Tennessee State Painting

"Tennessee Treasures Too"

by Tennessee artist Michael Sloan

Adopted on May 23, 2007

Tennessee Treasures Too, by artist Michael Sloan was named an official painting by the Tennessee General Assembly ten years after Tennessee Treasures was honored. Governor Phil Bredesen signed Senate Joint Resolution No. 82 (SJR0082) on May 23, 2007.

This piece also includes a representation of the state flag, a gold embossed state seal, an outline depiction of the State of Tennessee and the signature of Tennessee's first state governor, John Sevier.

The painting was named an official painting after Mr. Sloan's tenure as artist in residence expired in the year 2000.

Tennessee State Painting: "Tennessee Treasures Too"

Michael Sloan

"Michael Sloan was born in Davidson County on July 2, 1947, and grew up in Madison, Tennessee. He received four years of formal training at the Memphis Academy of Arts (now the Memphis College of Arts), and graduated in 1969 with a BFA degree in advertising design. Professionally, he freelanced as an illustrator while developing his personal style of painting. In 1973 he published his first limited edition print, ""Tennessee Winter"", which was an immediate success. For the past seventeen years the artist has continued to publish ""The Michael Sloan Collection"" of limited edition prints; watercolor landscapes of Tennessee's hills and countryside. In 1982 Mr. Sloan had the honor of being a featured artist at the World's Fair and created a commemorative poster for the Fine Arts Pavilion. The continuing popularity of his work has earned him the reputation as one of the south's finest artists. His works are collected by art enthusiasts throughout America and select foreign cities. In June of 1988, Michael's watercolor ""Twilight at Little River"" was selected as one of the top 100 entries from a field of 3,000 paintings in the annual ""Arts for the Park"" national competition. Sponsored by the National Parks Services, the top entries toured select museums throughout the country during 1988-89. On Friday June 1st, 1990, Governor Ned McWherter and Mr. Sloan unveiled ""The Pride of Tennessee"", an oil on canvas painting of Tennessee historic figures that is displayed in the State Capitol building.

In conjunction with the unveiling of Sloan's historic painting, McWherter signed a resolution passed be the Tennessee General Assembly designating Michael Sloan as Tennessee's official ""Artist-In-Residence"" through the 2000. The resolution stated that the official artist-in-residence will express the spirit and assets of Tennessee throughout his works, establishing outstanding talent, contributions to the state and professional accomplishment and the creation of visual art."

Tennessee Senate Joint Resolution 82

TENNESSEE SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 82
By Beavers

A RESOLUTION designating "Tennessee Treasures Too" by artist Michael Sloan as an Official Painting of Tennessee.

WHEREAS, from time to time, this General Assembly deems it appropriate to adopt certain works of art as official state symbols; and

WHEREAS, "Tennessee Treasures Too," by former State Artist in Residence Michael Sloan, is one such work, and is fully deserving of the honor of designation as an Official Painting of Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, "Tennessee Treasures Too," a follow-up work to Mr. Sloan's work "Tennessee Treasures," which was adopted as the official State painting by Senate Joint Resolution 57 in 1997, is similar in style and breadth to the previous work and depicts nine of Tennessee's most recognizable state symbols; and

WHEREAS, The Cascade Waterfall, located near Cosby east of Gatlinburg, is pictured in the background, playing a major part in the picture, anchoring the scene in Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, as in the previous work, "Tennessee Treasures Too" contains imagery of the State Tree, the Tulip Poplar; the State Wildflower, the Passion Wild Flower; and the State Cultured Flower, the Iris. In addition, the painting also contains depiction of the Official Bicentennial Tree, the Yellowwood Tree; the State Agricultural Insect, the Honey Bee; the State Insect, the Firefly; the State Game Bird, the Bob White Quail; the State Rock, the Agate; the State Reptile, the Box Turtle; and the State Commercial Fish, the Channel Catfish; and

WHEREAS, The first governor's signature, John Sevier, is located inside the outline of the state; and

WHEREAS, because of its inspiring representations of Tennessee's symbols and geography, "Tennessee Treasures Too" is an outstanding work of art and is fully deserving of formal recognition, joining its sister work, "Tennessee Treasures," as an official State painting; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we hereby designate "Tennessee Treasures Too" by Michael Sloan as an Official Painting of Tennessee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy.