Calendar of Events

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, August 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. As part of a special First Friday Block Party sponsored by the Alliance and City of Knoxville, the free gathering with exhibiting artists will also feature nearly 20 artist vendors and live music with Robinella outside along the 100 Block of Gay Street, which will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 PM between Jackson and Vine avenues. Inside the Emporium, music will be provided by Rodney Lee and Too Easy (Rachelle and Kenneth Navy).

My creations come to life on Gesso boards or framed wooden painting panels, where I breathe vibrancy into each drop with acrylic paint. The final touch is a resin overlay, which enhances and illuminates the colors making them dance with brilliance and vitality. My paintings are a dance of contemporary and modern style, infused with the hues of nature. Each piece is a vessel of energy, capturing the essence of the world around us.

Farhad Naimy trained professionally as an engineer and later brought his passion for architecture, design and creative use of space to his custom-built multi-million dollar homes that now span across the landscape in San Francisco and other cities throughout the Pacific Northwest. His love of the Eastern Tennessee mountains and his family brought him back to Knoxville where he draws from his international experiences of a lifetime to create art. Naimy is captivated with Fluid Art because of his deep connection to nature and color. In both there is infinite variety, and like love, infinite expressions.

Instagram @fluidartbyfarhad

The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store. 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 in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, August 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. As part of a special First Friday Block Party sponsored by the Alliance and City of Knoxville, the free gathering with exhibiting artists will also feature nearly 20 artist vendors and live music with Robinella outside along the 100 Block of Gay Street, which will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 PM between Jackson and Vine avenues. Inside the Emporium, music will be provided by Rodney Lee and Too Easy (Rachelle and Kenneth Navy).

Classic fairy tales are deep and complex, reflecting reality: light and dark, good and evil, life and death. Unlike modern interpretations, they don’t sugarcoat the hard truths to make them more palatable. Monsters, tricksters, and haters still exist; not every story ends happily ever after. Each new day, we are challenged to navigate through the unknown, making choices when we can, reaping the consequences of choices made before, and reacting to both the actions of others and the whims of providence. Fairy tales offer a treasure trove of human experience and wisdom that we can learn from and apply to our lives, hopefully avoiding the common pitfalls found by those who’ve gone before. I find inspiration in the captivating depictions of these stories created during the Golden Age of Illustration by artists such as Arthur Rackham, John Bauer, and Edmund Dulac. To create my artwork, I use a scroll saw to “unsew” various shapes from domestic and exotic woods carefully selected for their color, grain, and density. Utilizing a rotary tool and various sanders, the pieces are shaped, textured, finished, and fitted together, resulting in a three-dimensional effect. I’ve adapted a mixed media technique to increase the dimensionality by “floating” figures in multiple layers on a background scene, all enhanced by paint, stains, dyes, pyrography, acrylic resin, gemstones, and/or other materials.

Steven L. Griffin is a retired Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), having worked in health system leadership for more than 30 years. Originally from Dalton, Georgia, he currently resides in the Possum Creek area near Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. Being a lifelong learner and avid DIY’er (along with a touch of ADHD!) has led to broad accumulation of hobbies and skills. He and his wife are aspiring world travelers, having visited 39 countries to date. His current passion, mixed-media intarsia, began as a pandemic pastime but rapidly grew as he discovered the satisfaction of incorporating many of his previous skills into a unique art form.

Instagram @gryphon_intarsia
https://slgryphon1.wixsite.com

The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store. 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 in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, August 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. As part of a special First Friday Block Party sponsored by the Alliance and City of Knoxville, the free gathering with exhibiting artists will also feature nearly 20 artist vendors and live music with Robinella outside along the 100 Block of Gay Street, which will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 PM between Jackson and Vine avenues. Inside the Emporium, music will be provided by Rodney Lee and Too Easy (Rachelle and Kenneth Navy).

This exhibition is twelve years in the making and came together from my past works and inspirations throughout those years. It is a portrait of my inspirational process and a look across the variety of objects that I have challenged myself to make (mostly in glass with a few ceramic pieces). I have always enjoyed leveraging my creative talents to make things that I like just because I like them. It is a very freeing feeling when you’re making what you want to make just because you want to make it. From my desire to craft chop sticks to eat sushi I love to my curiosity about glass dice for use in games, this exhibition displays some of my diverse interests and burning desire to turn them into art.

Drew Turner initially worked in clay, taking classes at Farragut High School, Mighty Mud Studios, and Pellissippi State with Jim Darrow. He has also taken classes in metalworking, including wire wrapping, soldering, and enameling. For the past ten years, Turner has worked with blowing glass, first at a small-scale production studio and later studying at Penland School of Crafts on multiple occasions. He also started flameworking and fusing glass around the same time. Additionally, he works with stained glass in panels, having studied at Fountain City Stained Glass. All the while, he has pursued Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering from Pellissippi State and Tennessee Technological University, respectively. Turner has always been curious about how the world works and making things with that knowledge.

The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store. 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 in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, August 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. As part of a special First Friday Block Party sponsored by the Alliance and City of Knoxville, the free gathering with exhibiting artists will also feature nearly 20 artist vendors and live music with Robinella outside along the 100 Block of Gay Street, which will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 PM between Jackson and Vine avenues. Inside the Emporium, music will be provided by Rodney Lee and Too Easy (Rachelle and Kenneth Navy).

Hosted by Dogwood Arts, the Dogwood Regional Exhibition showcases artwork of all styles and genres created by emerging and professional artists working within a seven-state region. This year, they received 403 artwork submissions from 160 artists working throughout the Southeast. The 2024 exhibition, juried by Knoxville-based artist Chris McAdoo, will include work by 49 artists from six states:

Lauren Adams, Michael Baggarly, Stacia Baldwin, Keith Bryant, Jordan Butzine, Michelle Carr, Caitlyn Clark*, Virginia Derryberry, Vincent Drake, Garrett Durland, Nathaniel Ely, Robert Felker, Gordon Fowler, Deana Fulton, Hannah Hancock, Kathy Holland, Tyler Jamison, Donald Keefe, Gaiane Khachaturian, Hannah Langer*, Carolina Lebar, Megan Lingerfelt, Gared Luquet, Elysia Mann, David Marquez, Brian Melton, Allison Meriwether, Caroline Murphy, Leslie Nichols, Michael Nichols*, Brent Oglesbee, Carrie Pendergrass, Amber Purdy, Jacob Robertson, Wesley Roden*, Autumn Roe*, Adam Rowe, Dennis Sabo, Stephen Simmerman, Kelly Spell, Sarah Spillers, Eric Standley*, Jason Stout, Sarah Stringfellow, Sonia Summers, Marc Ward, Chase Williamson, Megan Wolfkill, Laura Woodson.

*In addition to the display at the Emporium, the Dogwood Regional Exhibition includes large-scale installations in the Dogwood Arts Gallery (just down the street from the Emporium at 123 W. Jackson Avenue). The five artists with an asterisk will exhibit their work in the Dogwood Arts Gallery. Over $2,000 will be awarded to participating artists on Friday, August 2. www.dogwoodarts.com/regional

The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

Paintings by Lauren Adams, opening reception on Friday, Aug 2, 5-9 PM

RED Gallery, 130 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-524-0146 or https://www.facebook.com/REDgalleryKNOX/

Get ready for an exciting kickoff to the 2024 season of the New Harvest Farmers Market! Join us on Thursday, April 25th, from 3-6 PM at New Harvest Park for a fantastic event packed with fun activities and fresh, local goods! Here's what's in store for you:
FARMERS MARKET: Explore a diverse array of local produce, baked goods, meat, eggs, crafts, and more at our vibrant market stalls!
NOURISH MOVES: Lace up your sneakers and join us for the launch of the 2024 season of Nourish Moves! Learn more about how you can turn your steps into Produce Bucks by visiting nourishknoxville.org/nourish-moves/
SNAP & SNAP DOUBLING: shoppers with SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) are able to swipe their EBT cards at the info booth for tokens to spend on groceries at the market! Plus Nourish Knoxville will be doubling those dollars, up to $20/day, in Double Up Food Bucks tokens to spend on fresh fruits & vegetables! Learn more about this program at nourishknoxville.org/programs/snap/

Thursdays from 3 pm – 6 pm
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918

https://www.nourishknoxville.org/new-harvest/

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is excited to announce the special exhibition, Coming into View: Oil Paintings from the Permanent Collection. The exhibition will feature several artworks never before displayed to the public alongside pieces that have been the focus of recent research.

Aligned with the museum’s newly implemented strategic plan, this exhibition underscores the significance of the museum’s ongoing collaboration with students, the university, and external partners. Coming into View explores three key themes—student research, collaboration, and coursework—providing an insider’s perspective on the research efforts conducted behind the scenes on the museum’s permanent collection.

Featuring both beloved “fan favorites” and previously unseen works, the exhibition spotlights paintings central to coursework, internships, and student research projects at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Beyond a mere display of art, Coming into View demonstrates the integral role of students, faculty, and the campus community in deepening the museum’s understanding of its collections.

The exhibition also provides a peek behind the metaphorical museum curtain into the importance of conservation of the museum’s permanent collection. Learn more about the exhibition and stay up to date with exhibition-related programming by visiting https://tiny.utk.edu/ComingIntoView.

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-2144. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 12–4 p.m. https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

The WDVX Blue Plate Special is a live performance radio show held at noon at Visit Knoxville (301 S. Gay Street) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with your host Red Hickey… and on Saturday with host Sean McCollough. On Fridays WDVX takes the Blue Plate Special to Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria (200 E Jackson Ave) for “The Big Plate”. Make yourself at home as part of the WDVX family at this this daily free concert series. From blues to bluegrass, country to Celtic, folk to funk, rockabilly to hillbilly, local to international, it’s all part of the live music experience on The WDVX Blue Plate Special.

All seats are free, and visitors may come and go as they please.

Info: 865-544-1029, http://www.wdvx.com

Join us EVERY SINGLE FRIDAY for an unforgettable Salsa Party Experience hosted by Waldo y Jacqui Solano, Owners of SalsaKnox Dance Company in Knoxville, TN. This weekly Friday Salsa Party is more than just a dance event; it's a vibrant celebration every single week of Latin culture, music, dance, and community. In the heart of Knoxville, we promise an evening filled with high-energy salsa, bachata, cumbia, merengue beats, passionate dancers, and the welcoming atmosphere for which SalsaKnox is well known.

$​7 Pre-Sale Online OR $10 at Door

​8-8:45pm: SALSA DANCE LESSON (BEGINNER)
​8:45-11:45pm: SALSA PARTY

At The DanceNSpace, 9057 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
Information: info@salsaknox.com or (865) 455-3658.
www.SalsaKnox.com

Storyteller Laura Still helps you live the stories of pioneers, soldiers, outlaws, and even fictional characters who walked these streets before you.

Knoxville has a rich history full of colorful characters and famous, and infamous, figures whose lives have been the inspiration for books, movies, and works of art. Take a stroll through history in beautiful downtown Knoxville while listening to true tales of the heroes, heels, and hardened criminals that are part of the hidden lore of this unique East Tennessee town.

A portion of the proceeds for downtown tours go to help fund the work of the non-profit Knoxville History Project. Many stories are based on the books and stories of award-winning journalist and writer Jack Neely. Knoxville Walking Tours opens a window to Knoxville’s varied past and leads you on a journey through both hard times and high times of a city growing through over two centuries of history.

Tours include:
• Knoxville: The Early Years
• Misbehaving Women
• Civil War
• Gunslingers
• Musical History
• Literary Heritage
• Side Street Shadows Ghost Tours
• Knoxville Botanical Garden
• Old Gray Cemetery
• Side Street Shadows Ghost Tours

Tour on Your Schedule! Rather than posting a calendar, we’re letting you pick the tour and time — subject to availability. Call (865)309-4522 or visit http://knoxvillewalkingtours.com/