"Mom and Dad" by James Conner

River Gallery's February exhibit, "Southern Spirit," features artists who have Southern ties and concentrate on the ephemeral essence of nature and memory. With paintings such as "Mom and Dad," near right, James Conner captures an instance in time that evokes a sense of recollection or of returning to one's roots. With his sustainable baskets, Matt Tommey interlaces complementary elements of the organic with the sculptural, far right. Barbara Odil's figurative work, left, is akin to a totem used by indigenous people to conjure respect for the natural world. The exhibit will run through Friday, Feb. 28; gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The artists will be present during an opening reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. For more information, call 423-265-5033 or visit www.river-gallery.com.