Homegrown Stories

Terry Spangler Dunham

January 30-March 1, 2026

Homegrown Stories

Opening reception: January 31, 5:00-8:30 pm

Gallery talk: February 1, 1:30

Artists’ demo immediately following talk

Terry Spangler Dunham:
The Homegrown Stories series show is about small events in daily life that prove important enough to imprint themselves and develop into tangible work.

I see life as a series of stories: moments that are poetic; concise narratives that consist of a beginning, middle and end around one event; chapters that divide our years into manageable segments; and finally, the novel that encompasses our entire life. A story can be told visually, in words or in other forms of expression.

The stories that are most important to me are those small moments that surprisingly capture my attention, are cultivated by my focus on them, then become attached or fixed as something I want to express creatively.

These stories emerge from everyday experience and sometimes don’t bubble up until after the experience. Suddenly in retrospect I’ll notice that an image keeps recurring to me, then maybe see a pattern of images, then begin to understand their significance, pursue any research and work out some expression as a painting, drawing, print or written story. At times I know immediately that an image is something I want to capture and focus on.

Sometimes the stories materialize visually, sometimes as words. Worded stories can come to me from life or as a result of photographs, drawings, paintings or other artwork I’ve already made. And artwork concepts can crop up spontaneously or from written work. Either way, they tangle together then become a series of pieces as I edit and refine.

There is always some autobiographical element to my work, then imagination reigns.

The Homegrown Stories series pulls together these quiet ideas that have sprouted and been cultivated into a story that is more than the initial small thought or notice.

I’ve invited Sherrie Spangler and Charlotte Pollock as guest artists. Home-inspired artwork is important to them as well, and they each have their own take on the theme.

Sherrie:
My textile art reflects my love for the colorful and dramatic Sonoran Desert, which surrounds my home in Tucson, AZ.

Charlotte:
My paintings juxtapose imagery and landscapes to mirror the subjective in-between spaces where memories, tall tales and homegrown stories live.