Saturdays at Todd
Saturdays at Todd is a faculty led initiative designed to expand our community engagement in and around Murfreesboro. The events are free and open to the public with all materials provided as tools to build greater advocacy for the arts in middle Tennessee! Students and faculty, and community artists participate and lead demonstrations. They answer questions and offer insight into context, technique, and concept. We host exhibit openings in our main gallery that are also scheduled on Saturdays to encourage community and alumni attendance while providing greater access to our facilities and programs! All activities include all ages in interactive workshops, lectures, and exhibits. Through open discussion about artwork and the role of the artist in communities, we can demonstrate the importance of arts education while fostering a culture of support for the Arts in Tennessee. TBA information will be updated as events are finalized throughout the semester.
Want to see our past Saturday's at Todd events? Check out what we have offered before to gain an idea of what we host at the Department of Art and Design! If you have a suggestion or a workshop idea or would even like to host a workshop yourself, email eric.snyder@mtsu.edu with your proposal!
Guided Tour + Q&A of "Neither East Nor West", a Contemporary Chinese Art Exhibit
Saturday, September 7th, 2019 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Todd Main Gallery, 224A
Guided Tour + Q&A led by Professor Qian Li.
China has undergone a huge industrial and cultural shift in the past 100 years. In
the midst of the era of globalization, individuals from different backgrounds and
cultures share their experiences, lives, food, art, and music. What was known as "East"
and "West" has blurred. Exchanging cultural practices, concepts, and ways of living
is common. Come view the blurring of these cultural lines manifest in the works of these award-winning
Chinese contemporary artists. The exhibit reception will feature cello performances by Dr. Christine Kim, and pipa
performances by new visiting scholar Jun Tian. Join us for midday snacks while we
bask in the artistry of Chinese artists and musicians!
Watercolor Basics: "Capturing the Moment"
Saturday, September 14th, 2019 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Todd Hall, Room 236
Watercolor painting workshop, led by Sisavanh Houghton.
In this workshop, Sisavanh Houghton will demonstrate basic watercolor techniques,
discuss elemental and principals of design and the benefits of using a photographic
reference as inspiration. Participants should bring in some photographs to work from,
watercolor paper, brushes, and a simple watercolor set. This class is to inspire
and guide participants in their own style of working such as: abstraction, realism,
minimalism, and cubism. Practical advice for traveling with paints and working in
Alla-Prima will be discussed as well. Open to the public. Participants limited to
20.
Color Exploration with Tie Dye
Saturday, September 21st, 2019 | 12:30 PM & 1:30 | Todd Hall, Room 236
Workshop led by Kim Dummons and Nicole Foran.
In this double workshop, participants will explore color theory through the application of
different colors of dye onto fabric. The department of Art and Design is offering
two (2) separate 45-minute sessions of this workshop. The first session will begin
at 12:30 PM and the second session will begin at 1:30 PM. One free white cotton t-shirt
will be provided per participant; however, if participants want to tie dye multiple
shirts or have a specific sizes in mind, they should bring their own 100% Cotton T-Shirt.
Included T-Shirt sizes range from S, M, L, XL, and a limited supply of 2XL. All other
supplies included. Participants should wear appropriate clothing or other clothing
protection, such as an apron, as dye may splatter onto clothing. The first session
is limited to 12 participants; the second session is limited to 20 participants. RSVP
required for attendance.
"Story Me This: Narrative Quilting", a Collaborative Multimedia Storytelling Experience with Susan Sharpe
Friday, September 27th, 2019 | Begins at 5:30 PM | Todd Hall, TBA
In conjunction with an exhibition of narrative quilting from September 21 to October
12, we will be offering a lecture on the art of storytelling conducted by nationally
known quilt-artist and art educator Susan Sharpe. The lecture will focus on her different experiences & materials to how her work has evolved into a narrative style
that exploits a wide range of fiber & fabric processes. The lecture aims to engage
participants specifically in developing narrative content for their own visual and
verbal works. A discussion of the Space Colonization and Exploration of Mars and a Star Viewing Party
at the MTSU Planetarium (weather permitting) with Dr. Higgins, a MTSU Department of
Physics and Astronomy professor, will follow.
Saturday, September 28th, 2019 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Todd Hall, Room 236
Workshop led by visiting artist Susan Sharpe.
This four to six hour (4-6 hr.) workshop will be an exercise in unleashing the imagination through a narrative that
the participants will work together to produce a mixed media mural for display in
the main hallway of the Todd building. Participants will be introduced to a variety
of techniques and media, including the making of their own relief blocks, acrylic
painting, and textile appliqué. Open to the public, public and private art teachers,
as well as MTSU students, faculty, staff, and their children. All materials will be
supplied. Registered participants will receive lunch. Professional Development points
are available for teachers to earn by attending; certificate will be prepared and
handed out for those teachers that note it on signup. RSVP required for attendance.
Experimental Sand-Casting: Creating Cast Aluminum Sculpture
Saturday, October 5th, 2019 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Todd Hall, Room 107
Workshop led by Michael Baggarly, sculpture professor at MTSU Dept. of Art and Design
with assistance from Stephen Levenhagen.
Come out and have a great time experiencing metal casting as an investigative platform
for making art. Attendees will be exploring Experimental Petro-Bond Sand Casting incorporating
found and altered materials to create low-relief assemblages that will be utilized
to create cast aluminum forms. Each person will have the opportunity to watch the
finished molds cast and to participate in the finishing of their own aluminum sculpture
to take home at the end of the workshop. No prior casting experience is required,
and the event is a safe, open, and free experience for all ages. Space is limited
to twelve spots. RSVP is required for attendance.
Department of Art and Design Open House
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 | 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM | Todd Hall
You don’t want to miss the Art & Design Open House!! Join us for various activities
and demos. You can also find out more about becoming an Art & Design major at MTSU!
This event is free and open to the public and all ages.
Spoken Word Performance
Saturday, November 9th, 2019 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Todd Main Gallery, 224A
The Middle Tennessee State University Todd Art Gallery is hosting a Spoken Word Performance
event featuring students, emerging, and mid-career artists whose art practice is concerned
with performance, text, and spoken word that relates indirectly or directly to communication, text, literacy, social constructs,
socio-economic systems, and power relationships.
Learn How to Marble Paper!
Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Todd, Room 352
Workshop led by Dr. Laura Cochrane.
Join us for a paper marbeling experience! Participants will learn how to prepare and
mix paper marbling materials, create unique designs with ink, and pull prints. Event
is free and open to the public; all supplies will be provided. Participants are limited
to 8. Participants must be aged 16 years or older. RSVP is required for attendance.
Drawing the Generic Face, an Illustration Workshop
Saturday, December 7th, 2019 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Todd, Room 337
Workshop led by Tony Rodriguez.
Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw portraits? Join us for a workshop on drawing
the generic face! Participants will learn tips and tricks on how to draw the face
using correct proportions. Participants may bring their own sketchbooks, pencils,
and eraser if desired; all supplies will be provided for those that do not. This workshop
is free and open to the public. Participants are limited to 15. RSVP is required for
attendance.
