By Meghan E. Gattignolo
Since 2023, the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery at 106 N. 2nd Street has become an important piece of the local community and Clarksville’s downtown art scene. His gallery provides a public space for Clarksville’s artists. The gallery works closely with local businesses, other galleries, and artists to help new voices get noticed. Swinton is particularly interested in giving under-represented artists and art mediums a platform.
All above images from “Re” exhibition by Lorenzo Swinton. Images Courtesy of the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery.
“We All Feel”
Swinton has been an artist in one form or another since childhood. After a stint in pursuing music, he decided to go all in on his artistic endeavors. His artwork is influenced by how he views the world, and his personal challenges in that world. Swinton’s mixed media abstract work uses bold, contrasting colors to convey strong emotions. Every canvas is steeped in the message that “we’re all human, we all feel.”
When he experienced some adversity and challenges as an artist, Swinton noticed a void in the art community. In a city growing as fast as Clarksville, there just wasn’t enough spaces to showcase local talent. His new goal on top of his own artistic endeavors includes promoting all artists, particularly artists who are often overlooked in traditional art communities. Artists who work in unusual media, those who use the creation of art for emotional healing and want to promote that message, and artists from historically disadvantaged groups are among those Swinton wants to platform.
Top left and center: From “Reconquista” exhibition by German Rojas, Dalia Garcia, Alex Reyes, and Ruben Torres. Bottom center, and bottom right: From the “Reshape of Etymology” exhibition by Lucien Stark, Meghan Jernigan, Simone Wilder, and Lorenzo Swinton. Top right and Bottom left: From the “Queendom Come” exhibition by Alice Aida Ayers, Marteja Bailey, and Megan Jordan. Images Courtesy of the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery.
The Gallery
In the course of its young life, the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery has already hosted a variety of unique exhibits. Exhibits featured are sometimes collaborative with works from several artists at once but also shows solo exhibitions. Some artists featured at the gallery have enjoyed previous attention at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and with the Downtown Artists Co-Op, such as C. Douglas Charlton, D.C. Thomas, and Jim Diehr. Many others offer brand-new perspectives.
Earlier this year, a collaborative exhibit called “Waves of Colorways” showcased three different artists. The art featured was created from a mix of media and textures, often with unusual materials, textiles, and wearable art that spoke to the artists’ backgrounds in a beautiful way. The exhibit also included an interesting collaboration with a nearby business to add to the show and tie all the artists’ pieces together in an unexpected way: colorful shoes from 931 Kicks.
Left: From “Waves of Colorways” exhibition by Alexis Jones, Paz Suay, and Allamylle. Center: “Waves of Colorways” exhibition poster. Right: “Re” exhibition poster by Lorenzo Swinton. Images Courtesy of the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery.
Swinton’s own work is sometimes on display as well, such as his solo exhibition last fall, “Re,” a colorful display that spoke to Swinton’s past. He revisited work he’d moved on from, such as his neo-Jazz interpretations, and he remembered projects he’d done with family in the past with new expressions. When offering advice to new artists, Swinton says, it’s more important to simply “try to portray how you view the world,” rather than approach art from the desire to be successful.
Swinton uses his gallery to showcase to the world what Clarksville has to offer. He recognizes the need to show tourists and new transplants how creative a place Clarksville can be. “When people travel to Clarksville, we want them to be inspired by our community,” says Swinton.
“I think art in our community plays a pivotal role when it comes to showcasing local talent to our community, and I invite people to our gallery in order to see what we have going on.”
Come And See
Make the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery part of your evening with “America-ugh,” a solo exhibition by artist Luke Warren, Assistant Professor of Sculpture at Austin Peay State University. This exhibit challenges the normalization of gun violence within American culture. The exhibition opens this week, July 3 from 5 – 8 p.m.
The Lorenzo Swinton Gallery is an enthusiastic participant in Clarksville’s monthly Downtown Art Walk event. The next Art Walk is July 10th starting at 5 p.m.
On July 10, also head to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center to catch a special live event and discussion panel in association with the exhibit “Embracing Blackness: Diasporic Unions,” which highlights some local artists, including Lorenzo Swinton, and other Tennessee artists as part of a larger exhibit. The event at the Customs House Museum begins at 5 p.m.
From Luke Warren’s “Americ-Ugh” exhibition. Images Courtesy of the Lorenzo Swinton Gallery.
References:
https://www.lorenzoswintongallery.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lorenzoswintongallery/
https://www.visitclarksvilletn.com/blog/post/artist-of-the-quarter-lorenzo-swinton/
Meghan E. Gattignolo is a freelance writer and longtime Clarksville, TN resident. She loves to obsess about historical subjects and annoy her family daily with unsolicited random facts. Meghan holds a History B.A. from Austin Peay State University and lives in town with her husband and two children.