Aesthetics Newsletter- Mar 2026

  • Art Matters Here.

    Current Exhibitions, Programs, and Opportunities

  • March 2026

    In This Issue:

    1. In the Gallery
    2. Last Month at Todd
    3. 210, Glass, and Murfree Gallery
    4. Workshops & Hands-On Programs
    5. Student Opportunities
    6. What's Happening in Our Community
    7. From the Walls of Todd
    8. Stay Connected with MTSU Art and Design
    9. Todd Bulletin Board

  • 1. in the GALLERY

  • 2026

    SPECIAL PRESENTATION

    Noon, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Todd Art Building, Todd Art Gallery (TAG), Room 224A

    MTSU Arts | Hall of Fame 

    Join us in the gallery as Dr. Leah Lyons, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, honors the 2026 MTSU Arts Hall of Fame inductees, the James S. Gibson Family, in recognition of their lasting contributions to the advancement and recognition of the arts at MTSU.

    __________________________________________________________________

    Artist Talk and Reception with Dan Hernandez

    Talk – Immediately following the Gibsons' induction conclusion, TAG presents University of Toledo Visiting Artist Dan Hernandez. Please remain with us as Dan discusses his artistry and philosophy, and his exhibition, RESET, with a brief Q&A to follow.

    Reception – 4–5 p.m.; return to TAG for Coffee and further Conversation with Dan as he concludes the short-term residency portion of his visit to the MTSU campus.

    Reset by Dan Hernandez
    March 3-March 25, 2026

    Todd Hall, Room 224A

    Untitled (Blue Sky) by Dan Hernandez
    Image: Dan Hernandez, Untitled (Blue Sky), detail - www.danhernandez.org     


    Inspired by the reset function of early video game systems, Reset explores themes of disruption, change, and reconfiguration. The layered paintings draw from both historic visual traditions and early digital imagery, reflecting on how narratives are challenged and reshaped over time.

    Dan Hernandez is an artist and Associate Professor of Art at the University of Toledo. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

    👉Learn more about Reset here: RESET BY DAN HERNANDEZ

  • 2. Last Month at Todd

  • Disconnect to Reconnect with Murfreesboro City Schools
    February 21

  • Students and families from Murfreesboro City Schools joined us in Todd Hall for a day of hands-on artmaking and observation. Participants drew from live animal models with Kalab Fulton from the Discovery Center, studying a box turtle and bearded dragon while exploring observation and form. Students also created Sculpey sculptures with Art & Design faculty member Stephen Levenhagen, while parents participated in their own hands-on creative activity.

    Thank you to Murfreesboro City Schools, the Discovery Center, and everyone who joined us for this meaningful day of creativity and connection.

  • 5-Color Fabric Weaving with Rebecca Anthony
    February 14

  • Participants joined us in Todd Hall for a Saturdays at Todd experience led by Rebecca Anthony of The Quilting Bees of Murfreesboro. Using reclaimed materials and colorful fabric strips, attendees explored foundational weaving techniques while creating their own textile pieces.

    Thank you to Rebecca Anthony and the Murfreesboro Quilting Bees for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who participated in this collaborative event.

  • 3. 210 Gallery, Glass Gallery, and Murfree Gallery
    MTSU Art and Design's campus and satellite exhibition spaces for invited artists, students, and the public

  • Quilting Bees of Murfreesboro Sampler Show
    February 28-March 14, 2026

    Todd Hall, Room 224- Glass Gallery | MTSU


     Image: Quilting Bees, detail

  • Todd Art Gallery will present a Glass Gallery Sampler Show featuring quilt-based fine craft artworks by the Quilting Bees of Murfreesboro. This focused exhibition highlights a range of techniques, materials, and approaches to quilting, offering viewers an up-close look at how fiber traditions translate into gallery settings.

  • Print Media
    February 28-March 14, 2026

    Todd Hall, Room 210 | MTSU

  • AIGA Hype Show
    March 18-April 8, 2026

    Todd Hall, Room 224- Glass Gallery | MTSU

  • Nyaradzo Muocha
    March 18-March 25, 2026

    Todd Hall, Room 210 | MTSU

  • 4. Workshops & Hands-On Programs

  • Weaving Workshop With Reclaimed Materials
    Saturday, March 21 | 12:00-2:00 P.M.

    Todd Hall, Room 236 | MTSU



    Image: Saturdays At Todd: Weaving Workshop with Reclaimed Materials

  • Join local textile artist Catie Beth Thomas for a hands-on weaving workshop exploring creativity through reclaimed materials. Participants will learn accessible weaving techniques while transforming everyday items into unique textile pieces.

    All materials are provided, and attendees are welcome to bring their own plastic, clothing, or paper to cut up and weave.

    • Open to all skill levels
    • Free and open to the public
    • Registration is required
    • Ages 14 and above

    👉 Register here: WEAVING WORKSHOP WITH RECLAIMED MATERIALS
    Registration closes March 14, 2026 (or earlier if capacity is reached)

  • True Blue Chemistry: From Lab to Canvas
    Saturday, March 21 | 1:00-3:00 P.M.

    Science Building, Room SCI 3130 | MTSU



    Image: Saturdays At Todd: True Blue Chemistry- From Lab to Canvas

  • Explore the science and history behind one of the world’s most iconic colors. In this Saturdays at Todd experience, participants will learn how blue pigments are created through a brief lecture and hands-on activities. Attendees will make their own Prussian blue pigment, turn it into paint, and experiment with indigo dyeing.

    • Free and open to the public
    • Registration is required
    • Ages 18 and above

    👉 Register here: TRUE BLUE CHEMISTRY: FROM LAB TO CANVAS
    Registration closes March 14, 2026 (or earlier if capacity is reached)

  • 4. Visiting Artists & Lectures

  • 5. Student Opportunities

  • Emerging Makers- Tennessee Craft Fair
    Application Deadline: March 3, 2026

  • Applications are now open for the Emerging Makers Tent at the 55th Annual Spring Tennessee Craft Fair, held May 1-3, 2026 in Nashville.

    The Emerging Makers Tent offers Tennessee Craft members the opportunity to gain hands-on experience exhibiting and selling their work in a supportive, collaborative environment. Designed for artists beginning their craft careers, working in a new medium, or exhibiting at a Tennessee Craft Fair for the first time, this program helps emerging makers take the next step toward showing independently.

    👉Learn more and apply: TENNESSEE CRAFT- EMERGING MAKERS TENT
    Applications close March 3, 2026

  • Join Tennessee Craft

    Tennessee Craft connects artists across the state through exhibitions, mentorship, scholarships, and professional development opportunities. Members gain valuable experience, build meaningful relationships within the craft community, and access resources to help grow and promote their work. Artists at any stage of their creative journey are encouraged to get involved.

    👉Learn more or become a member: TENNESSEE CRAFT MEMBERSHIP

  • AIGA Hype Show
    Submission Deadline: March 4, 2026

    👉Submit here: HYPE SHOW SUBMISSION

  • Artists Thrive Summit 2026
    March 24- March 26, 2026

    Nashville, TN

  • The Artists Thrive Summit brings artists together for professional development, collaboration, and meaningful connection. This national event offers opportunities to build relationships, gain new insights, and explore strategies for sustaining and growing your creative practice. The Nashville location will focus on community partnerships and collaboration across artistic disciplines.

    👉Learn more or register: ARTISTS THRIVE SUMMIT (NASHVILLE) 
    Registrations close March 7, 2026

  • Find ART and DESIGN SCHOLARSHIP Deadlines HERE

  • 6. What's Happening in Our Community

  • The Boro Art Crawl
    Friday, March 6 | 5:00-8:00 P.M.

    Around the Square, Downtown Murfreesboro



    Image: The Boro Art Crawl

  • The first Boro Art Crawl of 2026 takes place Friday, March 6 from 5–8 PM around the Square in Downtown Murfreesboro. This monthly event brings local artists and the community together for an evening of creativity, connection, and supporting the arts.

    Artists line the sidewalks to display and sell their work, making the crawl a great opportunity for students and emerging artists to gain visibility and experience. Stop by to explore, meet local makers, and enjoy a night of art downtown.

    Interested in participating as an artist in a future crawl?
    👉 Sign Up Here: 2026 BORO ART CRAWL REGISTRATION
    Artist registration deadlines are one week before each crawl date.

  • Quilts in the Boro
    Friday, March 20 | 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
    Saturday, March 21 | 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

    Lane Agri-Park Community Center



    Image: Quilts in the Boro

  • Join The Quilting Bees of Murfreesboro for Quilts in the Boro 2026, a large-scale community quilt show celebrating craftsmanship, creativity, and tradition.

    The exhibition features more than 100 quilts representing modern, traditional, artistic, and antique styles. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the range and depth of quilting as both a creative practice and a cultural tradition. The weekend also includes hands-on activities and special programming.

    Admission:
    Seniors (55+), College, Military: $8
    General: $10
    Children 12 and under: Free

    MTSU Art & Design students can earn extra credit by attending.

    👉 Learn more: QUILTS IN THE BORO 2026

  • 7. From the Walls of Todd

    Grayscale figurative painting featuring layered portraits of historical and contemporary figures, including a young girl holding a chair, with domestic objects and softly sketched faces fading into the background.

    Mily Rogers–Advanced Painting | Professor–Sisavanh Houghton

    Isaac Snyder–Advanced Painting | Professor–Sisavanh Houghton

     

  • 8. Stay Connected with the MTSU Department of Art and Design

  • Select the options below if you would like to receive updates about exhibitions, events, artist visits, workshops, and other Art and Design activities via email or text.

    You may unsubscribe at any time. We do not share your email or text contact information.

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • 9. Todd Bulletin Board

    Last-minute calls, events, artist visits, fundraisers, and pop-ups are added throughout the week.

  • 👉 Visit the Todd Bulletin Board

    Central Magnet School Student Exhibition

    TAG 200, Art Education Display Corridor
    Todd Art Building

    Artwork by advanced high school artists
    under the direction of Art & Design alum Danny Freeman

    Opening Mid-March

    Oakland High School Fine Art Exhibit

    Clay Commons, adjacent to TAG 
    Todd Art Building

    Artwork from the International Baccalaureate Fine Art Students under the direction of Art and Design alum Frank Baugh

    Opening Mid-April

  • Contribute

  • We’re always interested in hearing what’s happening in Art and Design, whether across campus or in the community. Aesthetics welcomes short, informal contributions from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. Submissions may be image-driven and do not need to be fully polished; editorial support is provided.

    To share ideas, images, or short drafts for a future issue, contact ToddArtGallery@mtsu.edu.

  • Newsletter Compilation by Leraas Lane
    Edited by Eric Snyder
    MTSU Department of Art & Design | Todd Art Gallery (TAG)

  • Questions about directions, parking, or other items related to Art and Design | Todd Art Gallery exhibitions, receptions, and events: email ToddArtGallery@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5532

    Gallery Hours

    Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
    Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Closed Sunday

  • Image field 31
  • Should be Empty: