Calendar of Events

KAY DARTT + RONDA WRIGHT: CREATING ARTIFACTS OF HOME

Receptions: Friday, January 6, 5-9pm
Friday, February 3, 5-9pm

The UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to present a two-person exhibition of work by Kay Dartt and Ronda Wright.

Dartt’s work fluctuates between functional sculpture, speculative design, and embodied hyperobject. The goal of these objects is to challenge our western philosophies of living that have created an imbalance between the natural, artificial and virtual environments we occupy. By synthesizing biomorphic forms, consumer language and parametric design processes, an aesthetic emerges that invites a critical perspective of our environment. At times these objects can humorous, whimsical or enigmatic.

Kay Dartt is an artist whose practice combines sculpture, engineering, education and community outreach. As a Clinical Assistant Professor of Art at Shepherd University, she teaches sculpture courses, engineering courses and manages an interdisciplinary fabrication space called the FASTEnER Lab.

As an artist and activist, Ronda Wright has created the on-going sculptural installation, "Creating Artifacts of Home." Through a series of workshops, participants sculpt small artifacts of home. These workshops started in response to the overwhelming rate of LGBTQ+ homelessness and bullying, the premise of these workshops is that we all have a relation to home; and that iron is an element necessary to sustain life. While sharing experiences, participants sculpt a symbolic artifact that reminds them of home. After being cast in iron, the artifact becomes part of the larger collection of memories that reflect relations of Home. Participants’ artifacts link themselves not as “others” but to others. Wright is the Academic & Professional Development Advisor and Adjunct Assistant Professor for UT's College of Architecture + Design and an alum of UT's School of Art.

The UT Downtown Gallery is a Tennessee Triennial Community Venue. All events are free and open to the public.

UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: W-F 11-6, Sa 10-3. Information: 865-673-0802, https://downtown.utk.edu

RED Gallery is proud to announce the opening of Highway Flowers, an art exhibition by Summer Small.
The show will open on January 6, 2022, 5:00pm (First Friday) and run through February.

Highway Flowers
And other beautiful things you didn't ask for

Summer Small is a self-taught visual artist from East Tennessee. Her debut show Highway Flowers is her private love letter to modern Appalachia. Through bright color and intense pattern, Summer tells a raw, folksy story about grief, persistence, and ultimately appreciation for those things that are out of our control. Her aim for this show is that it recalls to you a familiar feeling, like a reminder of summertime in the dead of winter. Summer Small, summersmallstudio@gmail.com

RED Gallery, at 130 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN, features local and regional artists. The gallery is located in the historic Jackson Atelier building in Knoxville’s Old City. Gallery owner Robin Easter is proud to provide a unique space for Knoxville to experience and enjoy a broad range of visual arts. To learn more about RED Gallery, email robin@robineaster.com.
865-524-0146 | www.robineaster.com

Join us at Dogwood Arts for the Opening Reception of "Life to the Fullest" from 5-8PM on Friday, January 6th. Friends for years, Houston and Derrick bonded over their mutual use of art as a vehicle for self-expression and communication. At a young age, Houston was diagnosed with Down syndrome and Derrick with Autism — both artists celebrate their unique talents and now use their art to live life to the fullest. Houston Vandergriff is a Knoxville-based travel photographer and founder of Downs & Towns. Derrick is a local abstract painter and advocate for individuals with autism, you can see more of his work at https://derrickfreemansart.com/.

• Gallery Hours: M-F 10AM-5PM

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

The show opening will be from 6-8pm on January 6th.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we prefer that masks be worn inside the store. Thank you for helping us stay safe!

Event Page Here: https://shoprala.com/blogs/blog/december-first-friday-with-mike-c-berry

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-6, Su 11-5. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com or www.instagram.com/ShopRala

First Friday Reception: January 6th, 5:30 – 9:00 pm

January Featured Artists
Lil Clinard, Painting In Conjunction with our Wonderful 3-D Artists

Lil is a self-taught artist with years of experience trying new things. Ever evaluating and evolving her style, Lil’s work bursts with energy with its vibrant colors, constant movement and texture. She likes to experiment, try different mediums & substrates and embraces the new discoveries. “My intent is to transform a scene into something new and stunning that will leave the viewer with feelings of surprise and joy." Her work may be viewed at the Art Market Gallery in downtown Knoxville and at regional exhibits and shows.

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

A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, January 6, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features live music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner and Friends. 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.

My art consists of acrylic, mixed media, and watercolor paintings. Art has been my way to connect and reach out to different people from many cultures or backgrounds. In the vast variety of cultures and humankind, we are all still one and we connect through our passions. We strive to find common ground to connect with each other. Art in all its forms has been my common ground to it all. This exhibition theme represents passionate professional dancers and normal people who just enjoy life. It amazes me how people express themselves in different forms, enjoy the beat and music, and translate it into movement. I wanted to represent my vision of life and dance in this form so that viewers may feel the energy and life from these art pieces.

Reem Arnouk has been a professional artist since 2018 and an art instructor at Painting with a Twist Studio since 2019. She is self-taught and has studied Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship with five courses of Art. She was born and raised in Syria and came to the United States in 2013; she has been amazed by the many open doors in the arts. She loves Tennessee for the inspiration of nature that it has. Knoxville, especially, has supported many local artists and makers, and she is thankful to be involved in their maker society. Arnouk has participated in several art shows and markets in the past few years within Knoxville, including First Friday art shows and vendors markets. She was recently sponsored as an emerging artist with Dogwood Arts in the Old City Market and has been commissioned for several live wedding paintings.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 28 only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, January 16, for the holiday. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, January 6, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features live music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner and Friends. 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.

Art gives meaning and purpose to life. For me, the creative process is a struggle. I have recently returned to painting after a 20-year hiatus. Art is long. Life is short. Enjoy.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 28 only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, January 16, for the holiday. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, January 6, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features live music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner and Friends. 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.

Nothing Deep is a collection of works that represent an exploration in alcohol ink. For as long as I can remember I have always needed to be creative. I enjoy trying new media and within the last few years have discovered alcohol ink. I love color and the ink has suited me well with their vibrant colors and fluidity. I have called my exhibit Nothing Deep because I really don’t have any underlying message in my art. I use nature and shapes to create pieces that I feel are unique and interesting to look at.

Barbara Enloe was born and raised in Chicago, IL and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Southern Illinois University. The following years included marrying, having three children, moving from Illinois to North Carolina, and moving again to Knoxville 26 years ago. Enloe went back to school and received a Masters of Education from Lincoln Memorial University. For the past eighteen years, she has taught for Knox County Schools. Her pieces include works of animals, shapes with some 3-D aspects, and abstracts.

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Furniture as Art will include various chairs, tables and lamps all made of metal. Many of the pieces are painted. Art is not just something hanging on a wall or sitting on a pedestal. Likewise, furniture is not only a functional part of our lives. Furniture can be a form of artistic expression if we allow our expectations to be expanded and altered. Our expectations can be further challenged when the material used is outside the norm. In this case, the material is metal. After practicing law in Knoxville for many years, I have turned my attention to creating artful, unusual, and hopefully entertaining furniture. Please have a seat and enjoy my work.

Jim Parris has lived in East Tennessee for his entire life, spending most of the time in Knoxville in school or practicing law. Having had all the fun he can have practicing law, he recently retired and turned his attention to other pursuits.
www.parrismetalarts.com | Instagram @jwparris3800

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 28 only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, January 16, for the holiday. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, January 6, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features live music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner and Friends. 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.

Buckle up all you would-be cosmic explorers! This new exhibition fuses together cutting-edge NASA data with one of the oldest human endeavors, the carving of wood. Planetary geoscientist Robert Jacobsen and local artist Scott Rennie combine their expertise to reveal the water-carved surface of Mars.

Taken from the multi-billion-year history of the Red Planet, these six pieces chronicle the history of water on Mars. This hydraulic evolution is both dramatic and tragic, beginning first with widespread river valleys, deltas and crater lakes, later transitioning to gargantuan floods, and eventually leaving us only with craterside trickles remaining today.

To present this history, native hardwoods and quality resins were selected and then shaped using a CNC machine. The result is several beautiful works of art: distillations of extra-terrestrial nature designed to tell a fascinating 21st-century story of hydraulic evolution in faraway places.

Robert Jacobsen: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=x0P1AEIAAAAJ
Scott Rennie: Instagram @woodgrainterrain

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 28 only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, January 16, for the holiday. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, January 6, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features live music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner and Friends. 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 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission is partnering with the Arts & Culture Alliance to provide this eighth annual juried exhibition developed to recognize local artists and, most important, honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exhibit will feature works by local artists reflecting the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and pertain to the themes of Unity, Community, Love, Reconciliation, Social Justice, and Civil Rights. Interested artists may submit work for consideration through Tuesday, January 3, at https://www.knoxalliance.com/mlk-tribute.

The MLK Gallery of Arts Tribute exhibition will kick-off the 2023 celebrations (January 11-16, 2023 and other dates throughout the year). For more information, visit www.mlkknoxville.com.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 28 only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, January 16, for the holiday. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

by Edward Albee
Directed by Candace Moore

George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple—an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naïve new bride—to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George couldn't care less. But underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha's inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness that they have pledged to keep to themselves: a secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives.

This production is rated R for language and content

Fri. Jan 6th 2023, 8:00 pm
Sat. Jan 7th 2023, 8:00 pm
Sun. Jan 8th 2023, 3:00 pm
Thu. Jan 12th 2023, 8:00 pm
Fri. Jan 13th 2023, 8:00 pm
Sat. Jan 14th 2023, 8:00 pm
Sun. Jan 15th 2023, 3:00 pm
Thu. Jan 19th 2023, 8:00 pm
Fri. Jan 20th 2023, 8:00 pm
Sat. Jan 21st 2023, 8:00 pm
Sun. Jan 22nd 2023, 3:00 pm

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 800 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten
Cindy Emory, harp

Friends of Music and the Arts, a support society for music at Ascension, augments the calendar of liturgical feast days with concerts and organ recitals throughout the year.

(865) 588-0589 or info@knoxvilleascension.org
800 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919
https://www.knoxvilleascension.org/foma