Calendar of Events

Mural Workshop: Six new murals are now on display in the Curio at Maker Exchange as a part of the 2nd Annual Mural Workshop hosted by Dogwood Arts and professional muralist Megan Lingerfelt. Six local/regional artists were selected to participate in the workshop — with each one designing and painting an 8x8ft mural over the last two weeks. The murals will remain on display through the end of May 2024.

Participating Artists:
• Dustin Avilla
• Orel Brodt
• Laney Haskell
• Whitney Herrington
• Gared Luquet
• Allison Meriwether

710 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

May 3, 5-8 PM
Come enjoy several new works from Yigal Ozeri, utilizing AI technology to create the compositions. Photorealism as a genre pushes the line between technology and fine art.

Photorealist, Smithsonian-collected artist, Yigal Ozeri, portrays both sensual fantasy and hyper detailed reality in his photorealistic paintings. His oeuvre is characterized by two distinct styles: ethereal portraiture of women existing in nature “without malice” and a realist perspective of America through a regional lens. Originally an abstract painter, Ozeri took on the helm of realism through early inspiration by Spanish Baroque painters like Diego Velázquez.

CURATED BY ILANA LILIENTHAL AND TALLY BEN SIRA
Lilienthal Gallery at 23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN
https://lilienthalgallery.com/

Join us for the #FirstFriday Reception of 'Black & Gifted: A Cultural Expression' curated by Lakesha Lee, in collaboration with The Bottom Knoxville. First Friday (March 1st) 5-8PM

FEATURED ARTISTS:
Francis Akosha
Jonathan Adams
Mene Manresa Bodipo
KaReena Goodwin
Jackie Holloway
LaKesha Lee
Jeremy Myles
Layla Moore
Nyasha Madamombe
Gary White

About the Curator: LaKesha Y. Lee is a second-year MFA student in Painting and Drawing at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 2019, she received her Bachelor of Fine Art from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Since then, she has been in many group exhibitions throughout the South. Lee uses her work to provide a positive outlook on black identity within the black community, the obstacles surrounding intergenerational traumas, racism, and self worth. By creating a positive representation of African Americans, she seeks to create new, positive narratives.

Regular Gallery Hours: M-F | 10AM-5PM
Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler is the first retrospective exhibition of Carl and Pearl Butler, the iconic country music duo whose timeless lyrics and harmonious melodies left an indelible mark on country music. With a career spanning over four decades, Carl and Pearl Butler became celebrated figures in the world of country music. “Carl made scores of major-label records during the 1950s,” says Bradley E. Reeves, the exhibition’s guest curator and author of the new book Honky Tonkitis: On the Road with Carl Butler and Pearl. “These are some of the best bluegrass, gospel, and hard country records ever made, although none could be called a massive hit.” That honor would come in 1962, when Carl and Pearl recorded “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” The song remains among the fastest ever to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Singles. Carl and Pearl’s unique “Knoxville sound,” along with heartfelt lyrics, earned them a dedicated fan base who supported them at performances across the United States and Canada through the 1970s. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends.

Key highlights of the exhibition include:
1. Rare Family Archives: Museum guests will have the opportunity to view the Allen “Junior” Butler Family Collection, which has been made publicly available for the first time and includes never-before-seen photographs, home movies, original instruments, and stage costumes that belonged to Carl and Pearl Butler. “I’m grateful to Allen Butler and his family for opening their home and archives to share with us,” says Reeves.
2. Musical Journey: Explore the duo's musical journey through a feature film, which transports visitors through various periods of their career and traces their unfiltered, raw singing style, one that derived from and advanced the “Knoxville sound.”
3. Behind-the-Scenes: Gain insight into the lives of Carl and Pearl Butler through never-before-seen family photographs and recently uncovered anecdotes from the family and fellow musicians, including Dolly Parton who viewed the Butlers as her “second parents.” “Despite their successes,” says Adam Alfrey, Assistant Director for Historical Services at Knox County Public Library, “Carl and Pearl faced personal and professional struggles, which are intimately documented through the family’s photographs.”
4. Interpretive Experience: Engage with the exhibition to understand how both Knoxville and Nashville played a role in the development of country music. Also, learn how chart-topping artists can quickly become all but forgotten, even in their hometown. “The Butlers somehow fell through the cracks,” reflects Reeves. “It’s my hope that this book and exhibition will contribute to a reappreciation of their great body of work.”
They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler promises to be a heartfelt educational experience for country music enthusiasts and fans of all ages. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Carl and Pearl Butler on the world of music.

At 5:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2023, there will be an opening reception for They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler. The event will include a meet and greet with Carl and Pearl Butler’s family, a book signing by guest curator Bradley E. Reeves, and an exhibition of Appalachian musical pioneer paintings by artist Amy Campbell. At 7:00 pm, there will be a “Tribute to Carl and Pearl,” opened by a performance of the Paul Brewster and Friends Band, comprised of 14-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and Grand Ole Opry performers Daniel Grindstaff, Kent Blanton, Stephen Burwell, and John Meador. A screening of 8mm home movies shot by the Butlers (watch for an appearance by 10-year-old Dolly Parton), as well as some of the Butlers’ rarest television appearances, will conclude the evening.

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/lights-camera