By Joan C. McKinney, director, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - The Chowning Art Shop, located at 503 N. Columbia Ave., is holding its annual Christmas Open House, Saturday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy fine artwork and refreshments, according to Terri Miller, president of Campbellsville University's Patrons of the Visual Arts.
She said the theme of this year's event is “I'll Be Home For Christmas.”
“The theme will be represented by the decorations and the paintings there within and anything sold will go to the artist with a portion of the proceeds going to the Patrons of the Visual Arts, for the furtherment of the visual arts at Campbellsville University,” Miller said.
Several of the artists will be at the open house giving those attending an opportunity to talk with the person who made the artwork.
Miller said her favorite part about the open house is the homemade ornaments and fixtures. There will be items for sale for all price ranges.
“I am so excited for this time of the year and it is by far my favorite place to shop for the one-of-a kind gift for that hard to shop for person. Who wouldn't want a piece of art and, then maybe one day, who knows it could become famous!” she said.
The art shop is named after Dr. John Chowning, former vice president for church and external relations, who now is serving as executive assistant to the president of the university for government, community and constituent relations, and his family.
The Chowning Art Shop is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday with volunteer artists, whose work is on display and those who are members of the Patrons of the Visual Arts, who serve as volunteers to man the shop.
The art shop is closed on Mondays to set up new displays and is closed on university holidays.
Some of the artwork on display and for sale include paintings, prints, watercolors, drawings, ceramics, greeting cards, purses, rustic canes, felted items, jewelry, pottery, photography and woodworking. The work is juried before it is displayed.
Among the artists whose work is for sale are: Carolyn Ogden, Cora Renfro, Billie Sue Kibbons, Charlotte Humphress, Davie Reneau, Susie Trejo Williams, Linda J. Cundiff, Lana Carol Houk, Henrietta R. Scott, Jo Ann Harris, Cheryl Magers, Jaime Renfro, Renee Renfro, Larry Parker, Hugh Leachman and Stan and Joan McKinney.
For more information about the event, contact Miller at terri@jessieinsurance.com.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 10,000 students offering more than 90 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with Kentucky instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville, and nationally in Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, Jacksonville, Fla. and Chicago. The university also has a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.