An artist, a teacher, a lover of all things beautiful...
Teaching
Nona joined the staff at Sullins College in 1917 where she taught fine arts for 30 years. During Nona's tenure at Sullins College she worked diligently to carry on the legacy of Mrs. Forbes. In so doing, she established relationships that would enable her to bring to her students access to resources and examples of art that helped expand the exposure of her students to art far beyond the geographic borders of East Tennessee. Nona's passion for all things beautiful no doubt influenced her desire to reflect the depth and breadth of her love which encompassed all her disciplines. She was absolutely dedicated to her love and worked tirelessly at providing opportunity in every aspect to her students and art lovers alike.
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In December 1929, at "Sullins College under the auspices of the Sullins Art Department, Parsons - New York School of Fine and Applied Arts will show an exhibit of students work done in New York School. This exhibition aims to show the best type of practical design for interiors, costumes for the theatre and for general use, advertising illustration, decorative illustrations, commercial design and other various forms of design." Source: "New York Art Exhibit Show At Sullins College;" December 1929. Facilitating such exhibits would serve to educate and encourage her students by connecting them to the preeminent schools of design and art of the time.
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In addition to teaching at Sullins College, in October 1933, Nona also joined the staff of King College where she launched in cooperation with the school, the school's first art department. According to the King College Bulletin, "another department has been added to the work offered students at King College. There has been a demand for art courses during the last two years, and the administration is pleased to announce that Mrs. Hodge has been secured as head of this department. She will have her studio in Bristol Hall. Mrs. Hodge will offer the following courses during the regular college year; General Art, Commercial Art, Costume Desgin and Illustration, Interior Decoration and Architecture, China Painting, and Arts & Crafts."
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By 1936, Nona's continued dedication to the Sullins art program was exemplified in the October 3, 1936 article "Fine Arts Reach New High Enrollment" printed in the Sullins Silhouette newsletter. According to the article, "unprecedented in the history of Sullins College is the present enrollment in the Dramatic & Arts Departments. Every class in these two departments is filled to capacity; a situation that has been answered with new laboratory and class equipment. The art courses, under the direction of Mrs. Hodge, include costume designing, fashion illustration and interior decorating."
Among the many classes Nona taught, china painting was one of her most popular. Over her many years at teaching at Sullins College, she and her sister Gladys would also hold private classes whereby students and art lovers alike could attend, learn, and obtain certificates of completion of the course work completed.
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Both Nona and her sister Gladys, who was also an instructor at George Peabody University in Nasvhille, were well known and respected and obtaining a certificate from one of their classes was in high demand for the times.
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The picture at left is Nona teaching a class in china painting.
Further, in March of 1937, Nona again secured a "unique loan exhibit from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. The materials shown in the exhibit are selected from the Costume Design, Fashion Illustration, and Interior Decoration departments of the New York School. The display includes works in graphic and commercial art, designing in advertising, illustrations for books and magazines, book jackets, magazine covers, newspaper advertising and illustrations. Along the line of interior decorating will be shown: furniture designs, fabrics, and accessories. The Costume Design display will number: costume sketches, accessory problems, dress design, fashion advertising, fashion illustration for magazines and books, and life drawings. Mrs. Hodge has been working for the past three years to secure this particular type of exhibit. Her efforts have resulted in a delightful and appropriate selection." Source: "Mrs. Luther Hodge Sponsors Eastern 'Loan Art Exhibit';" Sullins Reflection, March 1937.
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Nona was able to obtain access significant works to be exhibited on loan to her students and art lovers alike. "A collection of famous artist's paintings, which are on exhibit from January 10 to 22 [year unknown] in Mrs. Hodge's studio, have been of great interest to classic art lovers and students. This collection is a study of lessons in art appreciation. Printed lecture sheets, which are attached to each painting, reveal a short biography of the artist, the source of his inspiration, and other interesting side lights which accented his life. Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Josheea Reynolds, Antoine Watteau, Van Gough, Rockwell Kent, and Jacques Louis David are some of the great artists whose works are used to illustrate this display. Mrs. Hodge welcomes all students and faculty members who are interested in art to take advantage of this unusual opportunity of seeing a selected group of master canvasses." Source: "Old Masters' Work On Display For Art Lessons;" Article included in Nona's personal scrap book.
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After retiring from Sullins College, Nona accepted a position at Virginia Intermont College where she taught art as well. During the years while serving at Virginia Intermont, under the direction of the University of Virginia Extension Services, Nona would also conduct art classes during summer sessions. Specifically, sculpture, ceramics, and painting were offered during these summer sessions in Bristol as well as Weber City. Mrs. Nona B. Hodge art teach [was] in charge at both locations. In addition to the many years she faithfully served the schools at which she taught, she also taught many programs on her own including extension workshops in china painting. She encouraged her students to pursue their passion and work diligently at their craft. In many cases, her students went on to be successful artists in their own right. Nona's legacy and influence is no doubt still being drawn upon today by some of her students who did in fact pursue their love and desire to create art.
Virginia Highlands Festival
August 1954
Abington, Virginia
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Nona's desire to share her knowledge and inspire all people who loved art and loved creating art is exemplified in her tireless pursuit of attending and participating in local fairs and festivals in addition to holding independent demonstrations. One such festival was the Highlands Festival in Virgina which still goes on today. Below is a picture of Nona conducting a demonstration in ceramics at the festival.
