First Presbyterian: Witness to history

Posted by Christopher Robin | Jan 21, 2021 | Our Town Arts

First Presbyterian Knoxville (Photography by Chris S. Rohwer)

Founded in 1792, downtown Knoxville’s First Presbyterian Church is the oldest established church in Knoxville. The original church land was donated by James White, Knoxville’s founder. The church website offers an interesting read on Knoxville establishment and the Civil War occupation of their property.

I placed my camera on the sidewalk to emphasize the stature of the building and its massive columns. The balanced symmetry of the handrails, columns and up to the corners of the building strengthens the image, drawing your eyes to the peak of the building. The texture of the clouds added some drama to this scene.

Photographer Chris and painter Robin Rohwer each week strive to share a painting or photograph that captured their interest in hopes that it will also capture yours. Their website is www.ChristopherRobinArts.com. If a particular piece interests you for your home or office, please contact them. All works are copyright protected.

About The Author

Christopher Robin

Husband and wife, Chris and Robin Rohwer, collectively under the pseudonym Christopher Robin Chris Rohwer: Photography is one more excuse for me to be outside. Whether traveling the world or in my own back yard, I look to capture interesting subjects with light, lines or action to give the viewer a sense of what I see and feel. Owning a camera dates to my college days but photography only became a serious effort within the last few years. Raised by adventuresome parents, my escapades include hitchhiking through Europe, trekking in Nepal and rafting the Grand Canyon. Adding a camera to my experiences has given me a new perspective of the places we visit. With nearly everything in the world being photographed, my goal is to find another way of seeing things and photographing them differently. Sometimes it works. Professionally my career was in finance with the last 25 years at Home Federal Bank as a commercial banker. Retiring in 2021, I work hard to stay active and on the move. Robin Rohwer: I am always a work in progress. I paint for me. The image speaks to me and needs to be painted. For me, painting is capturing a moment or a feeling in time and place. Preferring to paint on location, in a style known as Plein Air, it is my hope to transport the viewer to my spot, to feel the wind, the smells, and the light that drew me to stop and contemplate painting. Anything may be my subject, no matter how obscure and should convey the energy and mood of the moment. Strong shapes, subtle shifts, light and shadows chorus in my head and my heart to evoke feeling with the viewer - a memory, a love, a need, a calm or a question. When one sees my finished work, it’s a piece of me and a peace in me. I am blessed. Robin and Chris share a small studio and gallery in the Historic Phoenix Building at 418 South Gay Street where we meet the nicest people and share our craft. We have two beautiful daughters and now two wonderful grandsons.

First Presbyterian: Witness to history

About The Author

Christopher Robin

AdBlocker Message

Feature Partners

Our Mission

Our Town Partners