Calendar of Events

The Ebony Imagery Series began in 1984 with the showing of a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian service which carried the same title. It was curated by David Driscoll, noted Art and Art History Professor at the University of Maryland, who came to the Art Center to speak about the art and artists during the original showing. Along with the Smithsonian exhibition, the Art Center mounted a collection of work by local African American Artists which by all accounts was as compelling as those from the national art scene. We reprised the exhibition in 1989 and held it annually for a few years before settling on a biennial exhibition.

The 2022 exhibition is the nineteenth in the Series. During that time we have seen many wonderful artists whose work moved us. Some are still with the exhibition today, some have passed away and their voices are sorely missed, and new artists to the series add new perspectives. We expect wide range of both two and three dimensional media that will include some traditional forms like drawing on paper, clay sculpture, and oil on canvas to more contemporary media that utilizes new products or traditional products in new ways. Regardless of the technique, sometimes in spite of the technique, these artists bring us fresh, emotionally charged perspectives that move us.

We hope to host a closing reception March 19th from 2 to 4 PM and hope to see you there.

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

Sat, Feb 12 | Online Event

Join us every Saturday on Zoom in February from 10am-11am for Black History Saturday School. Educators from our community will lead us on a historical journey spanning from African Kingdoms to Reconstruction. This series is a perfect event for middle school aged children and up & is open to the public!

https://www.thebottomknox.com/events-1/black-history-saturday-school-2022-02-12-10-00

Opening reception Friday Feb 4th, 5-8
Show will be up till March 12th

214 Magnolia, 214 W. Magnolia Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917. Friday 5-8, Saturday 12-5, and by appointment, via IG button, during the week: https://www.instagram.com/214magnolia/. 865-337-7106 or https://www.214magnolia.com/

The Plateau Creative Arts Center invites the public to come and enjoy the Art Guild members’ Fiber Arts Exhibit. The exhibit will be featured at the February 2022 Fun and Wine Reception on Friday, February 4 from 5:00-7:00 pm. The display will showcase a variety of pieces from the Art Guild members and will run through March 3, 2022.

We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to both artisans and attendees, to encourage interest and acceptance of many varieties of Fiber Arts as Fine Arts. This medium is non-utilitarian work that consists primarily of natural or synthetic fiber or yarn. It focuses on the design, materials and artistic labor as basics for the works’ significance that prioritizes aesthetic over utilitarian values.

The term Fiber Arts originated shortly after World War II, defining work by craft artists incorporating fabric into their works. The 50’s gave more recognition to Fiber Arts as Fine Arts, and by the 60’s and 70’s, Fiber Arts was embraced worldwide, with a growing number of artists creating 2 and 3-dimensional fiber works in a variety of genres. Fiber Arts continues to thrive and evolve, and the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is thrilled to share a variety of Fiber Arts for public viewing.

Located at 451 Lakeview Drive in Fairfield Glade (off Peavine Road). 931-707-7249 or www.artguildfairfieldglade.net

Please join us for the show opening on Feb 4 from 6 to 8pm.

We are excited to have Paris Woodhull as our featured artist for the months of February and March! Her show The Paris Party features large figurative paintings, in her unique and recognizable style. All paintings are one of a kind originals, and would make for very special Valentine's gifts!

Paris Woodhull is a born and raised Knoxvillian, and received her BFA in 2D art with a concentration in Painting & Drawing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She loves bold color, pattern, pop culture, portraiture, fashion, and is fueled by copious amounts of coffee.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we prefer that masks be worn inside the store. Thank you for helping us stay safe!
Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/9Uvc3VeYR

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

Leesa is a fairly recent transplant from the West Coast to Knoxville. Her painting medium is water based oils. You can see her work at ArtisticEscape.studio. Knoxville is becoming home to her family, which included two rescued dogs. Leesa is also learning to paint in the Plein Air Style when time and weather permits.

Hours: M-F 730:am to 8:pm, Sat 8am to8pm, Sun 1:pm to 6pm.

Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Info: 865-951-0427 or https://www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

The Art Market Gallery is now open for business after having some much-needed renovations and painting done in early January. Please come and see our new look as well as our Featured Artist Wall displaying art with a Valentine theme. We will be open on First Friday, February 4, from 5:30 - 9 PM, as well as our regular business hours, Tuesday thru Saturday 11AM - 6PM and Sunday, 1-6PM. Also, check out our online store at artmarketgallery.net.

First Friday Reception: February 4, 5:30 – 9:00 pm

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 Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present four new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from February 4-26, 2022. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, February 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features music by violinist Sarah Ringer and guitarist Byron Moffett. 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.

Peg Hess’s inaugural exhibition at the Emporium includes images from eight countries and five US states. Her photographs including striking as well as tranquil landscapes, water, and the bright light of the sun. Growing up as a fifth generation East Tennessean in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, I often heard my father's voice encouraging me to “look” at something intricate, beautiful, or unusual. Pausing, seeing, reflecting on, and taking in the wonder or puzzle of a moment or image became second nature to me. It is the foundation for my passion for photography.

I am energized by being in solitude, particularly outdoors and in sacred spaces. For me, as for many others, “When the eyes see what they have never seen before [which in my experience often occurs in traveling to new places] the heart feels what it has never felt” (Baltasar Gracian, a Spanish Jesuit scholar). Seeing with my camera yields an even richer experience, including noticing the sources of light and the mystery in shadows; magical, even otherworldly, reflections; intersecting angles and echoing shapes; contrasts in light, color, and textures; energy and movement; remarkably subtle color shifts; and natural and designed symmetry. Focused seeing creates options for compositions that highlight what has drawn me to the scene. Some photographs invite contemplation, others pull us in and we become immersed in making sense of what we see. Others evoke feelings — laughter, awe, a wish to become part of the moment depicted. As a photographer, I seek to create such photos to share with others.

www.peghessphotography.com

The exhibitions will be 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 and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present four new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from February 4-26, 2022. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, February 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features music by violinist Sarah Ringer and guitarist Byron Moffett. 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.

I am a stained glass artist creating both nature-themed and abstract works using the glass foiling technique developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. By utilizing hand-made glass sheets of various colors and textures, I produce dynamic depictions of the beauty found in nature. The variations in artisanal glass give a unique feeling of depth and movement with this challenging medium. Using the Tiffany technique coupled with the beauty of glass, and a lifelong study of wildlife, I seek to evoke appreciation of our natural world in all who view my creations.

The exhibitions will be 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 and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present four new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from February 4-26, 2022. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, February 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features music by violinist Sarah Ringer and guitarist Byron Moffett. 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.

This five-year project documents the eastern third of Tennessee through 36 color photographs. East Tennessee is very different from the rest of the state; it is culturally and geographically part of Appalachia. Here, modern life and the traditions of the early Scottish and Irish settlers often intertwine. Reality and irony are everywhere we look. Children play in the backyard, and there is a castle down the road. Young men portray the East Tennesseans who fought on the beaches of Normandy. A bluegrass band plays the tunes of early ancestors. Evangelicals speak of heaven and hell on street corners. They want to save our souls because the grim reaper is coming and there will be a feast with the beasts. The local chiropractor wants to fix our bodies and advertises this with an enormous spine on display. Angels are everywhere and the Waffle House stands like a beacon on a hill. This is East Tennessee.

Lisa Flanary is a professor of Art at Carson-Newman University where she has taught since 1998. As a fine art photographer, Flanary uses 4x5 and medium format film cameras. She also works with the digital camera. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States. Flanary earned an MFA from East Tennessee State University and a BA in History from Carson-Newman University.

www.lisaellisflanary.com
Instagram: @lflanarycamera

The exhibitions will be 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 and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present its 16th annual National Juried Exhibition, a new exhibition featuring selected works from 50 artists throughout the region. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, February 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features music by violinist Sarah Ringer and guitarist Byron Moffett. 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 National Juried Exhibition was developed to provide a forum for artists to compete on a regional scale and display their highest quality work. The exhibition encompasses all styles and genres from both emerging and established artists working in a variety of media such as photography, acrylic, pencil, fibers, oil, paper, and more. Over $1,000 in cash awards will be announced at a brief awards ceremony at 6:00 PM on February 4.

Exhibiting artists include:
+ Gary Anderson of Huntsville, AL
+ Dave Edens of Madison, AL
+ Dawnice Kerchaert of Pontiac, MI
+ Matthew Rentz of Asheville, NC
+ Sheila Chesanow of Athens, TN
+ Adrienne Justine Dye of Gatlinburg, TN
+ Alan Finch of Jacksboro, TN
+ Samantha Steadman and Carla Taylor of Johnson City, TN
+ Stephen Simmerman of Jonesborough, TN
+ Torrance Redford of Kingsport, TN
+ Neranza Noel Blount, Danqi Cai, Michaelanne Collins, Virginia Taylor Derryberry, Jurgen Dopatka, Andrew Godwin, Brian Horais, Jeanne Kidd, Anne Kinggard, David Liles, Marga McBride, Brian R. Melton, Allen Monsarrat, Lisa J. Mullikin, Anders Nienstaedt, Mary O'Neill, Leesa Lynn Osburn, Manya Pirkle, Adam Rowe, William A. Timm and Lyndsey Ullom of Knoxville, TN
+ Judy Kelley Jorden and Marcia M. Shelly Lenoir City, TN
+ Lil Clinard, Ted Richards and Dennis Sabo of Loudon, TN
+ Ed Bates, Michele Croslin and Marianne Woodside of Maryville, TN
+ Mike E. Sandlock of Morristown, TN
+ Elaine Culbert, Yvonne Dalschen and Kelli L. Thompson of Oak Ridge, TN
+ Jane Newman of Ooltewah, TN
+ Charlotte Rollman of Sevierville, TN
+ Sheila Lutringer of Strawberry Plains, TN
+ Lynda Best of Tellico Plains, TN
+ Laurie Szilvagyi of Vonore, TN
+ Wade Schmitz of Houston, TX

About the juror: Tommie Rush, a native of Mobile, Alabama, is a glass artist who lives and maintains a studio, Tomco Inc., in Knoxville, Tennessee. She began her early studies in ceramics which ultimately lead her to working in glass. By 1980, Rush began to share a studio space with renowned artist Richard Jolley, who she married several years later. Through tireless experimentation and the development of custom blended glass mixed in the studio, she has created a unique and identifiable style which has been celebrated in over 75 exhibitions.

The exhibitions will be 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 and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

Opening Friday, February 4, 5-9 PM

Jennifer Bowden
Medium: Mixed medium with Collage

Jennifer Bowden is a native Knoxvillian. She currently works for Knox County Public Schools, as an occupational therapist. In the summer she works as an Assistant Director for MFAC (Multicultural Fine Art Camp for children ages 6 – 14. A Geneva Galleries Inc. summer arts program @ Overcoming Believers Church / Knoxville Tennessee).

Jennifer showed an interest in archeology, natural science and art as a young person. She was fascinated by National Geographic magazine pictures of her uncle's and had a small art studio in a closet behind the garage that her older brother had abandoned and there she drew and painted fashion models and trees for fun and solitude. Jennifer was one of the last private students of Ruth Brice-Cobbs, a local well-known black artist, poet, educator and her neighbor.

Jennifer's art education is extensive; it includes a BFA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a MFA from New York University in New York City. Jennifer spent 10 years in New York City where she worked as an assistant to A.I.R. Gallery artist Maude Boltz. She received an artist-in-residency with Cinque Gallery, NYC where she met with Romare Bearden to discuss her work and was mentored by Ernest Kichlow (both men were founding members of Cinque Gallery). Jennifer worked for several years as an electrician/light-board operator on Off-Off Broadway shows and with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. Jennifer exhibited extensively with "Where We At, Black Women Artist," Cinque Gallery Group Shows and various open shows. After several years in Tucson, Arizona and Austin, Texas and then earning a MOT degree from Texas Women's University in Houston, Texas, Jennifer returned to Knoxville to raise a family and help care for family members.

Jennifer has exhibited her work recently at the Following Venues:
Emporium Arts Center, Knoxville Arts & Cultural Alliance city and county mayor's art showcase, A-1 Gallery, Oak Ridge Art Center, a 3-woman exhibit at the Burlington branch of Knox County Public Libraries and a one-woman show at Perk City Coffee Shop. Her most memorable artistic endeavor was participation in the Black Lives Matters street mural planned by the "Black coffee justice" organization in front of Austin-East High School with the east Knoxville community and others.

Jennifer appreciates the opportunity to share her work with you during Black History Month at the Emporium Arts Center, 100 South Gay Street, suite 102 – Geneva Galleries Inc. Knoxville, Tennessee. Hours by appointment throughout February: tip_taylor@hotmail.com