Terri Gilbert is a Georgia native, having lived in metropolitan Atlanta for over 40 years. She earned a BA in English from the University of Georgia, a Masters in English Education from North Georgia College and State University, and an Education Specialist degree from the University of Tennessee. Terri taught high school English at Clinton High School for twenty years before retiring in the fall of 2020, a few months into the pandemic. Terri’s art education prior to retirement was limited to one drawing class in college and a watercolor class almost thirty years later. She has been studying acrylic painting for two years.

"Although I’ve always dabbled in painting and crafts, I did not pursue my interest until my retirement. I inherited my mother’s art supplies around that time and was surprised to discover a set of acrylic paints among the oil paints I remembered as the medium for her hobby and for my own introduction to painting. Although my first attempts were frustrating, I quickly came to appreciate the versatility of acrylics and they became my preferred medium.

"Ours in a beautiful country, and at first I painted just the grand vistas, the majestic landscapes and dramatic skies I encountered in my travels. However, I also find inspiration on my daily walks, observing what runners and faster walkers may overlook – spiderwebs shimmering with dew, insect husks hanging on tree trunks, the interplay of shadow and light on paths and trees, the cloud formations reflecting in the lake, the sudden appearance of wildlife that call East Tennessee home.

"In my art, I seek to invite the viewer into those quiet places, to be still, to watch and to be at peace."

Pictured is one of the paintings in the exhibit, Morning Glory (2022), Acrylic on canvas

The exhibit runs through October 31, 2022. The ORUUC Gallery is open during the church’s regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sundays. To contact Terri, email terrimcmim@gmail.com.