Ballet • Pointe • Modern • Jazz • TAP—New this year!
Floor-to-Ceiling Expression AVA’s new “All Member” and “Traces” shows are better than ever
D
uring the rest of August, Chattanoogans and visitors will probably have no better opportunity to explore the state of the arts here than to spend some time at AVA Gallery. The “All Member Salon Show” and “Traces” (associates students’ show) feature more than 50 works that span the stylistic spectrum.
Fall Semester Begins Monday, August 18, 2014 Primary Division: Ages 3 - 7 Junior Division: Ages 8 - 15 Teen/Open Division: Ages 16+ Professional Training Program: By Placement
Ballet Tennessee Performance Season September through May Nutcracker December 19, 20, 21 visit www.ballettennessee.org for performance details Outreach Locations: Good Shepherd School, Lookout Mountain Mountain Arts Community Center, Signal Mountain Chattanooga Christian School—New this year!
10 • The Pulse • August 14-20, 2014 • chattanoogapulse.com
Arts MICHAEL CRUMB
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Lauren Goforth has proven exceptionally competent at housing so many pieces in this gallery’s limited space, with an eye to sub-grouping members’ efforts in related styles.”
Lauren Goforth has proven exceptionally competent at housing so many pieces in this gallery’s limited space, with an eye to sub-grouping members’ efforts in related styles. The art/business dichotomy treads among “aesthetic” works that seek new stylistic expressions, more purely decorative or traditional fine arts pieces, and efforts that manage a happy confluence of both. Some innovative painting styles that stand out right away include pieces by Devon Kronenberg (“Alton Park”), Mary Beth Demeter (“Arise”), Jake Kelly, [“Medusa (After Caravaggio)”], and Renel Plouffe (“Cote”). Actually, Demeter and Plouffe share a kind of common motif in that both show a “reflective” line across the surface with quasi-symmetrical images above and below this line. Demeter’s approach presents an impasto landscape in such a variety of vibrant colors that the “landscape” itself becomes a virtual abstraction. Viewers’ attention is likely engaged by the dynamism of paint and color. Plouffe brings a cityscape reflected and his use of color is quite busy, suggesting the intensity of city life. Also, background strokes for sky and water are both intricate and differentiated. This very engaging painting has something else in common with Demeter; how an impressionist impulse emerges as an expressionist product. Their subjects emphasize geometric abstraction, and their very imaginative use of paint brings attention much more