Light Begets Light: Artist Gary Heatherly and Knoxville Poet Laureate Linda

Light Begets Light: The Visual and the Literary Meet in the Works of Gary Heatherly and Linda ParsonsWith Gary Heatherly’s current exhibit at Lilienthal Gallery, Deconstructing Landscapes, as backdrop, Knoxville Poet Laureate Linda Parsons joins Heatherly in a conversation about visual and literary landscapes.

In compiling her sixth collection, Valediction: Poems and Prose, Parsons was struck by the complexities of light in Heatherly’s work and asked if she could use his image, Light Begets Light, for the cover of the book.

Not only collaboration and mutual admiration, but a likeminded friendship was born. To Parsons, the startling image of light opening beyond the tree line reflects all of the hope and darkness, the goodbyes and arrivals explored in her latest work.

Come and experience this artistic cross-pollination on First Friday, October 3, 2025.

Artist and poet talk starts at 6:30 PM.

Host or Publisher Lilienthal Gallery