August 7–October 2, 2020

1973. In the midst of Elvis Presley’s famous concert in Hawaii, President Nixon in the White House and a peace agreement between the United States and North Vietnam, Tom Riesing, a recent Masters of Fine Arts graduate from the University of Nebraska struck out to teach at the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville. Three years later, Marcia Goldenstein, a friend and fellow Masters of Fine Arts alum (University of Nebraska 1973) would also make the trek south to teach painting at UT. The college friends reconnected, and in between staff meetings and teaching art, fell for each other and married—both were unaware of the deep and reaching impact their choices would make. 

Goldenstein and Riesing settled in, later having children: Katarina, an artist and Peter, a graphic designer. Riesing taught at UT until 2010 when he became director of the Ball State University School of Art in Muncie, Indiana. Goldenstein remained at UT until 2017 and was the first studio faculty woman to achieve tenure. Over numerous years, they contributed to helping build and strengthen the painting and drawing programs at UT. Thousands of students passed through their art classes and discussions over the years. Read more.