect the beauty of all living things through my art by expressing the essence of light, color, and emotion. I would like for people to see the light of God in the beauty of His creations while sharing the joy of aesthetic and artistic expression with others.”

8TH ANNUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBIT
AUG 12 - OCT 25, 2024

The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center is proud to have on display a group exhibition of student work created during this summer’s sessions of Art, Painting, Paint and Pen, Photography, and Pottery Camps.

A total of 70 students are represented in the gallery, ranging in age from 4-17 years old. In the gallery, you will see creations of ceramics, watercolor and acrylic paintings, ink drawings, digital photography, printmaking, and paper quilling. The artwork will be on display from Monday, August 12, 2024 through Friday, October 25, 2024.

“3rd ANNUAL HSSD STUDENT ART EXHIBIT”
MAY 6 - JULY 27, 2024

The Huntingdon Special School District and The Dixie Carter Performing Arts & Academic Enrichment Center are excited to announce the upcoming art exhibition, the 3rd annual Huntingdon High School Art Exhibition. This juried art exhibition will take place at The Dixie in the Ballroom Gallery.

“WANDERINGS”
FEB 10 - ApR 27, 2024

Angela Wilson lives in Huntingdon with her husband and two sons. She is the proud owner of A. Wilson Photography and has been taking portraits of families, seniors, and children for the last eleven years. Much of her professional work is portraiture; however, one of her other great loves in life is travel. Angela’s exhibit showcases her "Wanderings". True to its name, the photos are from simply driving the backroads of West Tennessee to traveling to some of the most remote places far outside the U.S., including several pieces from one of her favorite trips to the country of Haiti. Angela states, “When I look through my lens, I hope to bring out the beauty and interest that others may not see.”

“INSPIRE” NOV 4 - JAN 27, 2024

Dana uses several different mediums to create her art. You will see in this exhibit examples of her graphite, colored pencil, conte crayon, ink, acrylic paint, oil pastels, oil paint, watercolor paint, and gouache work. Dana states, “My artwork is inspired by the things in my life that I love and enjoy. There is a story behind all of my artwork, with a connection between the subject matter and the time in my life that I created it. My artwork is my story.”

“THE 7TH ANNUAL DIXIE STUDENT ART EXHIBIT”
SEPT 23 - OCT 28, 2023

This is a group exhibition of student work created during this summer’s sessions of Art, Painting, Photography, and Pottery Camps. A total of 57 students are represented in the gallery ranging in age from 4-17 years old. In the gallery, you will see creations of ceramics, watercolor and acrylic paintings, ink drawings, digital photography, printmaking, and paper collages.

“BEYOND THE DIXIE”
SAT, MAR 4 - APR 29, 2023

Bill Bangham is a retired photojournalist, writer and editor from Memphis, Tenn. Three publications he edited were frequently recognized annually alongside National Geographic, German Geo, Time, and The New York Times for Best Use of Photography by a magazine in Pictures of the Year international and Best of Photojournalism. He is currently working on personal projects and speaks at colleges, universities and for professional organizations.

“CONTINUUM” BY JOAN GREENGRASS
SAT, NOV 5 - JAN 28, 2023

Joan Greengrass describes her art in “Continuum” as “a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct. This is the best way to describe how I paint. I still see things as I always have but the way I approach putting the paint onto the canvas has evolved out of growth and necessity.”

THE 2022 DIXIE SUMMER CAMP STUDENT EXHIBIT

This group exhibition of student work was created during this summer’s sessions of Art, Photography, and Pottery Camps. A total of 30 students are represented in the gallery ranging in age from 8-13 years old. In the gallery, you will see creations of ceramics, watercolor paintings, wire and aluminum sculptures, ink drawings, digital photography, and paper landscape collages.

KATIE TROKEY
FRESH CUT

February 5, 2022 - April 27, 2022