The East Tennessee Historical Society will feature Rebecca P’Simer discussing artist Samuel M. Shaver at noon Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the ET History Center, 601 S. Gay Street. Seating is limited, so pre-register here. The lecture is free, and attendees may bring a brown bag lunch.
The lecture will be available online on the ETHS Facebook page or via Zoom.
During the run of the current feature exhibition, “Shaver: An Artist of Rare Merit,” P’Simer, curator of collections at ETHS, will speak about Shaver’s life and the evolution of his work.
From the Center’s announcement: “By exploring the influential families that crossed paths with East Tennessee’s first native-born artist, we in turn begin to understand his development as an artist and the characteristics that identify his work, as well as his life and experiences. Rebecca will feature a selection of his works from the collection held at the East Tennessee History Center and works that exist elsewhere. After the presentation, in-person attendees can explore 19 works by Shaver in the Museum of East Tennessee History’s Rogers-Claussen Feature Gallery.”
P’Simer joined the ETHS staff in 2018. Her primary responsibilities include the documentation, care and conservation of the 16,000-item artifact collection and coordination of artifact donations and loans. She also assists with content development and installation of in-house and traveling exhibits, works with conservators as needed, and serves as a resource for researchers and curators from other institutions. Rebecca has a degree in history with a focus on the Antebellum South from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a master’s in history from the University of Memphis.
Established in 1834, the East Tennessee Historical Society is widely acknowledged as one of the most active history organizations in the state and enjoys a national reputation for excellence in programming and education.