Calendar of Events

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from November 6-24, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, November 6, from 5:00-8:00 PM. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works will be for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store.

In this second collaboration, artists Stephen Brayfield and Tonya Wunder explore darker themes through a kind of eccentric, personal mythology. At times, Wunder will provide poetic captions for Brayfield’s original paintings, and conversely, he is inspired to paint by something she reads. It is not always a smooth and painless process, and with this new exhibition, Brayfield experiments with a different presentation of watercolors. Departing from the traditional mat, frame and glass, he mounts them on cradled panels and seals them with cold wax medium.

About Stephen Brayfield: While I respect the more traditional subject matter of landscape/still life associated with watercolor, I prefer art with a narrative using portrait and figure as a springboard. My earlier work was influenced by surrealism but I have since merged this with an Americana element that I refer to as "southern gothic”.

About Tonya Wunder: I enjoy various streams of poetry, but it was Emily Dickinson who gave me the courage to discard rules and Andre Breton’s automatism that gave me the freedom to ramble nonsensically.

On display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Wednesday-Friday, November 25-27, for the holidays. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from November 6-24, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, November 6, from 5:00-8:00 PM. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works will be for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store.

The fifteen artists of the Emporium Center are proud to present an exhibition of recent works in a variety of media such as collage, fiber works, mixed media, painting, and photography. These artists include: Sheila Chesanow, Derrick Freeman, Connie Gaertner, Judi Gaston, Tobertha Jackson, Diana Kilburn, Katie Kinney, Fritz Massaquoi, Wokie Massaquoi-Wicks, Pam Radford, Chris Rohwer, Robin Rohwer, Gayla Seale, W. James Taylor, and Sandy White. Read more about the artists at www.knoxalliance.com/recent-works-by-the-emporium-centers-tenant-artists.

The Emporium Center is Knoxville’s first true arts center, which re-opened following renovations in 2004. Built in 1898 as the original home of a prestigious furniture company, the Emporium housed a wholesale goods distributor and later became a textile manufacturing facility that fulfilled military contracts. The two adjacent buildings and the vacant lot were the location of the “Parthenon of Country Music,” which served as the home of the WNOX Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round. The 28,000 square feet of flexible use space houses multiple art galleries showcasing local and regional artists with exhibitions that change each month. The Emporium also houses the administrative offices of non-profits Arts & Culture Alliance, Circle Modern Dance, HoLa Hora Latina, Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and Tennessee Stage Company as well as studios for fifteen individual artists.

The Emporium is available for private rentals for receptions, fundraisers, dinners, parties, and more and is open to the public Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM with monthly First Friday receptions.

On display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Wednesday-Friday, November 25-27, for the holidays. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

Art Guild at Fairfield Glade
Monthly Happenings for November 2020
At the Plateau Creative Arts Center (PCAC)
451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine Road) 931-707-7249
Open: Monday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closed: All Sundays plus Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, & Easter
Due to these uncertain times for gatherings, please check the Art Guild website
or Facebook page for the most current information.
Facebook: The Art Guild at Fairfield Glade Website: artguildfairfieldglade.net

In the Art Studio, class size and/or open studio gathering size is limited. All people inside the PCAC building should wear face masks and practice social distancing! To register for a class, visit the PCAC or call 931-707-7249. Payment must be received at the time of registration.

Open Studio – Come enjoy our studio space. The studio may be used every day during operating hours when no other class or event is scheduled. Members and guests are both welcome to bring any project on which they are currently working. There is no scheduled individual to help you with your project, but feel free to get your friends together for assistance. Studio use is FREE to members of the Art Guild and $5.00 for non-members. All can enjoy working on art projects at their own convenience.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Home School Children’s Art Class, Subject is “Drawing/Painting an Egyptian Sarcophagus from the Ancient World”, Mediums: Metallic Liquid Watercolor & Oil Pastels, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m., with Rosemary Wawro.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Basic ARTiE Training (short for ART in Electronics): ARTiE is an electronic whiteboard that provides many tools to enhance teaching, learning, and presentations at the Art Guild’s Plateau Creative Arts Center (PCAC), 10:00 ¬a.m. – 12:00 noon. Open to AG members only. Class is free-of-charge, but those who want to attend must register for the class. Maximum class size is six students.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 (at the Plateau Creative Arts Center and on Zoom)
Monthly Members Meeting – 9:30 is a speaker presentation (TBA), 10:00 is a brief business meeting. Guests are welcome to attend (In-person attendance will be limited due to social distancing.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Project Discussion, a bi-monthly artwork review session. Assess the artwork of participants and/or selected artwork in the gallery. The facilitator is John Anderson. 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. FREE and open to the public. Bring your artwork or just observe the session.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Fundamentals of Making Chain Jewelry, with George Gallant. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Cost is $30 for members or $35 for guests. $25 materials fee payable to the instructor. Number of students: minimum is 3, maximum is 6.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Watercolor 101 for Beginners with Vera Bogle, 1:00 a.m. – 4:00 noon. Cost is $30 for members or $35 for guests. $5 materials fee payable to instructor. Number of students: minimum is 4, maximum is 8.

Art Guild at Fairfield Glade at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive, Fairfield Glade, TN 38558. Information: 931-707-7249, www.artguildfairfieldglade.net

Loving, a play by Peter Manos, is the story behind the landmark United States Supreme Court decision, Loving v. Virginia, by which laws prohibiting inter-racial marriage were ruled unconstitutional.

A recorded performance of Loving will be available for viewing on:
• Nov. 6 (6:00 PM) – Nov. 7 (5:00 PM)
• Nov. 12 – All Day

If you would like to receive a private link to the Loving video, please see DETAILS HERE
http://wordplayers.org/online-events/

In the 1950s, Richard Loving, a white man, loved Mildred Jeter, an African American woman. Virginia state law prohibited inter-racial marriage, and, when state authorities found out Richard and Mildred had married, sheriffs came in the middle of the night and dragged the Lovings from their bed. They were put on trial, fined hundreds of dollars and received a 25-year jail sentence, suspended if they left the state. They appealed their case to the Virginia Supreme Court where the state ruled against the Lovings. Finally, in a landmark United States Supreme Court decision, Loving v. Virginia, laws prohibiting inter-racial marriage were ruled unconstitutional.

Interweaving the Loving’s courtship, romance and struggles with folk music from the Virginia hills, Loving celebrates the triumph of love over prejudice and hate.

(Length app. 60 minutes. Suggested for ages 13+)

Zoo Knoxville is offering free wristbands good for unlimited carousel and train rides with the donation of an item for Mission of Hope during their “Cans for Wristbands” drive.

Now through Nov. 25, guests who bring a donation item will receive their free wristband, (a $10 value) with the purchase of a general admission ticket. Members and annual passholders also receive a free wristband with a donation. Wristbands are also good for a 10% discount on purchases in the Zoo Shop, and members and annual passholders can use this in addition to their regular 15% discount. Wristbands are valid for the day of donation.

Items needed are non-perishable food items, hygiene items, and new children’s toys. All donations will support Mission of Hope, a non-profit volunteer organization providing assistance, aid and resources to those living in poverty-stricken areas in rural Appalachia. Learn more about Mission of Hope at www.missionofhope.org.

Zoo general admission tickets are $19.95 for adults, $16.95 for children ages 4-12 and seniors age 65 and up. Children ages 3 and under are free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Tickets can be purchased online at zooknoxville.org or at the zoo’s ticket window. Please present donations at the zoo’s ticket window to redeem wristbands.

Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-637-5331, www.zooknoxville.org

Learn how to protect your trees while helping ours!

Looking for a way to help the Gardens and learn at the same time? The next round of Dr. Syd Hamilton's webinar series is coming up so if you missed them the past months, you can still take them! Courses are offered throughout November & December. The registration fee for these classes will be used directly to help treat diseased and at risk trees on KBGA's property.

Offered will be the following:
• Integrated Pest Management
• Oak Decline Diseases
• Sycamore Anthracnose- What it is and how to treat it
• Beneficial Bugs- What they are, what they do, and how to keep them safe
• And more!
You can find out more and sign up here!

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dr-hamilton-biologist-and-tree-doc-of-better-nature-llc-31121833465

The Maker City: Holiday Gift Guide and Holiday Monday Marketplace
www.themakercity.org
Instagram @themakercity

With no end in sight to the pandemic, and with talented small business owners continuing to struggle, there’s every reason for shoppers to buy their Holiday gifts locally this year. The Maker City has made this easy to do with two very safe, very user-friendly online options.

The Holiday Gift Guide puts the best of over 300 local Makers front and center in a captivating online catalog. Convenient links direct to each Maker’s web page provide a smooth, stress-free shopping experience, and with categories such as Jewelry, Home Goods, Nature Lovers, Fashion, Grooming, Kitchen and much more, there really is something for everyone. http://themakercity.org/giftguide

By spending their dollars close to home, Holiday shoppers support the local economy -- not only the Makers’ families, but also the many local suppliers and service providers with whom the Maker works. In addition, they support sustainability; Knoxville’s Makers use ecologically responsible practices, and cherished handmade items tend to get handed down through the generations rather than sent to the landfill. Most of all, nothing says “you mean a lot to me” better than a one-of-a-kind gift made with love, and carefully selected for that special someone.

Those who would like a little more excitement during this festive season can support Knoxville Makers in real time by bidding on auction items on the Holiday Monday Marketplace, live from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday, on Instagram. Bid on favorite pieces, and know that 100% of the purchase price goes to the Maker. Check out Instagram @themakercity #MondayMarketplace.
https://www.instagram.com/themakercity/

Looking for more? 100s more Maker City Makers can be found in the Maker Directory.
http://themakercity.org/makerdirectory

Rala is proud to carry works from Tennessee artist Ryan Blair. His works are funky, colorful, and representative of the American South. https://shoprala.com/collections/ryan-blair

Ryan Blair is a triple threat. He teaches kids at Claxton Elementary School in Anderson County, TN, is Dad to three adorable children, and maintains his own professional art practice.

Blair uses salvaged materials and colorful paint to create works that speak to the spirit of the Tennessee hills. Subjects like snake-handlers, country musicians, winged mules, and moonshine-sippers often show up in his funky pieces. These are a few works available now at Rala.

"Art is soothing for me -- It's a place where there's no right or wrong answer," he told Cityview Mag back in 2015. As an art educator at rural elementary schools, he strives to teach this freedom to others.

"I don't necessarily feel like I'm just teaching art. I'm teaching a lot of life skills and people skills and hopefully how to enjoy things," he said. "I've hopefully made several people's lives more interesting or thoughtful or happy that day."

Blair is often up late, working hard in his studio. He posts process photos and updates on his work through his Facebook and Instagram. Follow him to keep in the loop about what he's creating and upcoming art shows.

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com. Instagram: @ShopRala

The Art Market Gallery welcomes its newest members for 2020 in a special New Members Show! There will be no opening reception because of Covid but many of the new members will be working various days in November and all of their works and bios can be viewed at the Art Market's web page, www.artmarketgallery.net.

New members are: John Adkins (painting), Julie Boisseau Craig (mixed media), Kim Emert Gale (painting), Curtis Imerman (painting), Carole Stoiber (painting), Kate Watson (painting), and current member in another category, Terri Swaggerty (photography)

Hours: Tue-Sat 11 AM - 6 PM, Sun 1-6 PM. Closed Thanksgiving.
Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net, www.Facebook.com/ArtMarketGallery

With the holidays approaching, the Arts & Culture Alliance has coordinated the presentation of more than 125 unique works of art by local artists via its online shop so that patrons and the general public may purchase work.

The Holiday Sale, featuring 43 local artists, includes visual arts media (ranging from acrylic to photography), sculptural works, fiber works, glass, jewelry, and more, as well as ornaments, commissions of portraits, and musical performances. Artists will receive 100% of the proceeds after credit card processing fees.

Shop now! https://www.knoxalliance.store/product-category/holiday/

“Our artists are always trying new ways to interpret the world around them, so we are excited to try new ways for them to share that new work,” says Liza Zenni, Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Alliance. “These days, so many art buyers are increasingly going online to discover and add to their collection of local artwork, and we wanted to help them find it. And if they happen to also find a one-of-a-kind holiday gift, so much the better!”

All artworks are available for sale at www.knoxalliance.store and may be purchased 24/7 using a credit card. Work may also be purchased by calling the Alliance, Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM, at (865) 523-7543.

The Online Holiday Sale runs Sunday, November 1, 2020 – Friday, January 1, 2021. Additionally, some of the works will be included in Black Friday through Cyber Monday and End-of-Year sales offering 10% discounts. For more information, contact: Suzanne Cada at (865) 523-7543 or sc@knoxalliance.com.

We've had to go virtual due to COVID-19, but those who believe in our missions of service & education can still contribute to our biggest fundraiser of the year.

The Appalachian Arts Craft Center is a nonprofit center with a mission to support arts and crafts in Appalachia through education, sales, and community involvement. The center is located at 2716 Andersonville Highway 61, Clinton, TN, one mile east of I-75 north at Exit 122. For more information, stop by the center, call 865-494-9854, or visit www.appalachianarts.net or Facebook.

An Alumni exhibition featuring funky 3-D masks by Jym Davis, class of 1999.
www.jymdavis.com

Omega Gallery at Carson-Newman University, Warren Art Building, corner of Branner & Ken Sparks Way, Jefferson City, TN 37760. Gallery hours: M-F 8-4. Please wear a face covering!

Information: 865-471-4985, www.cn.edu