OC Arts mixers continue to inspire

This news story first appeared in Overton County News on August 06, 2024.

Overton County Arts hosted its third arts mixer focusing on famous American painter Georgia O’Keeffe on Thursday, July 18, at Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce.

Cookeville High School art teacher Leah Looper presented on O’Keeffe, showcasing the fascinating life and famous works of art.

“Georgia O’Keeffe has been my favorite painter for the last decade,” Leah Looper said. “I have always admired her skill and been interested in her life. Being asked to present about her at this month’s mixer propelled me to dig into her life further than I had previously, and I learned so much through preparing to teach about her. I was amongst many of my peers as well as mentors at the mixer, and the feedback and discussion after my presentation was very affirming and made me excited to get back into my teaching classroom for this school year.”

OC Arts will continue the mixers after a brief intermission for the month of August, and will be back Thursday, Sept. 19.

“The art mixer just keeps getting better and better. I am genuinely inspired by the Overton County Arts Council who puts together and hosts these events. From the food to the presentations to the conversations, I have been consistently impressed with the atmosphere and the quality of the events,” Looper said.

September’s presentation will be on Claude Monet, a plein air painter, and is considered by many to be the father of Impressionism, with the return of Mitchell White as the presenter and Luke Anderson leading the interview.

This presentation will lead the OC Arts community into the next event, Paint Livingston, which will be held Thursday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 5.

Paint Livingston will include a quick draw competition, event exhibition, and award ceremony on that Saturday.

Everyone is invited to come out and watch the artists as they draw and paint the area in the open air.

Sign up to be a member, register for classes, and RSVP for art mixers at OvertonCountyArts.org.