Artist's Statement

"I strongly believe in loving life and living it to its fullest; sharing my blessings and the strengths and talents that are uniquely my own and supporting others to do the same. I work in oils, acrylics and other mediums with a primary focus on my East Tennessee home, the beautiful mountains, people and heritage. My theme is Art for the Heart."

​bio...  

​In the Arts.....
-  Assistant Director for the Johnson County Center for the Arts.
 -Active Member of the original Board of Long Journey Home.
-Teach classes and provide art supplies to children through many projects including the Sunshine and Smiles Program.
-Worked with  Johnson County Arts Council to provide over 20 scholarships to graduating seniors  with over 15 years of service.
-Awards and honors : 3rd place Best in Show at the Long Journey Home Art Show in 2016 and 2017,  a Chamber of Commerce Award, Danny Herman Traveler's Award, an Ed Cook Memorial Award as well as a People's Choice Award for my paintings; was a featured artist of the JCAC Art in the Garden and have placed 1st and 2nd in Johnson County Art Shows and was chosen to paint an ornament for TN First Lady Haslam for the TN Residence. My work was featured in the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation's Book of the Heart and in several Tomahawk newspaper articles.
-Murals: I  had the honor of painting a mural of the Lopsided 3 train that ran in Johnson County for the 2018 Long Journey Home Musical Heritage Tour, was one of the artists to paint the 1925 Fiddler's Convention Mural, worked with artists to paint  "Legacies" 2019 murals and led a Grief Workshop to complete a "Music of the Mountains Mural " for 2020.  I worked with artists Cristy Dunn and Lewis Chapman to paint the mural "A Day in the Life of a Song" for the Musical Mural Mile  2020 and worked with artist Cristy Dunn to create  the "I'll Fly Away" interactive mural in Mountain City, TN in 2021.
-Personal Artwork: I most recently completed a series entitled "My Favorite Places" which shares the beauty and heritage of Johnson County. I was one of the first Artists in Residence at the Johnson County Center for the Arts December -March, 2022 and was featured in the community show "Embracing Authenticity in 2022 and the "l'll Fly Away " show in 2021. I have  art work in the homes and business of many and enjoy using my art to help make  lives better.
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Career and Community.....
-State of TN Licensed and Nationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Criminal Justice Specialist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 30 years counseling background (LADC,NCACII, CCJS, CCTP credentials).
- State of TN  Licensed PreNeed Insurance Agent and working solely with Mountain City Funeral Home as a PreNeed Counselor.
-  20 year career in customer service at Johnson County Bank. 
-  Past President of many organizations such as Kiwanis, Civitan, Positive Thinkers Women's Civic Club, Johnson County Arts Council and the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation and have been a board member of Heritage Hall Theatre, United Way of Johnson County and Relay for Life among others; served as Chair of the Taste of the Mountains event which raised over 40,000 for the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation and served two terms as Board Chair. Currently an Johnson County Advocate for Isaiah 117 House and Community Advocate for the Arts and Community Helping Organizations.
- Event organizer to raise money for those affected by cancer,  organized the Copperhead Road runs in memory of my Dad and other events for the Johnson County Cancer Support Group. 
-  Awards and Honors: Recipient of the Rotary Club Volunteer of the Year Award, the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce Mary Ahrends Volunteer of the Year Award  and the Civitan of the Year Award.
-Hobbies include enjoying grandkids, practicing yoga, walking and farming. I have participated in 5k events, including Girls of the Run with my granddaughters, participated three years in Walk Across TN and ran a half marathon for Niswonger Children's Hospital. 
-I am the wife of Johnson County Sheriff Retired, Mike Reece. Mother of Kenny and Johnny and his wife April and step daughter Mikah. I have four grandchildren, Madisyn, Lillian, Macie and Fields.  As the oldest of seven children of Earnest and Shirley Odom , I have been supported and enjoyed the talents and love of people and of God that have been passed down to me.
-I am a long time member of Dewey Christian Church.

Proud Member of

Past member of the Heritage Hall Theatre Board of Directors.

Mary Ahrends Volunteer of the Year Award 2015 by Johnson County Chamber of Commerce.

"Impressionistic Play" In Oils ...Grandkids Lillian, Macie, Fields & Madisyn

Working with children in Sunshine & Smiles and Budding Artists is a blessing to me... 

A work of art created by a collaboration of children in one of my art classes. Each child painted an iris and they did their own iris paintings in acrylics.

      ...and I love doing  Art & Renewal  Classes!

                                                                                     
                          
    ​   "When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or the life of another."    -Helen Keller