Castoff 1 by photographer Mike Miller has been selected by Create Appalachia’s Kingsport Gallery for its permanent art collection. The photograph was one of twenty-nine images shown at the gallery during Miller’s The Masked Man exhibition,, which ran from March 10 - May 16 2023.

The masked figure stands alone behind a closed door in a room cluttered with forgotten items that have been castoff because they no longer serve any purpose. The striking image is one of many masked and cloaked self-portraits that reflect MIller’s preoccupation with alienation and despair in a modern world devoid of empathy.

“Mike Miller’s work is full of depth and emotion,” says Jacy Richardson, Assistant Professor of Digital Media at ETSU and Exhibit Committee Chair for Create Appalachia. “It pulls the reader in to see things through the masks. Our gallery is meant to be a place for showcasing the talent from our region, and Mike’s work is a perfect example of the remarkable art we want to show.”

The Create Appalachia Kingsport Center for Art & Technology is located at 225 W. Center Street, Kingsport. The gallery is open from 8:30 to 5 Monday through Friday. For more information about upcoming exhibits, please visit createappalachia.org.