Customs House stages world-class exhibit with Olen Bryant retrospective

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 16, 2007 |

Hundreds of friends and fans came to the Customs House Museum Saturday evening for the opening celebration of Olen Bryant: A Retrospective, a world class exhibit of ceramic, wood and stone sculpture, a sampling of Bryant’s work from the early 1950’s to the present.

A Tennessee native and Professor Emeritus of Art at Austin Peay State University, Bryant was introduced to Saturday’s crowd as “an educator, mentor and humanitarian of the first order,” one who has guided and prodded his students to “find their voices” even as he continued his quest to develop and expand his own.

Meandering through the crowds, one could hear the comments of friends, of art lovers, watch them inhaling in awe at the beauty and substance of this work. In an era where art is displayed but art lovers are kept at safe distances, the Customs House exhibit was presented in a manner that invited touch, that invited close inspection of the most minute detail of each piece, be it a small “sleeping stone” or a majestic chair with outstretched arms. The art itself invited it. «Read the rest of this article»

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Daily meditation energizes the spirit

By Rev. Charles Moreland | September 16, 2007 |

How we start the day in our attitude and thinking influences the success of our day. Since my high school days, I’ve begun every day with meditation, contemplation, reflection and prayer that includes spiritual readings; it’s a productive habit that I continued through college, seminary, pastorate and my 20 years as a U.S. Army Chaplain.

Since retiring, it has continued to be a designated time, a time of refreshment and strengthening. Morning devotions are an effective way for for me to celebrate each new day. For my devotionals, I find The Upper Room daily devotional guide to be a great help.

I was particularly moved by the devotion of September 3, which referred to the characteristics of the battery and the AC clocks which abound in our home. «Read the rest of this article»

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