Calendar of Events

From Then to Now will open at 2pm on Wednesday, August 17. The Ewing Gallery will operate under Summer hours (M-F 10am - 5pm) until Wednesday, August 24. Then we will resume full operating hours. (M-F 10am - 5pm, TR 10am - 7:30pm, and Sundays 1-4pm)

FROM THEN TO NOW is a retrospective that includes work from the past twenty plus years as well as present explorations. All these works utilize change as a thematic thread. The most recent work is influenced by frequent travel where rich and varied observations of the natural world are recorded. The oldest works consist of clay sculptures that are weathered, narrative and psychological, while the present work. especially the photographs, looks at the idea of finding beauty in the deciduous, the dying, the changing.

Diane Solomon Kempler was a professor at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia where she taught ceramic sculpture for many years. She has been a practicing artist for over thirty years, has had major exhibitions and received many awards. She has also created public art works in the United States and Bosnia. Her ceramic work focuses on the ideas of transition and transformation in the natural world as well as in humans. She has traveled extensively to such places as Mali, Turkey, Indonesia, Peru, and Nepal. Her travels to Asia, especially Burma and India, allowed her to pursue one of her research interests, observing hand building pottery techniques that exist in rural villages. She was awarded a Fulbright Research Scholar grant to pursue this research in India and created several films from this research. She has participated in ceramic studio residencies in Hungary, France, India, and Denmark where she has spent time developing her ceramic and photography work.

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

GEOFFREY A. WOLPERT GALLERY

2022-2023 Kenneth R. Trapp Craft Assistant/Curatorial Intern Kelli Fisher explores the early history of Arrowcraft, an important facet of Gatlinburg’s history and the history of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Building on the knowledge of Arrowmont friend Frances Fox, historian and past apprentice to the Master Weaver for Arrowcraft, she has curated materials from Arrowmont’s collection and archives. Kelli will also be presenting her research at the Tennessee State Museum’s Lunch and Learn program, telling the stories of some notable Appalachian women who worked and shaped Arrowcraft and, in turn, Arrowmont as it exists today.

Opened in 1926, the Arrowcraft Shop continued the project established by the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School of meeting the needs of those who lived in the Smoky Mountains. The shop also allowed Appalachian makers the opportunity to make and sell their crafts for more equitable prices than they could find on their own. Their wares – including handmade baskets, coverlets, and chairs – were incredibly popular, in part due to the revival of the American Arts and Crafts movement, which prized high-quality workmanship.

While Arrowcraft employed diverse craft makers, its main focus was weaving. Partially, this decision had to do with storage – only so many baskets and chairs could be stored in the Arrowcraft shop, while weavings of different sizes and complexities (and varying prices) could be more economically stored. Weaving also allowed for both the designer and the weaver to earn credit, as is seen in the small selection of textiles on view in this gallery. Gatlinburg’s weaving women were highly skilled, and between 1935 and 1945 242 different women wove for Arrowcraft. Within Arrowmont’s permanent collection is a sizeable collection of coverlets, hand towels, window tapestries, aprons, handbags, wallets, purses, coats, and more, collected from the early days of Arrowcraft and lasting until its dissolution in the 1990s. Arrowcraft’s success came from the high quality of the items, as Pi Beta Phi alumnae and tourists for the national park sought to buy from the accomplished women makers.

The success of Arrowcraft’s weaving program encouraged the Pi Beta Phis to expand their craft classes, which in turn led to Arrowmont’s workshops that celebrate craft’s histories, its present, and its many futures. Arrowcraft was instrumental in making both Arrowmont and Gatlinburg the spaces they are today.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, https://www.arrowmont.org

OPENING RECEPTION Fri Aug 12, 5:30-7:30pm

Working primarily between the mediums of sculpture and painting, noted contemporary artist Radcliffe Bailey (born 1968) incorporates found objects and photographs into richly layered and textured compositions that address history, ancestry, migration, and collective memory. The artist incorporates a multitude of mediums in a variety of works inspired by his interest in diasporic histories and notions of identity and displacement. Several works reference turbulent voyages at sea, recalling the lives lost in Middle Passage, while others celebrate the unifying power of music and the legendary jazz musicians who pushed the limitations of western tradition through their radical compositions.

The exhibition is organized by the Knoxville Museum of Art in conjunction with Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tu-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org. Admission and parking are free.

First Friday August 5th

“Rooms,” will be a solo show presenting a breadth of work by Ilana Lilienthal. A “room” is a space we create in order to be in, that we design to evoke certain feelings and emotions. When we create space, the goal is to influence both ourselves and others around us. In a conversation with a “room” we live or work in, there is a dance between forms, colors, and objects – creating a distinct energy field. This show encompasses three rooms, each inspired by a different palette. Red, Black & White, and Amber, each representing a color field working as a unique spiritual, psychological, and emotional experience.

Public Gallery Hours
Thursday - Saturday 12pm - 6pm
or by Appointment

23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917
865.200.4401
lilienthalgallery@gmail.com
https://lilienthalgallery.com

Friday, August 5
4pm - 7pm
Ribbon Cutting at 5:30 p.m.

Come see the new "Small & Mighty" art gallery A1LabArts created inside Scruffy's Cafe. A1's show will be displayed through September 27. Scruffy's Cafe will receive a 20% commission on all art sold. Artists may also use this gallery for future shows, beginning in October.

At 5:30 pm, Talisa Cantrell, a Scruffy's Cafe co-owner, will cut the ribbon on the new gallery.

All First Friday guests will receive free access into the cat room after signing a waiver. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale.

1015 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917
https://www.a1labarts.com/

Come enjoy our extended After-Hours from 5 PM – 8 PM every Thursday! These evenings are free for members or with a general admission ticket. The Splash Pad is open all day and evening! The carousel and train will also be open and providing free rides! NEW, every After-Hours Thursday we will now have a DJ in the Plaza! Come out and dance to the beats! Each month will feature a special menu and local draft beer.

Thursdays 5-8 PM
Member Admission - Free
General Admission - Free with Zoo Ticket
https://zooknoxville.org/event/zoo-after-hours-2/

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

For the past thirteen years, the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) have partnered to present a biannual exhibition entitled “Arts in the Airport”. This juried exhibition was developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in the area. The selected art features contemporary 2- and 3-dimensional artwork by:

Cosima Aryee, Kate Aubrey, Sally Brogden, Jan Burleson, Gino Castellanos, Elle Colquitt, Barbara Bolton Cornett, Denise Cumming, Yvonne Dalschen, Vincent Drake, Melissa N. Everett, Diana Ferguson, Alan Finch, Elena Ganusova, Carl Gombert, Brian Horais, Anthony TungNing Huang, Kathleen A. Janke, Siobian Jones, Gretchen Kaplan, Anne W. Kinggard, Andreas Koschan, Judy Lavoie, William M. Long, Allison Meriwether, Anders V. Nienstaedt, Tom Owens, Dennis Sabo, Phil Savage, Baxter Stults, Kelli L. Thompson, Chloe Wack, Carl Whitten, Douglas Wielfaert, Marianne Woodside, and Museum of Infinite Outcomes.

View and purchase artworks at https://www.knoxalliance.store/product-category/airport

www.knoxalliance.com/arts-in-the-airport

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair, the Museum of East Tennessee History announces the opening of a new, one-of-a-kind exhibition, "You Should've Been There!," in the Rogers-Claussen Feature Gallery from March 19 to October 9, 2022.

The exhibition’s theme is not only a nod to the international exposition’s marketing catchphrase, “You Have Got to Be There! The 1982 World’s Fair!,” but also an acknowledgement that four decades removed, there is a generation of East Tennesseans who were not alive to experience the historic event.

Organized by the East Tennessee Historical Society and the Knox County Public Library, “You Should've Been There!” traces the fair’s development from conception to the pivotal moment when The Wall Street Journal referred to Knoxville as a “scruffy little city” and questioned its ability to host an international event. More than 11,000,000 visitors from around the world were informed and entertained in the various pavilions, exhibitions, and attractions put on by 22 countries and some 50 private organizations. Popular souvenirs were shirts and buttons proclaiming, “The Scruffy Little City Did It!”

The fair’s theme, “Energy Turns the World,” played to the region’s reputation as a technology and science center. For example, it was at the 1982 World’s Fair that users were able to try out a touchscreen for the first time. Elo, a Knoxville-based company, debuted the touchscreen technology, then known as "talk back" computers, in the United States Pavilion. To honor this spirit of innovation, “You Should've Been There!” incorporates engaging touchscreens alongside displays of original fair materials from pickle pins to deely bobbers and everything in between.

To learn more about the exhibition, please visit: https://www.easttnhistory.org/1982worldsfair

"You Should've Been There!" is an official event of the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair. To learn more about upcoming commemorative events, please visit: http://www.knoxvilleworldsfair.com.

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

SUNDAYS 11 AM – 3 PM

Grab brunch from your favorite food truck and browse creative vendors from the local area!
Local Love Sunday: 1$ off local beer at the bar all day

https://www.facebook.com/knoxfoodpark

900 N. Central Street Knoxville, TN 37917

OLD TIME JAM, TUESDAYS AT 6.30PM, HOSTED BY SARAH PIRKLE
This strings only* session is the sound of the Appalachian legacy that richly indwells the soul and soil of Knoxville. The musicians sit together and pick and strum familiar tunes on fiddles, guitars, and bass. We play Old Time fiddle tunes mostly, everyone jams at once and there are no breaks. Open to all lovers and players of music. We welcome dancers but please no tap shoes, as it can interfere with the session. No need to build up the courage to join in, just grab an instrument off the wall and take a seat.
*No percussion instruments please.

IRISH SESSION, 1ST AND 3RD THURSDAYS AT 7.15PM
From the low central valleys to the high coastal mountains, music fills the pubs of Ireland. Guitar, harp, bodhran, flute, accordion, and dulcimer are the celtic sounds of old that combine to create a traditional and lively atmosphere every other Thursday night. Musicians play to enjoy and to preserve the cultural heritage that the Scots-Irish brought to America generations ago. Come and listen or join in! (Thanks Jason for the video!)

SCOTTISH SESSION, 2ND AND 4TH THURSDAYS AT 7.15PM
A proud tradition, Scots love nothing more than music and drink. The drink is strong and the music is steeped in the history of the green highlands and rocky cliffs. Whether lyrics or no lyrics, every song tells a story. The hills of East Tennessee are a home away from home for this style. Pull up a chair to listen or play along every other Thursday night.

BLUEGRASS JAM, FIRST AND FOURTH SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 3 P.M., HOSTED BY PERRY COOPER
It’s true that Bluegrass has roots in traditional English, Scottish, and Irish ballads and dance tunes. That’s why the Bluegrass Jam Session is a great fit for the Jig and Reel crowd. Come listen to acoustic string instruments as one or more instruments take their turn playing melody and improvising around it. As one instrument plays melody, the others will perform accompaniment. It’s an improvised jam session for all you pickers and grinners out there.

CELTIC JAM FOR BEGINNERS, SECOND SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 3 P.M., HOSTED BY TIM WORMAN
This session is your chance to enjoy traditional Celtic tunes at a slower pace. Learn as you play alongside host Tim Worman. He is there to guide the group of beginners as they take in the folk music traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe. Let yourself get swept up in years of living tradition and hear songs that celebrate life by the sea. All are welcome to Celtic Jam for Beginners. Don’t be afraid to join in on the fun!

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE, THIRD SUNDAYS AT 3PM, HOSTED BY CYNTHIA WEST
Dancing is just as important as the music in the Scottish tradition, and upbeat rhythms make for great foot-stomping. Those that are more experienced can even present a well-practiced jig or reel! Whether you are watching or dancing, 3rd Sundays at Boyd’s are overflowing with energy and fun.

*Jams/Sessions are currently limited to the number of players, so you must contact the session leader in advance if you are interested in playing. If you need assistance reaching them, you can email us at info@jigandreel.com, and we can connect you.*

101 S Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902, www.jigandreel.com, Phone: (865) 247-7066

Central Filling Station is Tennessee's first full-service food truck park! We are a family-friendly, dog-friendly neighborhood hangout featuring a daily rotation of the city’s best food trucks and craft beverages. Welcome to Knoxville’s most unique outdoor dining experience!

Wednesday & Thursday 5-9p
Friday & Saturday 11a-10p
Sunday 11a-9p

900 N. Central Street | Knoxville, TN
https://www.knoxfoodpark.com/
https://www.facebook.com/knoxfoodpark/

We’re excited to be bringing back our keeper chats, which gives you the opportunity to get to know more about the animals and meet the keepers who care for them. It’s a great way to learn more about the conservation work being done at Zoo Knoxville and learn how you can be part of the mission to save animals from extinction. Currently offered throughout the zoo each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Schedule subject to change.

Explore Keeper Chats: https://www.zooknoxville.org/keeper-chats/

Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.zooknoxville.org