Tennessee Craft – Southeast
Chapter Leadership
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- President | Annie LaVoie
- Vice-President | vacant
- Secretary | vacant
- Treasurer | James McKissic
- Board Rep | Steve Griffin
The Southeast Chapter has been reformed and held its first meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025. At the first meeting, we toured the many art exhibits on display at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, TN, and discussed how they are using art to promote healing for patients and staff while also providing opportunities for local artists and arts organizations to display and sell their work. The meeting was attended by members from Hamilton and Bradley Counties.
Meet the New South East Chapter President, Annie LaVoie
Annie LaVoie is a Chattanooga-based sculptor, educator, and founder of Mouthy Oddities™ and Sacred Care Pet Studio. With a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a background in fine craft, Annie’s work bridges traditional material practice with contemporary narrative. Her sculptural jewelry and installation work have been recognized through regional exhibitions, public art proposals, and leadership cohorts across Tennessee.
Annie has served on multiple nonprofit boards, contributing to governance, strategic planning, programming development, and chapter growth. She has played an active role in developing chapters in Nashville, expanding membership engagement, strengthening infrastructure, and building collaborative networks. Her leadership approach emphasizes accountability, clear communication, and sustainable growth.
She seeks the role of President for Tennessee Craft, Southeast Chapter to strengthen regional collaboration, expand access to opportunities for makers, and build a strong, connected chapter that supports both emerging and established craft artists across Tennessee.
Meet the New South East Chapter State Representative, Steve Griffin
Steven L. Griffin is a contemporary intarsia artist working in layered wood and narrative form. A retired Doctor of Nursing Practice
with three decades of experience in health system leadership, Griffin brings a systems-oriented way of thinking to his studio practice—approaching each piece as an intentional assembly rather than a surface decoration.
Based in southeast Tennessee, Griffin pushes traditional intarsia beyond flat mosaic patterns into sculptural relief and dimensional storytelling. His work combines carving, scroll-sawing, pyrography, staining, and mixed media to create layered compositions that emphasize seams, tension, and deliberate construction.
Drawing from folklore, myth, and lived experience, Griffin’s work explores memory, inheritance, and the slow process of becoming whole. His practice invites close looking and resists fixed interpretation, positioning intarsia as a contemporary, conceptual craft grounded in material intelligence and narrative depth.
Upcoming Events & Meetings
Past Events & Meetings
South East Chapter Meeting
November 22, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. EST
Location: ArtsBuild, 301 East 11th Street, 37403, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Join us for the November 2025 gathering of Tennessee Craft Southeast. This month’s meeting features a presentation by Annie La Voie on artist tips for using social media and a tour of Scenic City Clay Arts. The meeting will be held at ArtsBuild, 301 East 11th Street, 37403. Parking is free in any unlabeled space,and take the elevator to the second floor. We can’t wait to see you there! RSVP and join us here: https://forms.gle/PPuhxCA3H3mwzEz27
Past Events/Meetings
South East Chapter Meeting
August 22, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. EST
Location: Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points, in Cleveland, TN
✨ Calling All Fine Craft Enthusiasts! ✨
Join us for an inspiring gathering of makers, artists, and lovers of fine craft at the Tennessee Craft Southeast Chapter Meeting!
Connect with fellow creatives, share your passion for handmade art, and explore exciting opportunities to grow your craft practice. Whether you’re a seasoned artisan or simply love fine craft, this is your space to belong and be inspired!
Local artist connections
Creative community vibes
✨ Let’s shape the future of fine craft—together.
South East Chapter Meeting
May 22, 2025
The Southeast Chapter has been reformed and held its first meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025. At the first meeting, we toured the many art exhibits on display at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, TN, and discussed how they are using art to promote healing for patients and staff while also providing opportunities for local artists and arts organizations to display and sell their work. The meeting was attended by members from Hamilton and Bradley Counties.
