Calendar of Events

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present recent works by the resident artists of the Emporium Center, on display at the Emporium Center through September 30, 2016. Artists included in the exhibition are Bobbie Crews, Connie Gaertner, Judi Gaston, Diana Kilburn, Bob Leggett, Fritz Massaquoi, Pam Radford, W. James Taylor, Clay Thurston, and Sandy White.

Managed by the Arts & Culture Alliance, the Emporium Center provides space in which professionals and artists can work. The ten resident artists of the Emporium use their studios to create artwork and promote the principles of the Emporium, are present and working during the Emporium’s public hours, and provide a cultural experience for its visitors and patrons. Represented in the exhibition are:

• Bobbie Crews, Suite 107 - Oil, watercolor, antique cars, portraits and figurative work, abstracts, seascapes, mixed media, courtroom sketch artist, caricature, design: www.bobbiecrews.com
• Connie Gaertner, Suite 109 - Oil, acrylic, watercolor: www.conniegaertner.com
• Judi Gaston, Suite 108 - Fiber, hand-woven garments: www.judigastonhandwoven.com
• Diana Kilburn, Suite 105 - Watercolor, painting
• Bob Leggett, Suite 101 - Watercolor, oil, pastel; fiction
• Fritz Massaquoi, Suite 111 - Fibers, painting
• Pam Radford, Suite 113 - Oil, watercolor
• W. James Taylor, Suite 102 - Painting: www.genevagalleries.com
• Clay Thurston, Suite 111 - Photography: www.claythurston.com
• Sandy White, Suite 113 - Oil, watercolor

For more information on the artists, please visit http://www.knoxalliance.com/category/studios/. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM with additional hours on Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-9:30 PM and Sunday, September 25, 3:30-6:30 PM for jazz jams in the Black Box with Vance Thompson & Friends. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Fri, 9/9/2016, 7:00 - 10:00 PM - U.T. College of Veterinary Medicine **Give from the Heart with Art** Paint Your Pet at Mimi's Cafe - 10945 Parkside Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922 ($45)
Tue, 9/13/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - The Stars Are Out at the Bijou at Blue Slip Wine Bar and Bistro - 300 W Depot Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902
Wed, 9/14/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Stadium at Hurricane Grill & Wings - 319 Lovell Rd, Knoxville, TN 37934
Tue, 9/20/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Joy Love Hope at Gibby's Dining & Drinks (inside Holiday Inn) - 9134 Executive Park Dr., Knoxville, TN 37923
Tue, 9/27/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Purple Meadow at Stir Fry Cafe - 7240 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Thu, 9/29/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Smoky Mountain Sunset at Casual Pint - Farragut - 143 Brooklawn St, Farragut, TN 37934

$35 per session (unless otherwise noted). Wine & Canvas: Knoxville, TN, 865-356-9179, http://www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

The Town of Farragut Arts Council presents Janice Valentine as the featured artist for September and October. Located at the Farragut Town Hall, the exhibit features Valentine's framed italic hand calligraphy work.

Valentine has been the owner of the Olde Concord Gallery in historic Concord, Tenn., since 1999. The gallery building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Holding an Associate Degree in Advertising Arts/Graphic Arts from Chattanooga State Community College, Valentine has been a custom picture framer and calligraphy artist since 1984.

Each month, the work of an artist or group of artists is featured in specially designed cases on the second floor of the rotunda in the Farragut Town Hall. For more information about this exhibit or to access a Featured Artist of the Month application, please contact Lauren Cox at lcox@townoffarragut.org or 218-3372 or visit www.townoffarragut.org/artsandculture.

The Farragut Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive directly across from the Farragut Branch Post Office.

Please join us for our new exhibition! Opening reception Fri Sep 2, 5-7 PM in the main lobby of the consulate office, which hosts modern art from both established and emerging Polish artists. Please RSVP: drpienkowski@gmail.com or 865-584-4112

Marcin Kowalik’s paintings are dominated by abstract forms and empty spaces while featuring vibrant colors, illusions and a precision of lines and geometric structures. His work is nonanthropocentric – human figures rarely appear, and when they do, they are faceless, devoid of identity. Kowalik’s perception of reality dictates his work. His gaze is the architect’s – registering solids, enriching them with vibranace and a dose of artful spontaneity which gives rise to his novel, uncanny universe. For Kowalik, Picasso is a master of augmented reality. Kowalik is primarily interested in the Cubist period in the work of the Spanish artist, in the composition of spatial forms and their fragmentation. One of Picasso’s most fascinating aspects is his extraordinary inventiveness. Paintings, which appear shattered into prismatic fragments and recomposed without conformity to their initial arrangement, can be ‘read’ from the foreground, followed along the path delineated by the painter and, suddenly, apprehended not from the front, but sidewise.

In 1944, Pablo Picasso joined the Communist Party. It seems to have provided him with a model of victory and strength which he begins to identify with the Communists. His joining the Party has obvious roots in his painting, which he considered to be more than a mere source of pleasure. Line and color were his arms, which he wielded in his revolutionary fight. He confided in Communism, enchanted with the specious beauty of its motivating ideals, but was even more partial to the company he could find in its circles. The stage in the life of the celebrated cubist sparked Marcin Kowalik’s new cycle. The cycle on a (wo)man at work. Each of the thirty canvases represents a person with their occupational attribute. The different quality of the paintings in “A Tale of the Working (Wo)Man” cycle arises from the overload of minimalism, the pinnacle of which was reached by Kowalik in his work on “Convergents”, one of his most recent projects.

Here, he has sought chaos – introduced into his art by people, as various and volatile as the nature of painting. Despite his desire to renounce his creative asceticism, Kowalik’s human is still confined by the minimalist formal limits. To demonstrate a human form, it is sufficent to simply sketch an eye, the shape of a head and, immediately, a face outline becomes recognizable. This is the machination of the human mind – symmetrical points are sufficient for our imagination to fill in the missing parts. Apparently, the human has finally moved to the center of the young painter’s field of interest. However, these are mere appearances. Kowalik does not stray far from home and attempts to misplace the human figure, offering its simplest possible representation. He tells the tale of a human, but his tale is extremely complex and multi-faceted. He posed the challenge and has risen to it himself – undertaking the effort of organizing the experiment. He invited over a dozen of amateur painters to cooperation on committing to canvas their image of an occupation, inspired by the output of the author of “The Weeping Woman”. Website: www.kowalik.art.pl

Viewing hours M-F 8-5, Sat 8-11:30 AM. At the Center for Polish Culture | Pienkow Art Gallery, 7417 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. http://www.consulpoland.com/index.php/center-of-polish-culture/

“We The People” is a reminder that we, as Americans, can affect change if we unite for the greater good of our country. This show represents the power that we as a people have. The ideals that our country was founded on still hold true today. It is part of our responsibility as Americans to stand up and have our voices heard.

The majority of works in this exhibition are presented in black and white, showing non-descript figures, along with the red, white, and blue, demonstrating the only colors that should be of importance in this country. Regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, when we look at Americans, we should only see red, white, and blue: the true colors of America. The center piece is about our nation’s future and what we will do if either candidate wins. We must always remember that we are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

A public reception will take place on Friday, September 2, 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

The exhibition is on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-9:30 PM for a jazz jam in the Black Box with Vance Thompson/Keith Brown Duo. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, September 5, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Through these works, Eurichea Showalter Subagh Ball hopes to expand and magnify the viewers’ thoughts, dreams, consciousness and realities, known and unknown. Setting goals and writing things is all part of a life’s individualized process. “Imagine I’m a waitress in space,” she says. “There is no linear time. As the waitress, I’ll share your order. What is your Cosmic Order? I’ll give you some time to look over the menu of your life.”

Eurichea Showalter Subagh Ball is from Oak Ridge and now resides in Knoxville. For more information, visit her website at www.espainting.us

A public reception will take place on Friday, September 2, 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

The exhibition is on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-9:30 PM for a jazz jam in the Black Box with Vance Thompson/Keith Brown Duo. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, September 5, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Local artist Anthony M. Donaldson is a KAT bus driver. Since childhood, he has loved to draw and paint. “Art frees my mind into another world,” says Donaldson. “My art is communication and expressions to those whom admire art.” Donaldson aims to tell a story with his art, and the recent work he will display features many subjects such as God, Black Lives Matter, drug and alcohol abuse, human trafficking, global warming, nuclear holocaust, and black on black crime.

A public reception will take place on Friday, September 2, 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

The exhibition is on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-9:30 PM for a jazz jam in the Black Box with Vance Thompson/Keith Brown Duo. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, September 5, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

In this exhibition, Emily Taylor will show parts of several ongoing projects in painting, drawing, and construction.

Emily Taylor grew up in New York City in the 70’s and 80’s before circulating through Amherst, Massachusetts; Ithaca, New York; and Knoxville, Tennessee for school and life reasons. She received her MFA in Painting and MA in Art Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Taylor has shown in venues around the region and United States, and has worked in museum education in Knoxville and Ithaca.

A public reception will take place on Friday, September 2, 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

The exhibition is on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-9:30 PM for a jazz jam in the Black Box with Vance Thompson/Keith Brown Duo. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, September 5, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Introducing September's First Friday Artist, Laura Baisden! A newbie to the Knoxville art scene, she moved to Knoxville in 2015 to start her own letterpress company, "Camp Nevernice." Currently operating out of Pioneer House, on Gay Street, she makes work inspired by long days working and playing on her family's vacation property in West Virginia, also called "Camp." Laura's work is colorful and imaginative, inspired by childhood adventures, as she carves images of woodland creatures, cabins and nature. We love the outdoorsy and whimsical style of her prints. "The Neighborhood Series" is a set of eight neighboring tree houses that form their own little community. Originally commissioned by Gillian Welch for her 2016 summer tour. Each one is an individual lino-cut print. The progress shot above shows the illustrations being carved out of the linoleum blocks that will then be coated with ink and run through a press.

Please join us for a First Friday Reception, September 2, 6-10 PM to check out our selection of cards and prints made at Camp Nevernice!

RALA, 323 Union Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com/

Exhibit of Wood and Felt work by Stan and Elaine Fronczek and Paintings by Kate Aubrey

Westminster Presbyterian Church Shilling Gallery, 6500 Northshore Drive, Knoxville. Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information: 865-584-3957

Featuring recent works by painter Kathy Holland and gourd artist Jeannie Gravetti. An opening reception for the featured artists will begin at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 2, during Downtown Knoxville’s monthly First Friday Art Walk, with complimentary refreshments and music performed by Melanie and the Meltones.

Kathy Holland earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking in 1978 from the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. She also studied wood-engraving with Blair Hughes-Stanton at the Central School of Art and Design in London, England. Her drawings, etchings, relief prints, and paintings have been included in juried national and international exhibitions and solo shows. She lives, and maintains a studio, in Oak Ridge.

Jeannie Gravetti was born and raised in Rochester, New York. She has a master’s degree in science and in education. As a child, Jeannie traveled and camped with her family all over the United States. After college, she taught school in Guam for four years. Traveling to so many places is how she became a lover of the beautiful world of nature. Jeannie is inspired by the many shapes and imperfections of a gourd. Creating a piece of art is a new and different challenge with each piece. Jeannie has lived in a number of different states, but has called East Tennessee her home for 25 years.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Th & Sa 11-6, Fri 11-9, Su 1-6. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net or www.Facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery

Visitors to the Museum of East Tennessee History will have an opportunity to view special items associated with the “Freedom Engine,” a tribute gift from East Tennesseans to New York City following the events of September 11, 2001. East Tennesseans contributed more than $940,000 to purchase and equip a 95-foot tower ladder truck for Harlem-based Ladder Company 14, helping the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) replenish the largest vehicles in the city's firefighting fleet. The so-called "Freedom Engine," went into service during March 2002 and was dedicated on September 11th of that year.

FDNY typically retires their trucks from regular service after about 10 years. The Freedom Engine went into reserve status in 2013. Upon retirement, several artifacts associated with the truck, including a bucket door, captain's helmet, memorial plaque from the people of East Tennessee, and a presentation plaque containing a piece of World Trade Center metal, were returned to East Tennessee and donated to the East Tennessee Historical Society. These items are currently on display through September 30, 2016, at the Museum of East Tennessee History, along with a video about the project. You may view the exhibit and artifacts online at the ETHS website at www.easttnhistory.org/exhibits/freedom-engine.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org