150th Anniversary Of Collierville TN
“Collierville 1870-2020” Fine Art Poster was commissioned by the City of Collierville TN for the 150th Anniversary of the town. It was revealed on February 17th at Collierville Town Square.
COLLIERVILLE 1870-2020 150th ANNIVERSARY PAINTING
COLLIERVILLE 150 PORTRAIT ARTIST CAPTURES THE TOWN’S HISTORY IN BRILLIANT COLOR
Evelina Dillon’s painting Collierville, 1870-2020, manages to pack a whole lot of Collierville’s 150 years of history into one canvas. Details of time, place, and events are placed side by side in a sort of time traveler’s dream map that is illuminated and balanced with all the vibrant colors of life in our Town.
But then, Dillon is kind of a connoisseur of place and purpose. Pictured: Artist Evelina Dillon
Dillon is a FIRST-GENERATION immigrant, having been born and raised in Uzbekistan. She moved to the United States in 1996, and besides Memphis, has lived in Columbus, Ohio and Charleston, West Virginia. She studied music and worked in that field for a while, then made an abrupt turn and began working in cosmetology. It’s only been in recent years that Dillon has turned to creating art on canvas, and her present level of skill was made with participation in small classes and WORKSHOPS AND observing the techniques of other artists. She’s a member of the Memphis-Germantown Art League and the Oil Painters of America and has shown her work in individual and joint exhibitions in the Memphis area. Last year, Dillon won the 2019 Memphis in May Fine Art Poster contest for Memphis’s Bicentennial.
Dillon first encountered Collierville and her people in 2017 when the painter won an art contest organized by the Friends of the Morton Museum. Sales of the winning artwork went to benefit the restoration of the Frisco 1351 steam locomotive. The experience of working with a community of people who were willing to step up and take an active role in preserving their history appealed to Dillon, and she looked for another opportunity to create more art for and about the Town of Collierville. That opportunity came when word got out about Collierville’s 150th anniversary. Dr. Jane Hester, who used to be on Collierville’s Tourism Board, told Tourism Director Ashley Carver that Dillon was interested, and the two connected.
Besides her previous work with the Town’s people, Dillon said that Clarene Pinkston Russell’s book, Collierville, Tennessee: Her People and Neighbors, was a great source of inspiration for the 150th anniversary painting. She said she wanted to share what she had learned about Collierville and her people through the painting.
“By painting historic landmarks, schools, official buildings, city heirlooms and mentioning the names of people and organizations, the art showcases what the citizens of Collierville have created over the last 150 years,” said Dillon. “They’ve created a place to call home. When challenges arose, they stepped up to make their home better for themselves and future generations. I hope this painting celebrates their accomplishments; I feel honored to represent Collierville’s history with my work.”
Do you want to see the painting? Join us at the 150th Anniversary Celebration, February 17, 2020, at 12:30 p.m. on Collierville Town Square. This free, community event will include the unveiling of Dillion's Collierville 150 portrait, entertainment, brief remarks from local officials, a proclamation from Mayor Stan Joyner, and of course, cupcakes.
February 3, 2020
