Keith Harmon – Paintings
Roberta Winnett Harrison – Paintings
Ron Lederer – Ceramic Art
April 6 – May 23

• Opening Reception – Friday, April 6, 5 pm – 7 pm

Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center gallery’s April 6 through May 23 exhibit will feature the works of three local artists; painters Keith Harmon and Roberta Winnett Harrison and ceramic artist Ron Lederer. An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 6 between the hours of 5 pm and 7 pm.

Keith Harmon
Keith Harmon received his BFA from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. A multi-talented artist, in addition to being an accomplished painter, he has also worked in the design and creation of ceramics, furniture and stained glass. One of his stained glass works of special note can be viewed at the chapel in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Of this painting exhibition, he simply says, "This work is the culmination and continuation of years studying the human form." This exhibit will feature Harmon’s watercolors. Lena Arice Lucas, the Art Center’s gallery manager, elaborates, “Keith is a keen observer. His engagingly lyrical, figurative, expressionistic paintings portray people captured in moments of ultimate creative release. Often inspired by visits to night clubs, hearing live jazz music and observing urbanites enjoying night life, he depicts a world where vibrant musicians and dancers appear to possess an exuberant energy that extends joyously beyond the two-dimensional boundaries of his paintings. The viewer can literally hear the music and feel the rhythm!”

In 2009, Keith Harmon was a co-designer (along with Franne Lee and Mac Hill) of one of Nashville’s first public art “Bicycle Racks.” That ten foot tall work, titled Microphone, is now installed in the northeast corner of Demonbruen Street and Music Row. He was a founding member of the popular Plowhaus Artists’ Cooperative and served on the Board of Directors for “Untitled,” a non-profit artists’ group. Keith’s local exhibitions include an ongoing show at Five Points Pizza, “Flying Solo” at the Nashville International Airport, Bongo Java Roasting Company, numerous Plowhaus Artists’ Cooperative and Untitled Artists’ group shows, TACA Spring Art Fair and Laurell’s Oyster Bar and Grill. In Chattanooga, he is represented by the gallery, Shuptrine's Gold Leaf Designs | Fine American Art, has exhibited at The Urban Art Institute, The Boiled Frog and The Plum Nelly. In Murfreesboro, Keith has exhibited in Jonathan’s on the Square and The Barn Gallery, MTSU.

Roberta Winnett Harrison
Originally from England, painter Roberta Winnett Harrison came to the United States four years ago with her husband. She says he “…has been a constant source of support and inspiration.” Her dedication to art began in earnest at the age of sixteen. She reminisces, “…I was taught by artist Ian Murphy at my local high school in Standish. He helped me realize my interest in the simple pleasure of mixing and blending colors of oil paint… It was in Dundee, Scotland, years later, whilst at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, that I embraced the idea of combining different views within one composition. I used the computer to aid my sketching process of layering photographs and sketches of views, people, objects and places. By re-creating these layers with paint, rhythms of color and light were formed across the canvas, enhanced by the texture of various applications and techniques.” After earning a BA Honors degree in Fine Art (and selected as 'Best in Show' by a national newspaper), Roberta Winnett Harrison exhibited in galleries throughout Scotland. Soon she earned a Post Graduate Certificate of Art and Design Education at Manchester, England Metropolitan University. During that time, she did pursue teaching, but found she had little time to develop her own art. She did enjoy working for a while designing wall decor and promoting other artists’ works, but says, “…I knew that I wanted to devote all my time to my own painting and photography.” Now doing just that, Roberta explains that by painting with acrylics, she “… can create the desired textures and movement…” in her work “…with an elegance and immediacy I find invigorating... I study the function of memory and emotion through my art and how the power of light and dark influences our perception of a time or place – how color and form can represent these memories and the feelings evoked by them.”

Since living in Nashville, Roberta’s exhibitions include such venues as Studio 83 (Arcade, First Saturday Gallery Crawls) Untitled Nashville (various group shows), American Artisan, Mesh Boutique (Murfreesboro) and in Columbia, SC, Portfolio Art Gallery (ongoing representation), Centennial Art Center gallery (in a 2009 three-person show) and since 2008, in the Nashville’s Internationals group exhibitions held there annually. Lena Lucas, impressed with Roberta’s art, reflects, “I have always found Roberta’s paintings not only engaging as beautiful, energetic works of art, but equally intriguing in their inherent narrative quality. I study them, and return to look again, seeing what additional impressions and records of memories I will discover. Nashville’s art scene is richer since she has chosen to live here!”

Ron Lederer
Local ceramic artist Ron Lederer earned a BA in Landscape Architecture with a Minor in Sculpture at the University of Wisconsin. He began his ceramics studies at Centennial Art Center under Bill Rummel and Lena Arice Lucas in the mid 1970’s and attended workshops with Jane Peiser at Penland School, NC and Wally Smith in Gatlinburg, TN. Ron has been a full-time professional clay artist for over 30 years. Ron Lederer reflects, “Wow! To think I became a potter a mere thirty-seven years ago, and it all started right there at Centennial Art Center!

I knew what a potter was back then, but couldn't even spell ‘kiln’!” About his Art Center exhibition, he says, “Works I’ll present at the Art Center go back to the beginning. It starts with a few functional pieces and moves on to present day sculptural works that are mostly inspired by visual and mental memories from my life. The titles of some might help you know what I was thinking when I created the sculpture. Each piece is a ‘One-of-a-Kind.’” Describing his methods and philosophy, Ron says, “I formulate the shapes of my clay vessels using wheel thrown and handbuilt methods of construction. The … clay I use allows the vivid colors of the underglaze and oxides I airbrush onto the surfaces to retain their brilliance after kiln firing... My work incorporates a strong Asian influence, often combining the individual cultures, such as placing a handle reminiscent of a Japanese Torii Gate atop a classic Chinese ginger jar or fitting a bulbous Korean vase with a Chinese pagoda multi-roofed structure. I work independently in my home studio. I think the spirit of the artist reflects in the work – each piece is unique and contains its own soul.”

A favorite at many prestigious juried arts festivals nationwide, he has exhibited in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian in Washington, DC and regularly in some of the best rated arts festivals in the United States, such as the Coconut Grove Arts Festival (FL) and The American Crafts festival in at Lincoln Center in New York. He has won numerous awards including “Best in Show” at the Royal Oak’s Clay, Glass and Metal Show in Royal Oak, MI, “First Place, Clay” Allentown Art Festival in Buffalo, New York, “First Place Sculpture” at The Boston Mills Art Fest in Peninsula, OH, “Award of Excellence – Clay” at the Osceola Center for the Arts Festival in Kissimmee, FL, “1st Place” at The Griffith Art Fair, Griffith, IN (near Chicago) and received four purchase awards at the Miami Beach Festival of the Arts. He is a regular at Nashville’s TACA Craft Fairs and has Guest Lectured at Vanderbilt University’s Ceramics Department. The gallery’s manager, Ms. Lucas says, “Watching Ron develop his art throughout his wonderful career is personally, very gratifying. His works have steadily evolved from strength to strength, and this exhibit will showcase that journey. Many successful regional potters and sculptors started out in Metro Parks’ Art Center’s clay classes. Ron’s impressive achievements in clay make me proud indeed!”

Brenda McSurley, the Art Center’s Director says, “Keith Harmon, Roberta Winnett Harrison and Ron Lederer’s works, displayed together, will make for a very enjoyable gallery experience. We look forward to the Artists’ Reception – between the hours of 5 pm and 7 pm on Friday, April 6 – when visitors can meet the artists, shop and enjoy refreshments – including Cabot Cheese (a co-sponsor of our receptions). Also, the Herb Society of Nashville‘s garden – located behind the Art Center in the enclosed courtyard – is growing beautifully this spring, and Tom Rice’s outdoor sculpture, bird-bath and garden benches are on display. The courtyard can be reserved for special events.”