“Decline” is an oil and acrylic ink original on canvas measuring 20" x 40" by Lendon Noe.
Frame Gallery Gifts & Art is delighted to welcome Jackson, Tennessee, artist Lendon Noe back to Sewanee for a solo exhibition, To Sit With a Flower: Paintings by Lendon Noe, opening on Friday, June 26, 2026. A reception for the artist will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on view at Frame Gallery Gifts & Art through July 25.
Inspired by Sewanee professor David Haskell's book, Flowers Made Our World, Noe's latest body of work explores the practice of giving a flower one's full attention. Near the end of the book, Haskell invites readers to "play" with flowers and suggests a variety of ways to engage with the natural world. One of those invitations is to "sit" with a flower.
Noe says, “I placed quotation marks around the word ‘sit’ because the experience resembles a form of meditation—a quiet act of observation and presence.” She has embraced this practice, creating paintings that reflect both the beauty of flowers and the deeper act of seeing them.
For more than twenty-five years, Noe's artwork has explored themes of natural history, ancestry, and place. A sense of curiosity, observation, and connection to the natural world characterizes her paintings.
As a companion to the exhibition, Noe will lead a watercolor workshop on Saturday, June 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Frame Gallery Studio. Participation is limited to eight students, who will have a lunch break from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Participants may bring their own lunch or enjoy a meal at a local Sewanee restaurant.
Workshop participants will gather in community to "sit" with a flower and explore a fluid, spontaneous, and expressive approach to watercolor painting. No prior painting experience is required, making the workshop suitable for beginners and experienced artists alike seeking a fresh approach to watercolor.
"It is so exciting to welcome Lendon back to Frame Gallery as a solo artist," said Harriet Runkle, owner of Frame Gallery Gifts & Art. "She was one of the first artists to exhibit here in 2019, and it has been wonderful to watch her artistic journey unfold. Her work invites us to slow down, pay attention, and discover the beauty in the natural world. Having the opportunity to learn directly from her in a workshop is a tremendous bonus for our community."
Learn more about Lendon Noe’s upcoming exhibition and register for the workshop while spaces last by visiting www.framegals.com/events.