Jaqueline Holloway or Jackie Holloway as she is known in town is as multidimensional as her artistry, and as dedicated to community as an artist to their masterpiece.
Jackie’s journey began in rural Tennessee where she created art in multiple forms of nature and developed techniques learned at Pellissippi State Community College for graphic arts to enhance the work.
Jackie’s personal art piece
Art by Jackie, a unique product and service line, opened in 2004 and by 2007, she began vending at local festivals, conferences, flea markets and other special events. Jackie moved a shed into her backyard which she renovated into an art studio with the ability to work on larger projects and produce more items to sell.
Knowing the personal impact of art and how its self-expression can impact emotional development, Jackie’s true passion was to development the first art program under The Literacy Imperative Inc. (TLI) umbrella, in Knoxville called The Canvas Can Do Miracles Art Studio, (CCDM) which began in 2008 with Jaqueline as the visionary/facilitator.
Holloway served as the art department director of the CCDM national faith-based, literacy and social enterprise initiative from 2008-13, gaining valuable knowledge and experience while operating, teaching, fundraising, grant writing and coordinating the program until it closed when the building was sold.
The TLI program offered free art classes to adults who were struggling with substance abuse and to at-risk children as well. Holloway incorporated community involvement and art awareness by planning events at local museums, art exhibits, nursing homes and other organizations in the area including field trips to skating rinks, amusement parks, nursing homes and other attractions making the classes unique.
Passion and dedication cannot be easily squelched, so The Canvas Can Do Miracles Art Studio opened its replacement location at The Avenue, 2128 Magnolia Avenue, in June of 2019, becoming an official nonprofit in October 2019, determined to make an impact by using artistic talents and techniques to build self-esteem and increase knowledge of careers using the skills learned.
The program is offering free art classes to children and adult artists, as well as to individuals with substance abuse issues or homeless on Wednesdays from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. at a temporary location at Wesley House on 1719 Reynolds Street, with classes being community-based so everyone is welcome. The program only has satellite locations now and the list keeps growing with the organization running a capital campaign to raise funds for a permanent location.
To find out more: The Canvas Can Do Miracles
Jackie’s self-published coloring book
Jackie is also pursuing a lifelong love of writing. She began writing a self-illustrated, fantasy novel based on her upbringing in the south, but aligned with the start of slavery in the 1800s. It is titled Black Pearl: Tossed To and Fro, a story that begins off the Ivory Coast of Africa in the 1800s. This is a multi-book series; the first novel chronicles their lives to 1970, the second brings them through the 20th century, and the last brings them up to 2020. Holloway’s plan to complete illustrations for the novel will include original colorful paintings, depicting the landscapes, characters and costumes, keeping the readers intrigued.
Holloway has illustrated and self-produced three coloring books: Boy Coloring Book, Girl Coloring Book and Abstract Coloring Book, given with paints at Christmas to local nursing homes by volunteers.
Jackie markets several pieces of artwork through her website, Art by Jackie.
In 2021, Jacqueline Holloway’s accomplishments were recognized and she was the YWCA’s Art and Culture Women of the Year honorees.
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