IN THE tennessean...Twist, it's three years and counting

The Tennessean

July 26, 2009

For Twist, it's three years and counting

Twist Art Gallery is opening shows in both its Arcade spaces during next Saturday's Art Crawl: paintings by Angela Burks in 73 and Love Letters to the Post Office, a collection of postcards created and sent to the gallery in an effort to save the Arcade post office, in 58. Twist is also celebrating its third anniversary from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday.

"There will definitely be cake," says Twist co-owner Beth Gilmore, along with Eastern Block performing downstairs and a limited edition third anniversary poster.

Designed by Laura Baisden, the poster features the familiar pink and green color scheme and "elephant" from Twist's logo. Embracing the elephant is just one example of how Gilmore and partner in art Caroline Carlisle have gone with the flow when it comes to their gallery.

After being introduced by mutual friend Lain York from Zeitgeist Gallery, Gilmore and Carlisle decided on their Arcade space a week or so later, becoming the second of two galleries there. Their name came from lists each compiled.

"I was just thinking it needs to be an action word and it needs to be short," Gilmore says. She also liked the symmetry of "twist." Andee Rudloff and Stacey Irwin designed the logo. "It's twist ties," Gilmore explains. "It does look like an elephant and we have come to love that."

They also love shows that completely transform their spaces. Lauren Kussro's 2007 installation of paper flowers suspended from the ceiling remains one of Carlisle's favorites. Gilmore remembers the Whole Milk show, also from 2007, featuring four Minneapolis-based artists who also created a 30-foot-by-80-foot mural on a wall between the Viridian condo high-rise and Downtown Presbyterian Church.

"This has really been a nice creative break," Carlisle says. She says low rent in the Arcade allows them to focus on more than being a commercial venture. "It's nice when we sell things and we hope to sell things, but it's not the whole reason we exist."

Love Letters to the Post Office in Twist 58 and Angela Burks' paintings at Twist 73 remain on view through Aug. 29 in the Arcade. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission fee. For information, call 888-535-5286 or go to http://www.twistartgallery.com">www.twistartgallery.com

— MICHELLE JONES, FOR THE TENNESSEAN.