Yearlong Wayne-O-Rama installation lifts off Saturday
Well-known local artist Matt Dutton couldn’t resist.
When the idea of the year-long Wayne-O-Rama celebration of all things Wayne White surfaced, Dutton signed on to help.
“I’ve had this project on my radar unofficially for several years now,” says Dutton. “I’ve chatted with Wayne here and there about something big that was on its way. Bob Stagner, [Shaking Ray Levi Society co-founder] and Wayne-O-Rama ambassador of fun, looped me into the mix and presented the opportunity to help when I’m able.”
The opportunity to help turned out to be joining the more than 300 artists from all over the country who have worked under White’s direction “transforming wood, Styrofoam and cardboard into a fabulously detailed celebration of hundreds of years of Chattanooga history,” according to the Wayne-O-Rama organization.
The free “grand opening” of the Wayne-O-Rama yearlong installation, presented by Tenn Arts and the Shaking Ray Levi Society, will be at the TennArts Studio on Rossville Avenue happens on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 2 to 7 p.m. It’s billed as a “Chattanooga history funhouse.” Those familiar with White’s work will applaud that description as perfectly accurate.
Dutton is one of those familiar. “I can still remember watching in awe the magical Pee-Wee’s Playhouse program as a young child [for which White was a designer],” he says. “At the time I had no idea, but later when I started connecting the dots about who and what Wayne White was and what he’d accomplished, I was hooked. The theatrics and artworks are inspiring to say the least!”
At the opening, Chattanoogans will get the chance to view White’s these larger-than-life puppets and installations depicting Lookout Mountain, Chief Dragging Canoe, Bessie Smith, Chattanooga broadcasting legend Bob Brandy and a bunch of other famous Chattanoogans and local icons.
White describes it this way, “Wayne-O-Rama is a wonderland, straight from my imagination to yours. It is a funhouse for all ages that tells the story of Chattanooga and the South. It’s the Smithsonian Museum meets Goony Golf. It’s a celebration of the culture that shaped me, and a gift to my hometown. I will use giant puppets, large-scale dioramas, peep shows, paintings and animation to tell the story of the region from pre-history to the present.”
About his own contributions, Dutton says, “I’ve been lucky enough to contribute to the giant Civil War puppets that marched admirably in the Glass Street parade, the event that kicked off the W-O-R awareness campaign. I’ve helped with building, cutting, painting and duct-tape engineering, alongside many of Chattanooga’s talented artists: Jason Doan, Michael McCamish and Colleen Laliberte, to name a few. I’ve been able consult on material sourcing and volunteer wrangling a bit, as well as pop back in to help paint some of the large-scale characters.”
The grand opening will also include “a ribbon cutting, the presentation of a joint City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County proclamation declaring the day ‘Wayne White Day of Art and Education,’ and remarks by public officials, corporate sponsors and Wayne White,” according to the Wayne-O-Rama organization. Post-grand opening, the installation will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until September 2017. Suggested admission is a donation of $12 for adults and $5 for students/seniors, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Donations, according to the organization, “will sustain Wayne-O-Rama and be used for operating costs and its educational outreach programs.”
Wayne-O-Rama is sponsored by See Rock City, Inc. with support from the Benwood Foundation, the Footprint Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation and the McKenzie Foundation.
The Shaking Ray Levi Society is a funded agency of Arts Build of Chattanooga. (Let’s hope the Wayne-O-Rama image on the Facebook and web pages becomes a postcard to send to friends globally.) Look for much more Wayne-O-Rama mania and events throughout the year.
Wayne-O-Rama Installation Grand Opening
Free Admission
Saturday, November 19, 2-7 p.m.
Tennessee Arts Studio
1800 Rossville Avenue, #108
wayne-o-rama.com
Photo by Mark A. Herndon / Chattanooga Live Music