After the exhibit was disrupted during its 12th annual show at the Reece Museum on the East Tennessee State University campus in 2024, it looked like the long-running exhibit would have to find a new home. Nancy Fischman, director and owner of Fischman Gallery, saw an opportunity to keep the Fl3tch3r Exhibit in Johnson City, maintaining the continuity of presenting art with social and political commentary to engage the public. "These days, with attempts to censor library books, control what is taught in our public schools and universities, and fire professors for what should be their right to free speech, I felt I should step in to preserve this avenue for artists to express a broad range of opinions," Fischman said. "It is my duty as director of an independent art gallery to offer as many differently focused exhibits as I can. My main mission is to support local and regional artists, but this would give me and the gallery the opportunity to expand our outreach and our audience, and benefit the entire arts community, as well as ensuring a very important art event remains on the local arts calendar."

The International Fl3tch3r Exhibit was established in 2013 as a memorial to Fletcher Dyer, son of art professor Wayne Dyer and attorney Barbara Dyer, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident at age 22. Along with Fletcher's sister Carrie, the Dyers wanted to honor Fletcher's passion, as an artist and graphic designer, for social and political issues and how art can visually present those issues in innovative ways. Fletcher was a senior at ETSU and was in the process of creating a body of work that followed his passion. "Fletcher was always curious and aware of current events," his family wrote. "He experimented in innovative ways to create works that investigate contemporary social issues. New, unexpected ideas and perspectives had unique ways of coming to the surface as a result of Fletcher's creative means of rattling cages." 

The art in the Fl3tch3r Exhibits is picked annually by a juror chosen for their expertise in the art world. The call for art for the exhibit is open internationally, and the resulting shows have included work from 29 countries and all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The art that is chosen usually provokes the audience, and is meant to challenge thinking and make the audience see beyond themselves. "Art can serve many purposes," said Fischman. "Many people expect art to be beautiful and decorative. But art can also be created to make you think, to reflect on history or current events, to express feelings that tear us out of complacency. I want my gallery to be a space where art can please the eye, but also where art can challenge the mind." 

The Fl3tch3r Exhibit means to provide a venue for artists to honor Fletcher Dyer's legacy. Fletcher wrote, "I dream of making a difference in some way with my art. I might attempt to right political, social, and religious wrongs by showing the rest of society a glimpse of how I feel about serious issues in the world... Hopefully the awareness that I can help create will spark an interest in a movement that others will follow." The 2026 International Fl3tch3r Exhibit will carry on Fletcher's dream to use art to continue the dialogue of social and political commentary.

Fischman Gallery is located at 133 N Commerce St, Johnson City, Tenn. See more about Fischman Gallery on social media at https://fischmangallery.org, https://www.facebook.com/FischmanGallery, and @fischmangalleryjctn on Instagram.

Image credit to: Carrie A. Dyer

For more information about The Fl3tch3r Exhibit visit https://fl3tch3rexhibit.com/about.html or visit their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheFl3tch3rExhibit