Calendar of Events

Tri-Star Arts announces the next exhibition at their gallery in the historic Candoro Marble Building. A solo show, Mondegreen, features new work by artist Pete Hoffecker Mejía (Salem, Oregon).

Public receptions will be held on Friday, July 16 from 5:00- 8:00 pm (artist in attendance) and Friday, September 3 from 5:00- 8:00 pm. An in-person artist talk will be held on Friday, July 16 at 3:30 pm.

Pete Hoffecker Mejía states: “This work is engaged with the negotiation of multiform cultural identities. I am expressly concerned with exploring the intersection of contrasting cultural information, hierarchies of representation, and conflation in the expression of otherness.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, of indigenous ancestry, adopted by a multiracial family, and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, I have created a studio practice that serves as a space for mediation of the resulting geographic and cultural estrangement. Cut and reassembled serape blankets, mochila pattern, molas, and other fragments of a whole speak to cultural and geographic discontinuity. Interrogating the themes of European geometric abstraction and Indigenous art forms allows me to create a sculptural narrative of contemporary Latin-American and Indigenous cultural hybridity, with acknowledgment of the postcolonial landscape.

High art and low, the historical and the ahistorical, the found and the fabricated, caricature and the sincere, all collide and collude. In this way, I explore the blurred points of contact resulting from estrangement, while touching on the obstacles in mediating self through distorted representations of the other in mass culture.”

This exhibition will be open to the public, alongside iconic spaces within the Candoro Marble Building, regularly from Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Social distancing is encouraged.

Tri-Star Arts at Candoro Marble Building, 4450 Candora Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Tue-Sat 11 AM - 5 PM. Information: https://tristararts.org/

Wed-Sat @ 7:30, Sun @ 2:00

Venus in Fur opens with a cynical playwright lamenting the lack of talent in the actresses he has auditioned for his new play based on a 19th century erotic novel. When ditzy actress Vanda arrives two hours late, sparks and punch lines fly. But underneath the humor, something wicked and dangerous bubbles to surface, building to a punch-in-the-gut ending you'll never see coming.

“Venus in Fur is a play about the battle of the sexes, with nuclear weapons. .” says director Jayne Morgan. “The action is physical, raw and intense – is is funny and sexy, and audiences love the twists and turns the story takes! This play is also such an incredible showcase for the actors” Local actors Carolyn Corley and Michael Marks are cast as Vanda and playwright Thomas. Randy Thompson is stage managing.

Flying Anvil Theatre, locally known for producing newer, provocative productions, is currently selling season passes and single tickets for their upcoming season which features five mainstage shows and a special performance by comedian/singer Minton Sparks.

Venus will open with a 'pay-what-you-want' preview on July 15. The show runs Thursday-Sunday, July 15-August 1. Evening shows are at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm, $25 for adults and $13 for students. For mature audiences. Tickets are also available at the door.

Flying Anvil Theatre, 1300 Rocky Hill Road, Knoxville. Information: 865-357-1309, www.flyinganviltheatre.com. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram, @flyinganviltheatre

They say, "into every life, rain must fall," and while that is true, some individuals defy that logic and always deal with a light hand and a joy that defies the trials and tribulations of life. Hugh Bailey was one of those rare individuals. He experienced the sorrows of life as we all do, but chose a brighter side. Hugh saw, painted, sculpted, printed, and related stories of joy. He created objects that were "joy filled" and shared them with those lucky enough to cross his path. This show will be an echo of that joy and his legacy to all who knew him.

Hugh was an ambassador for the clay arts especially. A founding member of Foothills Craft Guild and an active member of Southern Highlands Craft Guild, an instructor in our program and others for many years, and an active demonstrator of clay arts throughout the region, Hugh was gracious with his time and talents sharing both with curious individuals of all ages. All of his work was imbued with his quick wit, amazing sense of humor and delightful sense of whimsy. In fact, Hugh was an advocate of playful experimentation in all media. These aspects to his work are readily apparent and will bring many memories to those who knew him and inspire those who did not have that privilege. The objects displayed in this exhibition will be shared with the Art Center from his many collectors in homage.

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

Summer Sale! 50–75% Off Select Furniture, Accessories & Gifts
Starts July 9 and runs through the end of the month

Special Sale on Saturday, July 10in with parking lot vendors

Bennett Galleries & Company: 5308 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: M-Th 10-6, F-Sa 10-5:30. Information: 865-584-6791, www.bennettgalleries.com

7:30 PM Thursday-Sunday, July 8 - August 8
2 PM Matinees: Sunday, July 18th (Twelfth Night) & Sunday, July 25th (The Tempest)
ADMISSION: Reservations & in-person tickets will be $15, with a four-pack for families offered a 15% discount.

The Tennessee Stage Company presents its 31st Summer Shakespeare Festival, now performing at Ijams Nature Center! The natural hillside boasts the space for the audience to spread out & observe proper social distancing while enjoying the outdoor performances, which will feature two of Shakespeare’s most renowned plays: the comedy Twelfth Night & the romance of The Tempest. This season is being produced in cooperation with Ijams Nature Center. Twelfth Night opens the festival on Thursday, July 8th. It continues through August 7th, alternating performances with The Tempest, which opens on Friday, July 9th, & plays through August 8th. There is an indoor space at Ijams Nature Center where performances will move in case of rain. In order to be prepared for the ever-changing landscape of 2021, we will play this season in the open field in front of the Visitors Center of Ijams Nature Center, located at 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920, just a short drive from downtown. The Tennessee Stage Company encourages our audiences to spend an evening at Ijams Nature Center. Walk the splendor of the trails, check out the gift shop, have dinner at a food truck, see the show & enjoy the beverages from the Beer Garden. Come early & sample the many pleasures to be found at Ijams Nature Center.

July 8, 10, 16, 18, 22, 24, 30; August 1, 5, 7 at 7:30 pm; July 18 at 2:00 pm
TWELFTH NIGHT

July 9, 11, 15, 17, 23, 25 29, 31; August 6, 8 at 7:30 PM; July 25 at 2:00 pm
THE TEMPEST

For more information about the Tennessee Stage Company, Shakespeare 'Off' The Square, or its support guild, Buddies of the Bard
(BoB), call 865-546-4280 or e-mail TennesseeStage@Comcast.net. Tickets: www.Ijams.org/shakespeare. Up to three students (K-12) may attend for one penny with paying adult!

Bliss & Tori Mason Shoes is excited to host local artist Kara Lockmiller for First Friday as Downtown Knoxville starts to return to normalcy amid more reopening activities since the pandemic shutdown.

Kara will be at Bliss & Tori Mason Shoes at 445 S. Gay St. in downtown Knoxville from 6 – 9 PM on Friday, July 2nd for an in person meet and greet where snacks and drinks will be served.

Kara Lockmiller is a Knoxville artist who specializes in painting in shadow hues. She is known as a chromesthete, which means she sees a vast array of real colors in her mind when she listens to music. Kara paints musical artists ranging from Dolly Parton to Billy Joel and accepts custom commissioned requests. She has displayed her work at several venues throughout Knoxville over the years and has received many creative awards.

Bliss & Tori Mason Shoes is a women's clothing and gift store located on Gay St. in downtown Knoxville and has been a downtown Knoxville mainstay since its start in 2003. Bliss prides itself on offering an alternative to the standard retail experience and often carries pieces you won't find anywhere else. Husband and Wife team Scott Schimmel and Lisa Sorensen own Bliss, along with four other Bliss stores throughout TN and KY including another women's boutique in West Town Mall, and three furniture stores (Bliss Home) located in Knoxville and Nashville, TN and Louisville, KY. For more information on Kara Lockmiller, please visit her website at www.klockmillerart.com or follower her on social media @klockmillerart

For more information on Bliss, please visit their website at www.shopinbliss.com or contact Molly Hanley at 865-219-2703 or marketing@shopinbliss.com

First Friday Reception: July 2, 5:30 – 9:00
July Theme: The Love of Travel

Kim Emert Gale, Painter
Kim Emert Gale is a seventh generation East Tennessean and a descendant of Emert's Cove near Gatlinburg, Tn. She specializes in oil, acrylic, pen and ink, and pencil drawing. Her subjects include portraiture, landscape and still life. She has painted for several years and has studied with several widely known and collected painters. Kim attended the University of Tennessee and studied art and psychology. She resides in Knoxville Tennessee where she paints the beauty of the surrounding area and the Smoky Mountains.

Harriet Howell, Hand Painted Silk
Harriet’s painting, whether on paper or silk, uses color and movement to capture the emotional content of nature. “I’ve always loved fabrics, and used to make all of my own clothes. Painting scarves allows me to play with color and natural shapes and then turn the art into something wearable. What fun!” Starting with a stretched silk scarf, Harriet uses brushes to apply successive layers of fabric dyes. Sometimes a resist is used or a hand-cut stencil. Sometimes the dye is applied wet-in-wet. Almost all images are based on elements found in nature. Finished scarves are then steam set, washed, ironed and sewn. Harriet Howell’s painting, whether on paper or silk, uses color and movement to capture the emotional content of nature. “I’ve always loved fabrics and used to make all of my own clothes. Painting scarves allows me to play with color and natural shapes and then turn the art into something wearable. What fun!” Starting with a stretched silk scarf, Harriet uses brushes to apply successive layers of fabric dyes. Sometimes a resist is used or a hand-cut stencil. Sometimes the dye is applied wet-in-wet. Almost all images are based on elements found in nature. Finished scarves are then steam set, washed, ironed, and sewn.

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

The practices of Celia Lesh and Esther Sibiude span disciplines of sculpture, drawing, writing, and music. Although their works are decidedly distinct from one another, they share an affective tenor and intuitive mode of making that honors slowness and emotionality. Esther’s drawings fluctuate between cosmic landscapes and microscopic biologies. Wisps and lines are trusted to wander, swirling in and out of reality. In some, narrative peeks through. In others, the non-drawn space, the paper and the air trapped in the frame, become equally important to the drawn. Celia makes sculptures, often from her bedroom studio. Her techniques range from sewing and soldering to chewing and mushing, arranging and re-arranging. She combines found objects with meticulous methods of adornment. The resulting works vibrate between lightness and weight, embodying the psychological. In situ, they operate like constellations, bound to one another by the heavy space in between.

Celia Lesh is an artist living and working between New York and California.
Esther Sibiude is an artist and harpist living and working in New York.
Colleen Billing is an artist living and working in New York.

BAD WATER, 320 E. Churchwell Ave, Knoxville, TN. Open during receptions & by appointment. Info: writetobadwater@gmail.com, https://instagram.com/bad__water, or https://badwater.gallery/

Award-winning artists, Judi Miller and Barb Pelak, are the Art Guild’s featured artists for July. They will be honored at the Fun and Wine Reception on Friday, July 2nd, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at the Art Center located at 451 Lakeview Drive in Fairfield Glade. Wearing masks is optional. Wine will be served. This event is free & open to the public.

Judi Miller grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York, married, and raised 3 children. She now lives in Fairfield Glade. Judi Miller’s love for drawing, and art, began soon after she could hold a pencil. As Judi grew older, she experimented with different mediums of paint and discovered her passion for watercolor. Judi loves the transparency of watercolor and the mingling of the paints on the paper. Her favorite subjects are all types of plant life, still lifes and people, especially children. Painting brings Judi a sense of peace. She found it to be really good therapy, especially this past year, with so many unknowns. As a prerequisite for Judi’s paintings, she works hard to capture the best photographs, including precise positioning, light, and shadow. She loves taking pictures of her grandkids.

Barb Pelak was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She married and moved to Naples, Florida in 1980 where she raised her family. Barb has been enjoying summers in the Crossville area since 1975, and has made Fairfield Glade her home. Barb learned to paint in 1985 when she joined a local chapter of the Society of Tole and Decorative Artists. She has painted in oils, acrylics, watercolor, and colored pencils, and loves them all! She also has an interest in paper arts, and loves to make greeting cards, handmade books and journals. Barb has a gift for teaching, and has taught a variety of art classes since 1990. She continues to teach classes at the Art Guild’s Art Center.

Hours: Mon-Sat 9 AM - 4 PM. 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

On display for month of July
PostModern Spirits, 205 W Jackson, Knoxville
Hours: 4pm-11pm mon- Fri. Sat-Sun 12pm-11pm

Leesa Osburn of Knoxville, TN
I was born and raised on the Oregon Coast. I enlisted in the Army and had the opportunity to travel to Germany. After several years serving my country, I returned to the U.S. and settled in Las Vegas, NV for 14 years. After too many hot summers in 2019, my husband and I moved to Halls, Tennessee with our two rescue dogs. The positive change in environment has reinvigorated my need to put paint to canvas. I have a Bachelors in Studio Art from University of Nevada Las Vegas and paint mostly in Water Soluble Oils. My work, mostly landscapes, have been shown now in several local exhibits and hope to expand my reach to future juried events. I enjoy “rescuing” formerly used canvases and frames. Many canvases only need a tiny amount of work and a neutral base coat in oils to prepare them for a new day of painting. Good quality frames often just need a new coat of paint and the two, canvas and frame, are ready to be joined. I often choose to paint on gallery wrapped canvases which omits the need for a frame all together. To expand my craft, I joined Tuesday Painters, a Plein Air painting group. For ease of portability I have been dabbling on Tuesdays in Watercolor. https://artisticescape.studio/

The WDVX Blue Plate Special® is a live performance radio show held at noon, with your host Red Hickey, Monday through Thursday at the Knoxville Visitor Center. On Fridays WDVX takes the Blue Plate Special to Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria for “The Big Plate”, then back to the Visitor Center on Saturday with your host Evie Andrus.

It’s always free to join in, so please don’t be shy. Make yourself at home as part of the WDVX family. From blues to bluegrass, country to Celtic, folk to funk, rockabilly to hillbilly, local to international, it all part of the live music experience on the WDVX Blue Plate Special. You’re welcome to bring your lunch.

Just like at your favorite meat n’ three, the WDVX Blue Plate Special® is served up piping hot. This fresh and free daily helping of live music during the lunchtime hour that features performers from all over the world and right here in Knoxville has put WDVX on the map as East Tennessee’s Own community supported radio.

Previous performing artists include Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, The Avett Brothers, Old Crowe Medicine Show, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart, Nickel Creek, Red Stick Ramblers, Rodney Crowell, String Cheese Incident, The Del McCoury Band, Tim O’Brien, Yonder Mountain String Band, David Grisman, Claire Lynch Band, Brett Dennen, Tommy Emmanuel, Uncle Earl, The Infamous Stringdusters, the Jerry Douglas Band, Joan Osborne, John Oats, Mary Gauthier, Darrell Scott, and many many more! There’s plenty of great music to go around! http://wdvx.com/program/blue-plate-special/

Free 2-hour visitor parking located next door to the Knoxville Visitor Center. One Vision Plaza, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Info: 865-544-1029, http://www.wdvx.com

"Art Thru The Window #4" at Broadway Studios and Gallery.

Featuring our resident artists. Art Show through the glass.

1127 N. Broadway, Knoxville TN 37917. Open hours vary, call for appointment, inquiries and purchases: 865-556-8676