Calendar of Events

"Where Water Used to Be" a small show of work by Jean Hess in the display case in the Emporium.

Artist Statement: Jean Hess
Water is a precious resource that is threatened in so many ways. Pollution, diversion, waste -- the water of the earth needs protection. We all know that large communities like the Anasazi of the Southwest left their homes because water sources disappeared. The "Remote Sensing" series of collage paintings references the trope of aerial imaging -- used in archeology to identify traces of ancient habitations -- to create patterns suggesting ancient settlements abandoned because of lost water resources.

I like the idea of a remote vantage point -- removed, impartial -- from which to view very emotional issues. That and the overall haze of filtered light suggest my own personal preference for viewing from a distance. This is a very oblique way of making a political statement, and that suits me because I would prefer to make attractive, compelling images rather than depict negative things.

This show, "Where Water Used to Be," continues the "Remote Sensing" work and expands upon it with small sculptures, assdemblages and collections of detritus from the imagined settlements that were abandoned when water ran out. These are whimsical, hard to explain fully, as though they are the sorts of things archeologists refer to as "problematic forms." I like to imagine that some of them are sympathetic magic implements for conjuring water, or holding on to water resources that may be dwindling.

For my collage paintings I experiment with various techniques and materials to create a compelling surface, looking for simplicity and a hazy overall atmosphere. Imagery typically appears to float on the surface. I use multiple [often 30-40] layers of clear resin in between thin scrims of paint with collage elements, graphite lines or pressed flowers; this creates a refractive surface that lets light enter and bounce back. I work in series that address particular issues and feelings, and yet most of my paintings end up looking like aerial landscapes or else water surfaces. Sometimes one melds into the other and that is meaningful because if the work is "about" anything at all it is about the beauty and vulnerability of the natural world.

The artifacts are all constructed from found objects that I have been hoarding for a long time. They have in common a connection to water, if only in my imagination.

Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Additional special hours are posted at www.theemporiumcenter.com/visit.html. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition by the Tennessee Artists Association (TAA) entitled “The Fall Juried Show: 40th Anniversary”, featuring original art by over 60 Tennessee artists including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, photography, and mixed media. The exhibition will be displayed at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from October 3 - November 1, 2014. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on October 3 from 5:00-9:00 PM, and awards for the show will be given at 6:00 PM. “This is TAA’s fifth show at the Emporium Center, and we are very excited about the opportunity to present the breadth and quality of Tennessee artists’ works represented by our members,” said Barbara Finch, exhibition chair. The First Friday reception also features music by Tapestry in the gallery as well as music and dance performances by Pasión Flamenca from 6:00-6:30 PM and a Jazz Jam Session hosted by Vance Thompson and Friends from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Black Box Theatre.

Founded in 1974, the Tennessee Artists Association (TAA) is a civic organization of fine artists with 66 current members. TAA encourages each individual artist to grow and develop through fellowship with other artists, educational programs, opportunities to exhibit and sell art, and to serve the community through classes. TAA hosts an exhibition of new artwork every three months at the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce on Market Square. Membership in TAA is open to anyone eighteen years and older who is a resident of the state of Tennessee. Dues are currently $50 for single membership, $60 for family and $15 for students. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 Northshore Drive, which include a business meeting, a program, and a time of fellowship and refreshments. Guests are welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.tnartists.org.

As sponsors of the show, FastFrame, Jerry’s Artarama, The Town Framery, Franklin Gallery, Cheap Joe’s and CMI Moulding have made it possible to provide awards and recognition to the artists.

“The Fall Juried Show: 40th Anniversary” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Additional special hours are posted at www.theemporiumcenter.com/visit.html. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

The District Gallery is pleased to present "Transformation: New Works by Gallery Artists, Old & New.” Fall is an exciting time, a time of inspiring transformation, and in that spirit we are showcasing our newest collection of fine art created by veteran gallery artists as well as newcomers to The District Gallery.

“Transformation" includes new works by veteran artists Ashley Addair, Chad Airhart, Donna Conliffe, and Brad Robertson. New gallery artists represented in the show include Henry Callahan, Leslie Dyas, and Catherine Gibbs.

An opening reception will be held Friday, October 3 from 5-8 p.m. Come enjoy the paintings and meet the artists. “Transformation" is on display in the gallery through October 31.

The District Gallery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-4. Information: 865-200-4452, www.TheDistrictGallery.com

Where: Bliss Home 29 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902
When: Friday, October 3rd, 2014 through the end of the month.
Admission: Free
Artist's Website: jsandersart.com

Bliss Home is pleased to present the latest works by Knoxville artist, Jill Sanders, for October's First Friday.

Jill works with acrylic, layering patterns and other found objects into her paintings, often repeating silhouettes or objects throughout a body of work, so that they cross pollinate each other. Jill's work reflects her affinity for natural materials and richly colored patterns which comes from her background in woodcut printmaking and graphic design.

Jill's October exhibit is inspired by black-and-white photographs of circus performers and Ziegfeld showgirls from the early twentieth century. Jill has translated these photographs into a modernized color palette and altered their environments. Combining past and present, their life stories are preserved and disseminated through Jill's October exhibit.

Bliss Home, 29 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-329-8868, www.shopinbliss.com

DeWitt Godfrey is a Professor of sculpture in the department of Art and Art History at Colgate. Prof. Godfrey did his undergraduate work at Yale University, was a member of the inaugural group of CORE Fellows at the MFA Houston and received his MFA from Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, including a National Endowment for the Arts Artist's Fellowship, a New York Foundation for the Arts Artists Fellowship, a Japan Foundation Artist's Fellowship, and a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Artist Fellowship. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas and the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York. His commissioned work includes "Concordia" for Lexarts, Lexington, KY; "Waverly Place" Cambridge Arts Council; "Greenwich South" a visioning exercise by the Downtown Alliance, New York, NY and installations at Frederik Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI; The DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA; and the Kennedy Art Museum, Ohio University, Athens, OH.

Join us for First Friday, October 3, for an exhibition reception of Godfrey's drawings, photographs, and models. Godfrey will be giving a public lecture on his work Thursday, October 2, at 7:30PM in the McCarty Auditorium in the Art + Architecture Building on the UT Campus. Free parking for this lecture is available in Circle Park off Volunteer Boulevard. All events are free and open to the public.

UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Wednesday-Friday: 11AM - 6PM, Saturday: 10AM - 3PM. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown

First Friday Art exhibition that continues thru the end of October. New work by Jennifer Jessee, Suzie Millions, Julie Belcher, Jessica Meyer Gilchrist with select pieces by Bryan Cunningham and Betsy Youngquist. Featuring Printmaking, Assemblage, Collage, Drawing

Pioneer House, 413 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
http://www.pioneer-house.com/events

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition entitled “Tennessee Watercolor Society's 2014 Traveling Exhibition”, featuring 30 original watermedia works by artists residing across the state of Tennessee. The exhibition will be displayed in the Balcony gallery of the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville. A public reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on Friday, October 3, from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres provided by The Melting Pot. The First Friday reception also features music by Tapestry in the gallery as well as music and dance performances by Pasión Flamenca from 6:00-6:30 PM and a Jazz Jam Session hosted by Vance Thompson and Friends from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Black Box Theatre.

Nationally-recognized artist Pat Dews, a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society, served as juror for this 34th biennial show. Dews selected 50 works of art to display during the opening at O'More College of Design in Franklin, TN before conducting a week-long workshop in May 2014. Out of the 50 works for the opening, 30 were chosen, with permission of the artists, for the traveling show. Her exhibition statement read: "I look for strong design, color and content. I look for technical skill. I look to see if a painting captures the essence of the subject. I look for work I would like to have painted... I try hard to have a balanced show... I award the paintings that stand out and draw me in for a closer look."

Founded in 1971, the Tennessee Watercolor Society (TnWS) seeks to elevate the stature of watercolor and educate the public to the significance of watercolor as an important, creative, permanent painting medium. TnWS schedules general meetings for the membership, competitive exhibitions, membership shows, regional socials, workshops, field trips, business sessions, lectures/presentations, and/or programs focused in watermedia. Membership in TnWS is open to artists and patrons, eighteen and older, throughout the state of Tennessee. Dues range from $35 up for one year. For more information, visit www.tnws.org.

“Tennessee Watercolor Society's 2014 Traveling Exhibition” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Additional special hours are posted at www.theemporiumcenter.com/visit.html. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Just as a colorful outdoor environment is the hallmark of the fall season, the colorful Fall Awards Show is a seasonal hallmark at the Plateau Creative Arts Center (PCAC). At the Fall Awards Show, both residents and visitors will enjoy viewing some of the finest artwork that the members of the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade have to offer. To celebrate the Fall Awards Show, the public is invited to the (no-cost) opening reception at the PCAC on Friday, October 3, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. John Conrad and the Show Committee are organizing a substantial selection of hors d’oeuvres and beverages for the event, and music students will provide piano music throughout the evening.

The highlight of the reception will be the announcement of the show’s award winners chosen by art judge Lynne Looney. The artwork entries are divided into nine categories according to media. Winning artwork will be awarded first, second, and third place ribbons within each media category. At the judge’s discretion, “honorable mention” ribbons may also be awarded. The top award will be a special ribbon for the “Best in Show.”

Judge Lynne Looney is a professional artist who worked originally in publishing as an illustrator and commercial designer. Next she added theater and billboard design and production. Since 1992, she has been painting murals and specialty finishes for high end clientele both in Georgia, Texas, and most recently Tennessee. Strong color, bold lines, and expressive brushwork are her trademarks. Many people comment on the large size of the Looney paintings, however her recent work has been scaled down in comparison to the large size of her past projects, many of which were two stories tall or more.

The Fall Awards Show will be on display until Thursday, November 6, at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine Road). For more information about the Fall Awards Show or any of the fine art classes and events held at the PCAC, call 931-707-7249. The Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)organization and an equal opportunity provider. Website: www.artguildfairfieldglade.net .

Opening Friday, Oct 3, 5:30-9:00 PM

Beautiful pieces, evocative of nature, by Chilean artists Valerie Bannister Eiler (ceramics) and Irene Torrealba (paintings)

Valerie Bannister Eiler was born in Chile but has lived in the US for the past 34 years. An avid gardener, she draws inspiration for her trademark pottery by pressing leaves on clay to create bowls, platters, and dinner sets.

Irene Torrealba, born and raised in Santiago, Chile, displays special interests in realism in watercolor and oil. She especially enjoys painting country landscapes that connect her to memories of her childhood, her family and her travels.

In Casa HoLa (the office/art gallery venue of HoLa Hora Latina), 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 109, Knoxville, TN 37902
Info: (865) 335-3358, CASAHOLA@holafestival.org, www.holafestival.org

The Ewing Gallery is excited to present selected drawings by architect Perry Kulper. Perry Kulper is an architect and associate professor of architecture at the University of Michigan. Prior to his arrival at the University of Michigan he was a SCI-Arc faculty member for 16 years as well as in visiting positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Arizona State University. Subsequent to his studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (BS Arch) and Columbia University (M Arch) he worked in the offices of Eisenman/ Robertson, Robert A.M. Stern and Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown before moving to Los Angeles. His interests include the roles of representation and methodologies in the production of architecture and in broadening the conceptual range by which architecture contributes to our cultural imagination.

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

Few stories are as timeless -- or reveal the courage and resilience of the human spirit -- as “The Miracle Worker,” which will run on the Clarence Brown Theatre mainstage October 2 – 19, 2014. The production tells the story of young Helen Keller, deaf and blind since infancy, who finds her way into the world of knowledge and understanding with the help of Annie Sullivan, her gifted tutor. In some of the most emotion-packed scenes ever presented on the stage, Helen overcomes rage and confusion to triumph over her physical disabilities.

The cast is comprised of guest professional actors, faculty, UT Theatre graduate actors and UT Theatre undergraduate actors.

The Clarence Brown Theatre will hold three Deaf Night at the Theatre performances during the 2014-2015 Season. The performances include: The Miracle Worker on Tuesday, October 14, A Christmas Carol on Tuesday, December 9 and A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Tuesday, March 3. The performances are supported in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission. For tickets, please call the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161.

Productions remaining in the 2014-2015 Season include: “The Miracle Worker,” “4000 Miles,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Master Harold…and the boys,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “A Shayna Maidel,” and “The Threepenny Opera.”

For more information or tickets, call the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or visit us online at http://clarencebrowntheatre.com

The show is open to fine art photographers working in any photography medium, (alternative, traditional, and digital approaches) - we care about well-done art more than the specific medium, technique or format. Fine Art Photography refers to photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artist. Fine Art Photography stands in contrast to photojournalism, which provides a visual account for news events, and commercial photography, the primary focus of which is to advertise products or services. Juror - Colby McLemore, Professional Photographer

The show will hang at the Morristown Hamblen Library from October 1, 2014, until November 30, 2014. The “Awards Presentation and Meet The Juror” will take place on October 4, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., in the Periodicals Room Exhibit Area.

Info: www.morristownart.com; or call 423-312-8325.