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Russell C. Bennett,
artist and art instructor from Gray, TN, finds himself actively involved
in many artistic roles in local schools,
communities and across the
state. He wears the professional hats of artist, art educator, and art
advocate with pride.
He contributes his talents daily and in
many different ways.
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with Phillip Pearlstein
with Sandy Skoglund
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As
artist, Russell has exhibited in numbers of shows across Tennessee and
Virginia.
Recently, he has explored the outlet of social media to display and sell
his work through his events like the 2010 event “ART365.”
This event challenged Russell to create a small artwork for everyday of
the year 2010. He has five solo
shows to his credit. In 2008, he exhibited his ceramic sculptures along
side those of his students in an exhibit titled “Eye to Eye: Instructor
And His Pupils” at the Johnson City Arts Council Gallery. Due to the
exhibit “Art, Religion and the Human Condition” at Belmont University in
Nashville (2001) and The Renaissance Center in Kingsport (2003), Russell
has appeared in articles in the Johnson City Press, The Kingsport
Times-News, and The Bristol Herald-Courier and had appearances on
WCYB-TV5. He has works at Boones Creek Potters Gallery and Nelson’s Fine
Art Gallery. He has also created graphics
and other designs for such clients as Ernie Haase and Signature Sound,
Tribute Media Source, as well as other local musical artists.
His works are in private and
public collections in Tennessee, Maryland, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Minnesota.
As art educator, Russell has taught at all levels since 1994. His early
teaching years in Greene County found Russell creating school art
programs, authoring Goals 2000 Grant, and regularly exhibiting his
students’ artworks. Russell began his career with the Kingsport City
Schools in 2000 at Washington Elementary. He was awarded the Tennessee Art
Education Association’s Outstanding Art Educator of the Year in 2005. The
year 2005 to present has found Russell at Dobyns-Bennett High School as
the ceramics instructor and Advanced Placement drawing instructor. Russell
conducts workshops and other learning opportunities on local, state and
national levels.
Russell
conducts workshops and other learning opportunities on local, state and
national levels for such organizations as Tennessee Art Education
Association and the Johnson City Area Arts Council.
As art advocate, Russell has served the executive board of the Tennessee
Art Education Association from 1998 to 2009. In 2002, he was elected
President by his peers and in 2009 he concluded the last of a seven year
presidential term. Russell has given his time and talents to many local
churches, local arts guilds, senior citizens programs and various other
arts endeavors. He was awarded the 2003 Distinguished Service Award by the
Alabama Art Education Association and was recognized by the Arts Council
of Greater Kingsport with their 2004 Arts Leadership Award.
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