Magoffin native to have art exhibit in Prestonsburg

From Jennifer Lynn Newman
Public Relations Coordinator, Big Sandy Community & Technical College

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. – Brooklynn Dyer-Watkins was born and raised in Magoffin County, Kentucky. After graduating high school, she moved away from home and family to explore the world and find her calling.

Brooklynn found a passion for art along the way, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts from Morehead State University and her Master’s in Arts in Teaching from the University of the Cumberland’s. When she returned home, her art soon led her to work with other inspiring local artists like Tom Whitaker. She visited Tom at his cabin in Salyersville and got a firsthand look at some of his original art pieces.

“He was an incredible person. He showed me his art and how he painted and was so inspirational to me as well as so many others,” said Dyer-Watkins. “Tom’s love for art and knowing he could share it worked out for him, so I knew it could work for me too!”

Dyer-Watkins has been fortunate to have her show at the Mountain Arts Center Art Gallery as well as being featured among other artists at the Grayson Art Gallery. Dyer-Watkins medium of choice is watercolor, in which she has painted with for over ten years. However, for the upcoming exhibit MOU – in Moments, she chose to work with oil, acrylic, and other mixed media.

MOU, in Moments, has a special meaning for Dyer-Watkins. MOU stands for Me in Greek; she paints herself as a ghost in the paintings and representative of important life events, memories, and even future dreams – such as visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

Her art exhibition will open at the McCall Art Gallery on March 22, 2023, with a reception beginning at 3:30 p.m. For information regarding the show, you can contact McCall Art Gallery Curator Matt Smith by phone at 606-889-4767 or by email at msmith0588@kctcs.edu.