Ochre & Oxide: Unearthing Chattanooga’s 250-Year Redemptive Arc
Ochre & Oxide
A 250-Year Redemptive Arc
Ochre & Oxide is a museum-grade collective exhibition commemorating Chattanooga’s 250-year journey. From the sacred wilderness of 1776 to the industrial "brokenness" of 1969, and finally to our 2026 emergence as a National Park City, this project uses the literal soil of our land to tell a story of redemption.
The Core
Six monumental legacy commissions produced by master artists. These works share a unified "Regional Palette" synthesized from Hamilton County minerals and industrial oxides.
The Canopy
A surrounding archive of process sketches, technical forage documentation, and secondary works that ground the exhibition in the specific ecology of our home.
The Mycelium: Community Outreach
In partnership with Splash Youth Arts, we are conducting "Pigment to Paint" workshops where local students engage with the science of mineral synthesis. A curated selection of these youth studies will be featured within the exhibition archive, demonstrating how the next generation is literally painting their future with the soil of their home.
THE COHORT: SIX VOICES, ONE PALETTE
THE OUTCOME: A SHIFT IN SIGHT
Ochre & Oxide is a permanent contribution to the cultural soil of Chattanooga. By naming both the beauty and the brokenness of our land, we aim to recalibrate how we see our home—moving viewers toward an optimistic determination to continue this vital redemptive work.
"We are the stewards of the next 250 years."
The Arc of Implementation
Jan – Feb 2026
Technical forage and refinement of the regional mineral palette.
Mar – July 2026
Production of the six "Core" legacy commissions.
Aug – Sept 2026
Selection of "Canopy" archive works and final exhibition design.
Oct – Dec 2026
Inaugural exhibition debut for America 250.
JOIN THE STEWARDSHIP CIRCLE
To receive a digital copy of our 'Stewardship Prospectus' or to discuss a tailored partnership, please contact Matthew Monahan.
Become a Partner