Meet some of the artists who live and work in South Main Artspace
Name: David Quarles IV
Age: 29
Art form: Jewelry (main focus) and interior styling
“My work is inspired by my family's cultural heritage as well as the appreciation for other cultures. I like to modernize my family's history through each jewelry design. I also draw a lot of inspiration from nature. Sitting outside, observing God's creation in the moon, stars, planets, bodies of water. My creations are just a form of appreciation and interpretation of what was created for us.”
(Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Name: Tonya Renee Dyson
Age: 40
Art form: Singer/songwriter/creative entrepreneur
“I was interested in Artspace because I loved the idea of being surrounded by other creative individuals 24 hours a day.”
(Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Name: Sarah Bishop
Age: 26
Art form: Jewelry
“I’ve been an artist my whole life. Art is not an object that is rendered into completion; it is a mindset, simply put. Everything I do has a creative twist to it.”
(Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Name: Sheree Renée Thomas
Age: 46
Art form: Writing, editing, publishing and the occasional artwork/installation
“I was interested in Artspace because after living in New York City for two decades and returning home, I missed the community of artists — poets, quilters, photographers, painters, book publishing people, and of course musicians. I lived in Harlem and on the Upper West Side, and in the city, you couldn’t walk a block without running into an artist or someone you knew. I missed that easy camaraderie and the spontaneity that came out of being in a place where art was the air folks breathed. I imagine Artspace Memphis as being our version of that old school classic, "Fame." Musicians collaborating, poets and artists chatting, dancers pirouetting in the halls. At some point I’m going to break out my Debbie Allen impression! I’ve got a driftwood cane ready!”
(Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Name: Johnathan Martin AKA Malik Tha Martian
Age: 30
Art form: Photography
“I was interested in Artspace because as an artist I have always sacrificed housing for my art. When I first started this journey while working full-time, my lease was up, and instead of getting another apartment, I bought a tent and camped for six months. During that time, instead of paying rent, I paid myself and bought my camera, a couple lenses, my MacBook and programs.”
(Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Topics
Artspace ArtUp Paul Thomas Tonya Dyson
Elle Perry
Elle Perry is a reporter and digital producer. The Memphis native and two-time University of Memphis graduate has written for publications including The Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Flyer and High Ground News, and previously served as coordinator of The Teen Appeal.