[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO JIM GRAY

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 2003

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, on March 12, 2003, Jim Gray, a member of my 
constituency, was honored with Tennessee's highest artistic award. The 
Tennessee Arts Commission presented Jim with the Distinguished Artist 
Award as a part of the 2003 Governor's Awards in the Arts in Nashville, 
TN.
  Jim's artistic drive has been with him his entire life, and he used 
his talents to guide his career as a young adult as an illustrator, an 
advertising executive, and as a technical illustrator in the United 
States Air Force.
  After a visit with his family to the Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park in 1966, Jim found an artistic inspiration that he had never felt 
before. This inspiration led him to move to east Tennessee, where his 
desire to paint the beauty of the Tennessee countryside became his 
passion.
  Throughout the years, Jim has sold more than 2,000 paintings and 
125,000 prints to collectors in the United States and abroad. He has 
won several other awards, has been commissioned to do many major works, 
and has held workshops where he has instructed hundreds of students. 
His two sculptures of President Andrew Johnson are on display at 
Johnson's hometown of Greeneville, TN and at the Tennessee State 
Capitol Building in Nashville. Most recently, Jim's painting titled 
``Rising Above'' was purchased as part of the Knoxville Convention 
Center art collection.
  I am proud to display one of Jim's paintings in the entrance of my 
Washington, D.C. office.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the readers of the Congressional Record and my 
fellow colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating Jim Gray for his achievements. On April 4th of this 
year, Jim will again be honored at a reception at the Knoxville Museum 
of Art, and a copy of this congratulatory statement will be presented 
to him. I also include here today an article written about Jim from the 
Knoxville News-Sentinel.
  Jim's art continues to be an inspiration to us all and I am pleased 
today to speak on his behalf.

               State Honors 2 of Its Greatest Grace Notes


    Dolly Parton, artist Jim Gray win Tennessee's highest award for 
                          achievement in arts

                           (By Terry Morrow)

       Nashville, Mar. 12, 2003.--A couple of hundred miles away 
     from their beloved Smoky Mountains, singer Dolly Parton and 
     artist Jim Gray found common ground Tuesday night on the 
     stage of Ryman Auditorium.
       It was there that the Tennessee Arts Commission paid 
     tribute to them with the 2003 Governor's Awards in the Arts, 
     the state's highest artistic honor. Parton received the 
     Lifetime Achievement Award for numerous musical, educational 
     and thespian achievements. Gray was recognized with a 
     Distinguished Artist Award for his maritime paintings and his 
     part in helping to create the artists' community in 
     Gatlinburg.
       Eleven people and three organizations from across the state 
     were honored at the ceremony. Parton, a Nashville resident, 
     and Gray, who lives in Knoxville, attended as did Gov. Phil 
     Bredesen and other state dignitaries, including David 
     Willard, director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in 
     Gatlinburg, Knox County Commissioner Mary Lou Horner, Randy 
     Tyree and Ted Miller, vice president of Dollywood.
       Speaking at the ceremony, Bredesen, who is a painter, said 
     the arts should be able to weather the state's current budget 
     crisis.
       Parton was cited not only for her many musical hits but for 
     her educational pursuits in Sevier County. In her native 
     county, Parton boosted the already thriving economy in Pigeon 
     Forge when she retooled Silver Dollar City into Dollywood in 
     the mid-1980s. She later created the Dollywood Foundation and 
     the Imagination Library, which encourages children to read.
       ``This is called a Lifetime Achievement Award, but I ain't 
     done yet,'' Parton said, indicating she was working with 
     Bredesen to extend her Imagination Library beyond East 
     Tennessee. Addressing the fact that the award was a 
     ``lifetime'' award, Parton said, ``That makes you feel old. 
     I don't feel old. I don't look that old. As long as I have 
     those surgeons in California, I won't look that old.''
       In a tribute to Parton, the Peasall sisters sang Parton's 
     hit that many consider her autobiographical single, ``Coat of 
     Many Colors.'' The sisters, who are from Whitehouse, were 
     part of the ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' soundtrack and 
     appeared in the film.
       Others receiving the Distinguished Artist Award were 
     Chattanooga musician Roland Carter and Memphis sculptor 
     Luther Hampton. Ralph Blizard, a legendary old-time fiddler 
     from Blountville, won the Folk Heritage Award.
       Parton and Gray were noted for their particular 
     contributions in East Tennessee. Many of Parton's songs are 
     based on her East Tennessee childhood. Gray's work often 
     includes majestic scenes of the Great Smoky Mountains. Moving 
     from Mobile, Ala., in 1966 to Gatlinburg, Gray aided in 
     creating the city's arts and crafts community.
       Thanking his wife Fran, his three children and seven 
     grandchildren, Gray said, ``What an honor. It's very 
     emotional for me. How can it get any better than this?''
       Parton and Gray have worked together before. A bronze 
     statue of Parton, created by Gray in 1987, sits in front of 
     the Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville. Thousands of 
     tourists stop to see the 2-ton, life-size structure each 
     year.
       ``At 70, I've been blessed all these years doing what I 
     have loved the best,'' Gray said. ``I have been working full-
     time in fine arts since 1966. As far as I am concerned, this 
     is icing on the cake, and it has been a wonderful cake I have 
     enjoyed.''
       Knoxville will honor Gray with a reception Thursday, April 
     3, at the Knoxville Museum of Art. In addition to celebrating 
     the Governor's Award, the Jim Gray painting ``Rising Above'' 
     will be on display, and Mayor Victor Ashe will announce that 
     the painting has been purchased as part of the Knoxville 
     Convention Center art collection. The reception is open to 
     the public. Anyone interested in receiving an invitation to 
     attend should contact the Arts and Cultural Alliance, 865-
     523-7543.

     

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