Calendar of Events

UT Gardens is excited to be the local host for the American Horticultural Society's National Children and Youth Garden Symposium this year. Mark your calendars for July 12-15, 2023 for the best one yet! Registration will be coming soon.

https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/youth-gardening/ncygs/ncygs-2023/

UT Gardens, Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-7151, https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/songs-stories-ft-shane-meade-with-fil-pate-tickets-660731243937

Shane Meade is a gifted singer songwriter, touring musician, and catalyst behind the soul-infused folk rock project Shane Meade & the Sound. Hailing from Elkins, West Virginia, Shane is a self-taught late bloomer who borrowed an old guitar from his father and began playing and writing songs in the Summer of 2000 before relocating to the sunshine state and leaving the corporate world behind in 2005 to pursue his passion for music full-time.

From a diamond in the rough to an artist on the rise, Meade remains simple and honest in his approach to songwriting, combining infectious vocals with a thought provoking and feel good vibe, and has an uncanny ability of turning even the largest of venues into an intimate musical experience. Through a diverse mix of acoustic and full band performances, he has established a career marked by steady artistic growth and relentless touring efforts throughout the southeast, Virgin Islands, and select cities nationwide. He has appeared in line-ups with the likes of Edwin McCain, Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root), Yonder Mountain String Band, Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews), Graham Sharp (Steep Canyon Rangers), and Robert Randolph & the Family Band. His music captivates the imagination, and audiences connect to his inspirational lyrics and universal subject matter. His unique and soulful style helps deliver an engaging live performance that is both powerful and uplifting.

Meade will be joined by multi instrumentalist and longtime member of the Shane Meade & the Sound family, Fil Pate. Fil is a guitarist, mandolinist, and music theory enthusiast. His influences are far and wide, drawing from many genres and styles of music. Fil focuses on preserving the traditional art forms of Jazz, Bluegrass, and other world music genres. He gives a great deal of credit and thanks to his mentor, Bobby Lee Rodgers, and to Larry Keel for the knowledge and inspiration to uniquely incorporate these elements with Meade’s soulful sound. Over the years Shane & Fil have toured and performed as a duo, collaborated on various songs and projects, and recorded & produced three studio albums for Shane Meade & the Sound - Time Waits for No One (2007), Candle Lights & Conspiracies (2010), All Walks of Life (2014). Meade’s 4th album and most recent release - Livin’ In The Moment (2021) has garnered rave reviews, high praise fan testimonials, and sparked a stellar Spring & Summer 2022 tour with notable festival and headlining performances.

The duo is super excited for the opportunity to perform at The Station. Sharing a little bit of the past, present and future, through their songs and the stories behind them with this intimate acoustic performance.

DOORS OPEN: 6:30 PM ET SHOWTIME: 7:00 PM ET
YOUR HOST: Lee Zimmerman
THE STATION'S ADDRESS: 4206 Miser Station Road, Louisville TN 37777

The Sundress Academy for the Arts is excited to present “Mythologizing Our Climate Futures,” a workshop led by Ashia Ajani on July 12, 2023, from 6-7:30 PM. This event will be held over Zoom. Participants can access the event at https://tiny.utk.edu/sundress (password: safta).

This workshop will use climate writing and art by members of the African Diaspora to inform young people’s own climate narratives. This workshop is designed for writers who are interested in developing their use of imagery. This workshop will use African and Caribbean mythology to understand how different diasporic people have interpreted natural disasters and climate impacts for millennia, and what we can learn from these myths. We will also look at the art of Eddy Kamaunga Illuga, whose imagery around colonization and the exploitation of African nations under capitalism and the climate crisis holds powerful insight for understanding how apocalyptic conditions have plagued the African diaspora in an anti-Black world. Participants will leave the workshops with written drafts, ancestral knowledge, and environmental futures. While there is no fee to participate in this workshop, those who are able and appreciative may make donations directly to Ashia Ajani via Venmo @ashiainbloom, PayPal through ashiaajani22@gmailcom, or CashApp at $Ashiainbloom.

Ashia Ajani is a Black storyteller hailing from Denver, CO, Queen City of the Plains, and the unceded territory of the Cheyenne, Ute, Arapahoe, and Comanche Peoples. Ajani is a 2022 Just Buffalo Literary Center Poetry Fellow, and a Pushcart Prize nominated poet and writer with words in Atmos Magazine, Sierra Magazine, Frontier Poetry, and World Literature Today, among others. Ajani received their Master's in Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment in 2021. Their debut poetry collection, Heirloom, is forthcoming in the spring of 2023 with Write Bloody Publishing. Follow them on the socials @ashiainbloom or on their website, ashiaajani.com.

https://www.facebook.com/events/259244146713727/

Featuring more than 20 works representing mid 1960’s to the present

Judy Kelley Jorden
Received a BFA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, with further studies in Art Education Department, Fine Arts Department and workshops at Arrowmont. Art Educator for 31 years in all grade levels for the Knox County School System. After retirement worked for UTK Art Ed department as clinical faculty member supervising art interns working toward their Master’s degree and assisting in some graduate classes for 9 yrs. Current Member of TN Watercolor, Knoxville Watercolor, Art Group 21 and COMMA, Thursday Painting. (Art groups which share educational experiences, encouragement and exhibitions.)

Artist’s Statement and Current Exhibited Work
My artwork during my undergraduate years was influenced by my teachers Walter Stevens and Carl Sublett where I worked more abstractly in oils and acrylic. I have always loved to draw and found subjects like portraits, the human figure and objects from nature to be my main focus. During my time at Arrowmont and other workshops, I started working in pastels, gouache and watercolor. Studying with Marcia Goldenstein and Tom Riesing, I was encouraged to look at the landscape objects and the figure in my own unique ways. My development of paintings began to show my interest in plants and objects of metal; depicting closeup objects, with contrasting textures, emphasizing linear strokes to show movement, the use of diagonals to increase the drama in the composition, and contrasting complementary colors. In later observations, I arranged combinations of photographs that had similar shapes but were from different contrasting images, like the shape of the sunflower with the shape of a brake drum.

The subject matter of my artwork was also influenced by the various neighborhoods where I taught. I became acquainted with a local merchant, where I became fascinated with the patterning of the fabric she sold. Working from my photos taken at the celebration of the Kuumba Festival, held in our area, I depicted these events in my paintings.

From attending music and dance performances, I was influenced by an artist Norman Madigan and the way he used light to develop layers of shapes and colors to distinguish and overlap the foreground, middle ground and background on the Circle Modern dancers as they were performing. I tried to carry this over in my gestural sketches during performances and paintings of dancers, in city scapes and the landscape.

I then began searching out sites of discarded trucks, machinery parts, or other types of discarded metal. I used this in smaller paintings or in series of works including organic foliage to contrast with the rusted metal, focusing on texture and color tones. Another side interest has led me to simplifying the forms, taking away from the emphasis on the subject matter to flatten the gestural shapes in an abstract way.

In the past few years my latest work has come from flowers, plants and trees found in the UTK gardens, in my own yard and other sites. Some of these paintings emphasizing plants have also included metal sculpture found on the UTK gardens site. My work in this series has been about the arrangement of plants and the background. I continue to describe the textured details seen, the strong use of intense color, and the relationship of movement that is created by contrasting these forms to one another. I am intrigued by the overall use of breaking up the various areas of the composition with areas of realism to stylized, and then abstraction.

At 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

Art Guild member and award-winning potter, John Michael Jr. will be the featured artist for the month of July, and will be honored at the Fun and Wine First Friday Reception on Friday, July 7 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive.

The public is invited to come to this free event and enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, visit with John and other artists, and view a wonderful variety of artwork. Light refreshments will also be served.

John Michael Jr. moved to Fairfield Glade with his wife, Josette, 4 years ago from Illinois where he owned a successful construction company. To help reduce the stress of long hours in the business, he started to toy with several art mediums from stained glass to blowing glass to making and refinishing furniture but his true love became pottery. John was very active with the pottery class at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois for many years and took several awards through their judged art shows. He was also involved with the State Veterans Art League and won several awards and recognition at their shows. After John sold his business to prepare for retirement, he started to teach pottery in his home where he had a large studio. After moving to Fairfield Glade, John and Josette joined the Art Guild before even closing on their new home. John started teaching classes here to neighbors only a few months after moving in. His pottery shows a wide range of creative designs and pottery techniques. He looks forward to sharing his artwork and his passion for pottery with the public.

Gallery: Mon-Sat 9-4. 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

Jennifer Lindsay’s intricate, beaded jewelry and Pamela Salyer’s captivating mixed media artwork will be featured during the month of July at the “Art Market Gallery”, 422 S Gay St (next to Downtown Grill & Brewery) in downtown Knoxville.

A First Friday opening reception for the exhibits is planned from 5:30 pm - 9 pm, July 7th, with complimentary refreshments and music.

Jennifer Lindsay has been creating bead weaving jewelry for 20 years; fashioning unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces using various beading techniques and imported seed beads, focal beads, semi-precious stones, or crystals. Jennifer gets her inspiration from the colors of nature.

Pamela Salyer is a mixed media artist, working with acrylic, photo transfer and collage to create multi-layered pieces inspired by the natural world. In all her work, Pamela tries to communicate some of the mystery and beauty that she finds in nature, and to create something atmospheric that draws in the viewer.

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

Friday, July 7, from 6-8 Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for the Knoxville Watercolor Society.

“We are passionate about art, especially watercolor and aqueous medium, and provide opportunities for our members to grow and explore their art. We strive to bring to the community understanding and appreciation of water based media as a significant art form.” -KWS

Please join us for some amazing art, light refreshments, and of course great coffee!

Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Open daily. Information: 865-951-0427, www.instagram.com/awaken_coffee or www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

Opens Fri Jul 7, 5-8 PM

Leesa Osburn is originally from the West Coast. Born and raised in Oregon and most recently lived in Las Vegas, NV with husband and two rescue dogs. Knoxville has been our home for the last 4 years. I paint mostly representationally in water based oils; landscapes, seascapes, Tennessee wildlife and flowers. I take commissions for a wide range of subjects to include pets and human portraiture. I love a challenge! Recently I became inspired by Robert A. Tino from his live presentation of Knife Painting. I am now incorporating knife work to my repertoire. https://artisticescape.studio/

Lox Salon, 103 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 9am – 8pm and Saturday – 9am – 5pm

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center. A free gathering with the artists will take place on Friday, July 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features original music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner, Melissa Hale, and W. James Taylor. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at https://www.knoxalliance.store.

Highly abstract, my work focuses on channeling unseen emotions. Each piece has an aura of its own as my passion shines through with uninhibited energy and brushstrokes. My pieces often start with a pleasant effect and then turn more despondent. I often paint with no plan in mind; if I'm feeling euphoric, viewers will know by my energetic and wild brushstrokes and the colors exuding off the canvas. If I'm feeling melancholic, viewers will see darker tones and a brooding effect. My biggest muse and motivation for my work comes from my children who have instilled a childlike energy into me that is full of colors, wildness, and imagination. We often paint side by side where they learn from me and I also learn from them. I'm uniquely free in what I do and cannot be contained in one box or category.

Liz Osborne is an abstract painter based in Knoxville. Her practice involves layering acrylic paint with a variety of mediums, ranging from textiles to foliage and glitter. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and after high school she moved to Hawaii where her stepmother was stationed in the Army. Being introduced to a new culture made Osborne curious for more, so she enlisted in the United States Navy. After ten years of military service in Norfolk, Virginia, the sacrifices of being away from her daughters led to her voluntary separation from the Navy. Shortly thereafter, she found her love of painting as a way to express the uncomfortable, the vile and the despondency from her own thoughts and point of view. She attends the University of Tennesse and is earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts.

https://www.lizosborneart.com
Instagram @lizosborneart

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. 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. A free gathering with the artists will take place on Friday, July 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features original music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner, Melissa Hale, and W. James Taylor. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at https://www.knoxalliance.store.

I am a reactionary artist, I love lines and complimentary colors. I love to create space and to deconstruct existing space. I never know how my work will start or end. My exhibition, Follow Through, doesn't solve or ask anything, it is just here to occupy space.

Katie Hawley graduated from Maryville College with a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2021.

Instagram @Katie_hawleyy

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. 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. A free gathering with the artists will take place on Friday, July 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features original music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner, Melissa Hale, and W. James Taylor. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at https://www.knoxalliance.store.

Lindsay Abromaitis-Smith is an artist, herbalist, writer, and pleasure activist living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She is dedicated to creating beauty, sharing stories and rituals, and crafting herbal remedies that echo what is essential to being. As she continues to learn how to physically manifest differently, Abromaitis-Smith hopes to teach others that being disabled can be pleasureful and powerful while also being an act of acceptance and surrender. Abromaitis-Smith began her artistic career in puppetry and performance. After living and working in New York City for twelve years, she moved to New Jersey in early June 2015. She is living as an artist in residence at the Toshiko Takaezu Studio in Quakertown, NJ. Her art practice is currently focused on learning how to be a rooted elephant and painting/drawing using her feet. She is the mother of two tigers and loves having people over for tea.

I am a collector and teller of stories. Stories come in many forms: folktales and myths, poetry and theater, movement and form, line and color, breath and stillness, muscles, bones, energy, light and shadow. Stories are medicine. I use paint and graphite as tools with which to channel what needs to be expressed, existing in the layer beneath what meets our practical eyes. My paintings and poetry reflect my inner processing of these source energies, my personal meditations on what is feeding me. It has become a way for me to play with tapping into the rhythms, patterns and gestures of the world; to escape from narrative and get in touch with the primordial ooze that exists within all things macro and micro. I strive to create icons and images of the sacred to provide a means of nurturing both our internal and external evolutions and revelations. My hope is that the work helps guide us to the infinite possibilities of our hearts. I want to give people the keys to internal states of grace, with each other, with this earth our mother, with the elements, with source energy. I seek to unravel that which is embedded in the psyche, carried in the spine, the skin, in our breath and see what can be woven with our time together. It is my belief that these fundamental acts and interactions reveal that great but simple powers exist within us, all we need to do is express them. It is also incredibly exhilarating to squish colors between my toes and make a beautiful mess.

Instagram @alchemy_of_the_sole
https://alchemyofthesole.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. 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. A free gathering with the artists will take place on Friday, July 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features original music inside the Emporium by Nicholas Horner, Melissa Hale, and W. James Taylor. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at https://www.knoxalliance.store.

Since 1963, the Knoxville Watercolor Society has been alive and thriving in the city! Dr. Kermit Ewing, head of the University of Tennessee Art Department, noted that our area lacked an organization for artists who share the common interest of painting in aqueous media. Aided by local watercolor enthusiasts, KWS was up and running. The purpose of the Knoxville Watercolor Society is to educate its members, as well as the community, to the understanding of watercolor as a significant art form. Active membership is juried by the members and consists of Knoxville area artists who are actively advancing the creation and quality of aqueous media. Members’ works are a testament to the continued pursuit of excellence in water based media, as they can be viewed and enjoyed in exhibits, galleries, and private collections across the country.

Annually, the organization provides a scholarship, donates to the University of Tennessee Ewing Gallery, and provides grants to various art organizations. Through the years, the area’s increasing interest in watercolor painting is a result in part of the growth and development of the Knoxville Watercolor Society.

KWS seeks water-media artists, aspiring water-media artists or supporters of water media art to continue the honored traditions of KWS for future generations. Learn more and join the Society online.
https://knoxvillewatercolorsociety.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/knoxville.watercolor.society/

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. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.