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Tech’s Joan Derryberry Art Gallery to feature textile artist Deborah Kruger
Deborah Kruger. Photo credit: Doug Winter
An exhibition titled “AVIANTO” by award winning textile artist Deborah Kruger will
be on display in Tennessee Tech University’s Joan Derryberry Art Gallery beginning
Aug. 17 and continuing through Sept 14.
The exhibition is part of the Center Stage fall 2023 series and will include an artist’s
talk on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.
Kruger describes the exhibition as “very colorful feathered artwork” made with recycled
plastics and fashioned together to deliver a commentary on endangered wildlife, cultures
and languages that Kruger hopes will stir audiences to take action.
“All of my artwork from the last 12 years has been inspired by endangered birds, which
are threatened by habitat fragmentation,” said Kruger. “In the course of my research,
I realized that indigenous cultures and languages are also threatened by the same
issues. I decided to layer these images together in all the pieces that appear in
AVIANTO, my solo exhibition at the Joan Derryberry Gallery.”
Kruger honed her craft at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York
City and has taught, lectured and exhibited her artwork in museums, galleries and
universities around the world for nearly 40 years. She explains that her exhibition
at Tech has been years in the making.
One of the works set to be featured in Kruger’s exhibition at Tech. Photo credit:
Carlos Diaz Corona.
“I was invited to exhibit at Tennessee Tech just before the pandemic,” said Kruger.
“Like art projects around the world, AVIANTO had to take the back burner while we
all struggled to learn how to live and work in a pandemic landscape. I have been in
regular contact with the gallery and college and I'm pleased that AVIANTO is finally
going on view for the entire Tennessee Tech community.”
Admission to Center Stage events is free, unless otherwise noted. The events are paid
for by student fees and open to the public. Priority seating at the Sept. 14 artist’s
talk is given to Tech students. For more information, contact the Gallery at JDAG@tntech.edu.
The Joan Derryberry Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Roaden University
Center at 1000 N. Dixie Ave, Cookeville. Gallery hours vary. To learn more, visit
https://www.tntech.edu/centerstage/jdag/index.php.
