Fall 2026
Come celebrate Sewanee artists, Sewanee-inspired art, and so much more! Our gallery currently features works by Laura Blackman, Tom Howick, Diane Jones, Tony Winters, Keith Killebrew, Phil Ponder, Connie Keetle, Lawrence Ellis, Ben Potter, and more.
Abstract Painting Workshop with Lendon Noe
Only two spots left! Join artist Lendon Noe for a full-day exploration of abstraction through color, form, gesture, and intuitive mark-making on September 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Frame Gallery!
This hands-on workshop invites participants to move beyond representation and discover how line, shape, color, texture, and composition can serve as expressive tools. Through guided exercises and studio time, participants will experiment with building abstract images using watercolor and other water-soluble media.
Lendon will guide participants in exploring how artists use layering, repetition, contrast, movement, and visual rhythm to create meaningful compositions. The emphasis is on curiosity and discovery — allowing ideas to develop through the process rather than focusing on perfection.
The day will include instruction, demonstrations, individual guidance, and time to develop personal work in a supportive studio environment.
Participants will leave with new approaches to abstraction, a deeper understanding of abstract art, and one or more original works created during the workshop.
Schedule:
10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Introduction, exercises, and exploration
12:00–1:00 PM — Lunch break (bring your own lunch or enjoy one of Sewanee’s local restaurants)
1:00–4:00 PM — Studio time and individual guidance
Who Should Attend:
Open to beginners and experienced artists alike. No previous experience with abstract painting is required — only curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
Registration:
This workshop is limited to 8 participants (only two spots remaining!), and the $145 registration fee includes supplies.
A few paintings from Lendon Noe's "To Sit With a Flower" exhibit are still available for sale in the Gallery and online.
“In Decline” is an oil and acrylic ink on canvas measuring 20" x 40" by Lendon Noe ($1,500).
Side by Side
Page Schley and Connie Keetle: A Mother-Daughter Exhibition
Save the Date! October 2–31 | Reception: October 9, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Page Schley (L) and Connie Keetle (R) at Frame Gallery Gifts & Art.
Frame Gallery is delighted to present "Side by Side," an exhibition featuring mother and daughter Page Schley and Connie Keetle, both talented Sewanee artists.
The exhibition will include landscapes and florals, with styles ranging from abstraction to realism. Working on canvas and paper, Page and Connie use a variety of media, including acrylics, oils, walnut ink, and Dr. Ph. Martin’s Tech Drawing ink.
While Page and Connie share a passion for creating art, each brings her own perspective and individual expression to her work. Presented together, their pieces offer a special look at the creative connection between two generations, and the distinctive artistic voice of each woman.
Many of you already know Connie as one of our own FrameGals, and we are especially excited to welcome her mother, Page, to the gallery.
The exhibition will be on view from October 2 to 31. Please join us for a reception honoring Page and Connie on Friday, October 9, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. More details to come!
Afterschool Art Crew
Harriet Runkle, owner of Frame Gallery, will lead Make Art Like Great Artists, a four-class series for eight students from a local homeschool community.
Students will learn about four very different artists and then create art inspired by their work—cutting, arranging, dotting, balancing, and seeing the world in new ways.
Julia Brodskaya: Coil, roll, and layer colorful paper strips to create a vibrant quilled artwork
Yayoi Kusama: Explore dots, repetition, and pattern
Alexander Calder: Experiment with balance and movement to create a mobile
Pablo Picasso: Play with shape and perspective to create a whimsical portrait
This series was privately arranged for a local homeschool group. If you are interested in participating in—or organizing—a similar class, we would love to hear from you!
Blue Chair Tavern: An Art Partnership
We’re excited to partner with The Blue Chair Tavern as a Frame Gallery Art Partner! Through this program, we’re bringing original work by local and regional artists into places around our community where people already gather, dine, and spend time. The artwork will change throughout the year, giving you a chance to discover something new—and every piece is available for purchase through Frame Gallery.
The Blue Chair is featuring Lawrence Ellis’s stunning hand-folded Sewanee Tiger paper sculptures. They’re a perfect way to celebrate this artist and the Sewanee spirit.
So the next time you’re at The Blue Chair, take a look at the walls. You might just find your next favorite piece of art.
Frame Gallery Art Partners — bringing original art into the places we gather.
Welcome Class of 2030!
What a fabulous evening we had at TigerFest last Tuesday, August 25, celebrating Sewanee’s incoming Class of 2030!
With TigerFest taking place the night before the first day of classes, there were plenty of opportunities for the new students to work off some nervous energy, have fun, and make new friends. All the FrameGals were on hand, adding their own creative flair. Connie made the colorful targets for our Paper Airplane Challenge, and Diane created the signs.
Our “I’ve Been Framed” Photo Booth was a hit as always, along with the Paper Airplane Challenge and Chalk the Walk. We were especially excited to meet so many art enthusiasts in the new class and look forward to welcoming them to Frame Gallery Gifts and Art!
Custom Framing Feature
Our latest Friday's favorite framing project surrounds this whimsical, colorful, and playful painting, “The Girls.” We chose a blue-green frame that picks up the beautiful blues and greens throughout the painting, while the frame's pattern and texture echo the details and textures in the girls' clothing.
Let us help you make your favorite painting even better!
Favorite Gifts
Our favorite gift for this issue is the Prosperity Tota, hand-stitched, stuffed, beaded, and strung together by women artisans in the small village of Chota Narena in northern India. These traditional pieces have been hung in Indian homes for generations and are believed to bring prosperity and good luck when placed in a doorway or window.
Each 46-inch-long tota is made by hand from cotton fabric and beads, with a brass bell attached at the end. You’ll see them hanging around Frame Gallery, and we can assure you—they work! Designed to hang straight down, they add a colorful, decorative touch to any room.
