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August 2007

Photos from First Friday, August 3
More than 1,000 people came out for First Friday to enjoy the opening reception of Chris McAdoo's exhibit, "Coming Home".

Viewing the exhibit

Chris McAdoo and his wife (right) visit with guests.

Enjoying the reception.

Chris McAdoo visiting with guests.

First Friday, August 3, 5-9pm
Shakespeare on the Square
Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy by William Shakespeare was first published in 1600, it was likely first performed in the winter of 1598-1599, and it remains one of Shakespeare's most enduring plays on stage. Stylistically, it shares many characteristics with modern romantic comedies including two pairs of lovers: the romantic leads, Claudio and Hero, and their comic counterparts, Benedick and Beatrice.

Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents “Coming Home”, a new exhibition featuring the works of Chris McAdoo. “Coming Home” is an original collection of dynamic riverscape, landscape, and cityscape paintings and charcoal drawings of places throughout East Tennessee. Join us for complimentary hors d’oeuvres from 5-9pm.

St. John’s Episcopal
Experience Knoxville’s only outdoor labyrinth. The Labyrinth is an archetype, a divine imprint, found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world  and have been in use for over 4000 years. By walking a labyrinth, you will rediscover a long-forgotten mystical tradition. The labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys. Walk it with an open mind and an open heart.

Tomato Head
Tomato Head will feature great bottles of wine discounted to just $12 each, onesies and twosies left over from previously successful runs make for delicious bargain hunting. We will also be featuring a yummy First Friday dinner special along with the large-scale abstract paintings of Larry Frank.

Three Flights Up Gallery
This month's exhibition, "Constructed Realities", is sponsored by Randall De Ford of C. Randall De Ford Architecture and will showcase the newest work by artists Jessica H. Meyer, Baron Hall, Robmat Butler, and Lee Marchalonis, curated by Three Flights Up partner, Benjamin McKamey.

LaCosta
Will feature $3.00 Caipirinha's and Michelada's until 9:00pm in addition to our regular happy hour (4:00 to 7:00,) which features $3.00 Margaritas, $2.00 Beer, and 1/2 off of all Wine Bottles!

downtown wine + spirits
A First Friday blow-out sale! downtown wine + spirits will offer some of the season’s most enjoyable wines, spirits and craft beers at fabulous savings up to 20% off or more.

instant bliss
The Knoxville Photography Group will be having an exhibit featuring 15 of the best area photographers. An eclectic mix of photographic styles and subjects will be on display. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Tennessee Theatre
Summer Movie Magic classic film series presents: Lawrence of Arabia. This 1962 historical epic stars Peter O'Toole, Sir Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn and Omar Sharif. With brilliant cinematography and memorable acting, this winner of seven Oscars recounts the true story of T.E. Lawrence, a British intelligence officer who led a rebel army of Arabs against the Turks.  Tickets are $8 adults, with a $2 discount for seniors and children.

The Art Gallery of Knoxville
Presenting “Growing Tennessee” cross-cultural, collaborative project featuring photography by the children of migrant farm workers and Appalachian families. The exhibition, places the photography alongside the work of sound artist Glenn Weyant who, for the past 20 years, has been transforming the U.S./Mexico border into electro-acoustic musical instrument. Plus, music, food, and cultural sharing - with spoken word focused on cultural sharing & immigrant roots - music ensembles - and delicious food from various cultures!

Blount Mansion
Will host “My Appalachia” an art exhibition by Lois Armstrong. Free tours of Blount Mansion. Music provided by the Old Shape Note Harp Singers.

Abode
On this FF Abode's skipping the wine once more for the refreshing and quintessentially summer, frozen margarita and daiquiri. Stop by for a drink and to chat with our featured artist. This August the frozen drinks are on the house and the home-goods are on you.

Sapphire
$5 Mojitos, $5 Vodka with Red Bull, $5 LIT's, $5 Gin or Vodka martinis, $3 House Chardonnay and Merlot, $3 House Champagne, $2.50 premium drafts, $2 domestic bottles, 1/2 off appetizers, 1/2 off Maki rolls.

bliss home
Will host a reception for Angela Slagle of Clinch Mountain Studios. Clinch Mountain Studios specializes in custom residential, commercial and church stained glass. They are a member of the Foothills Craft Guild and the Art Glass Association. Angela teaches the fine art of stained glass at the Arrowmont School of Art in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and at Webb School of Knoxville, Tennessee. As always, Pasta Trio and wine will be provided.

Oodles
Join us for happy hour 1/2 price glasses of wine and free cheese samples.

Earth to Old City
Decorate your space with brightly colored sarongs or change your lighting and buy a stylish lamp! 15% off through August

Art Market Gallery
Celebrating it's 25th year, AMG will feature two members in August, Janice Pybas, painter, and Vivian Shoemaker, stained glass.
 
Downtown Grill & Brewery
The Brewery will extend their happy hour until 10:00. FREE popcorn in the bar.
 
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In conjunction with the popular First Friday downtown gallery and shopping tour, KAT will operate a trolley route to connect downtown visitors with the galleries and shops along Gay Street, Market Square and the Old City. The First Friday trolley will travel down Gay Street and through the Old City every 5-7 minutes from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The First Friday trolley is Fare-Free! To catch it, just watch for the sign on the front of the trolley that says "First Fridays."

This highly successful First Friday event, now downtown-wide, began in October of 2003. On the first  Friday of every month the Market Square District, Gay St including the 100-Block and Old City merchants  offer something special for all downtown residents and visitors. Promotions include artist receptions, gallery openings, special food and drink offerings and more. Contact Scott Schimmel 256-2469 for further details.

Local Artist Chris McAdoo Receives Rave Review
Local artist Chris McAdoo will unveil his latest collection of work, entitled “Coming Home,” as part of the City of Knoxville’s ever-popular “First Friday” on August 3.  He has already received stunning reviews from a leader in the Knoxville art community and a full-page spotlight in this month’s issue of CityView Magazine.

"Neyland Waiting" by Chris McAdoo

David Butler, Executive Director of the Knoxville Museum of Art, says, “McAdoo’s work has two distinguishing characteristics that appeal to me very much.  First, his paintings and drawings convey a strong sense of place, rooted in the character of the East Tennessee landscape and atmosphere.  Second, they occupy an indeterminate territory somewhere between describing things in the visual world and functioning as marks on a surface.  They can be enjoyed as images of actual things and places, but they also work as pure abstraction.  That is a significant achievement.”
 
“We always say that downtown is everyone’s neighborhood, and First Friday is downtown at its best.  This is a great event that shows off the many shops, galleries, and other attractions we have in the heart of our city,” says Knoxville City Mayor, Bill Haslam. “The gallery tour showcases the talents of some of the wonderful local artists who live and work here in Knoxville, and I hope folks will take advantage of this opportunity to see what they have created.”
 
“Coming Home” is on exhibit August 3-31 at Emporium Center, downtown Knoxville.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9-5.

Arts & Culture Alliance Presents “Coming Home”
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents “Coming Home”, a new exhibition featuring the works of Chris McAdoo.  “Coming Home” is an original collection of dynamic riverscape, landscape, and cityscape paintings and charcoal drawings of places throughout East Tennessee and will be on display August 3 – 31 at the Arts & Culture Alliance’s Emporium Center.

Raised on a farm in East Tennessee, Chris McAdoo learned to appreciate the spirit of the south and the value of labor and hard work.  The title of the show, “Coming Home,” marks McAdoo’s return to his in-home studio to make art full time. The bold art pieces relate to his fond memories of the area and things with which he grew up to the places and experiences he now shares with his family in South Knoxville. McAdoo’s signature work primarily focuses on the people and places from his own experiences as a lifelong Southerner.  His art can be recognized for its strong, confident marks and bold statements of color.

Artist Mark Rothko once said, “Certain people always say we should go back to nature. I notice they never say we should go forward to nature.”“I have really taken this quote to heart in my newest series of work.  I look forward to nature as an homage not only to my past experiences and memories of Appalachia, but also as a simple, honest expression of the complex reality in which we live today,” says McAdoo.

McAdoo says the inspiration for his new series came while sitting and sketching on a dock on Fort Loudoun Lake, watching the sun go down. “I noticed the inherent abstract nature of water and land and how they interact, creating a new reality from one moment to the next.  Trees become their pure form and water becomes expression of movement.  Letting myself be absorbed in that moment, I could not help but be taken to a place of internal reflection.  This epiphany was a look not only into who I have been, but who I am becoming as an artist and as a person,” says McAdoo“The work is made of very deliberate marks, one on top of the other, just as one builds a life, step by step: a very complex reality put down in the simplest way I can.  Just as we grow as people, both physically and spiritually, there are steps to build on, just like a painting.  Some steps are more opaque, some more easy, some hard, but all of the layers and steps add up to who we are at the moment,” says McAdoo.  Visit Chris McAdoo’s website to see more of his work: www.chrismcadoo.com.

The opening reception on Friday, August 3, from 5-9pm, is free and open to the public, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres are served. McAdoo will give a welcome and introduction as well as unveil a special piece of Knoxville.  “Coming Home” is on exhibit August 3 – 31 at the Arts & Culture Alliance’s Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9-5. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance, (865) 523-7543, or visit our website at www.knoxalliance.com.

Request for Proposals for 2008 ABC Grants
The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville requests Arts Build Communities grant proposals for art projects from any non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located within the following eleven East Tennessee counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union.  Tax-exempt, non-profit, private educational institutions, entities of government (such as Parks and Recreation, public libraries, public schools), and colleges and universities are eligible to apply for art-related activities that serve the needs of surrounding communities or the State and are designed to involve a broad audience.

The Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant program provides funds for a variety of quality arts projects.  The Alliance administers the block grant within each county on a per capita basis and sub-grants the funds through an open competitive grant process.  Applications must contain a clear, single-focus project or portion of a project that begins October 15, 2007, or later and concludes by June 15, 2008.  Funds awarded to a single organization in this category range from $500 to $3,000.  Most awards range between $1,000 and $2,000.  Grant funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Application and Guidelines can be found and filled out online at http://www.arts.state.tn.us/community_arts_abc.htm.  Please call the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 to let us know of your intent to apply.  Applications must be received by 5pm on August 31, 2007.  Please note this is not a postmark date!

A Technical Assistance workshop is scheduled on Tuesday, August 14, 2007.  Call (865) 523-7543 to RSVP and for times and directions.  The open panel meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, at the Arts & Culture Alliance’s Emporium Center, with award notification by October 15, 2007.

Arts Builds Communities (ABC) is a program funded by the Tennessee General Assembly and administered in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission and The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville.  The short-term objective of this grant is to create a decentralized distribution process for certain State dollars.  A long-term objective is to build Tennessee’s communities by nurturing artists, arts organizations (including local arts agencies), and arts support in each of its ninety-five counties.  Last year, 48 local projects in ten counties were funded for a total of more than $64,000, providing a wide range of art experiences for many East Tennessee communities.

New Expanded Version of Publicity Guide 2007 Available
The Arts & Culture Alliance announces the fifth edition of its Publicity Guide 2007, the most comprehensive and up-to-date source listing print, online, radio, and television media resources in the Greater Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tri-cities, Nashville, and Asheville areas. Print resources include newspapers, magazines, and ther publications.  Each listing (print, radio, and television resources) includes: a mailing address, important contact names and phone numbers, e-mail addresses, publication schedule, submission deadlines, and areas covered.  The Publicity Guide 2007 is available on CD and includes ready-to-print mailing labels for user convenience.  Each CD costs $5.  To order a copy, please contact Suzanne at (865) 523-7543 or sc@knoxalliance.com.

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