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May 2007

Unveiling of student mural downtown

A four-panel mural painted by High School Students representing Austin East, South Doyle, West, Fulton and Central High School will be unveiled in downtown Knoxville at the AMSouth Building (across from Krutch Park) on Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 PM. The making of this mural brings Knoxville’s next leaders together to articulate their shared values and collective aspirations for Knoxville’s past, present and future.  The goal is to contribute a work of public art to Knoxville’s urban landscape that will give its young creators and all Knoxvilleans a permanent visual metaphor of what people can do when they come together for a common goal! Kathy Brown is the local artist who guided their process. The genesis of this project was developed by men and women representing Leadership Knoxville’s class of 2007.

Leadership Knoxville and Downtown Mural 
The resurgence of downtown Knoxville continues as students from area high schools gathered together to design a mural that will be permanently displayed this month on the west wall of the AMSouth Building across from Krutch Park at an unveiling ceremony on May 24. Students representing Austin East, West, Fulton and Central High Schools sketched a vision for the mural under the guidance of local artist, Kathy Brown. Students worked on the 20’ x 8’ canvas on May 5-6 at the Emporium.

Preparing the mural

Leadership Knoxville’s core program provides a comprehensive learning experience in a combination of monthly sessions (August through June), experiential learning opportunities and team projects.  The curriculum is based on eight “cornerstones” essential to 21st Century leaders –practical skills which include the understanding of interpersonal and group dynamics, ability to create a common vision, and collaborative approaches to decision making.

[updated 05/07/07]

Pictures from First Friday
Many thanks to all who joined us for the opening of the UT Ceramics Department exhibit on Friday, May 4.

Student works from the exhibit

Frank Martin (2nd from right) and Norman Magden (far right) of the School of Art at UT visit with students

[updated 05/07/07]

Exhibits at the Emporium Center in May
The Arts & Culture Alliance is proud to present two exhibits showcasing the work of developing artists at the Emporium Center for Arts & Culture during the month of May: the Ceramics Department at the University of Tennessee (May 4 – 12) and Monart School of the Arts (May 18 – 26).

Untitled platter (Clay stoneware) by Jessica Stansberry

The University of Tennessee’s School of Art presents a new exhibition of recent works by graduate and undergraduate students pursuing their degrees in ceramics. The exhibit will be on display May 4 – 12 with a free opening reception on Friday, May 4, 5-9pm. Assistant Professor of Ceramics, Frank Martin, is coordinating the exhibit at the Emporium. “This dedicated generation is poised to make positive contributions in the field of ceramics,” he says. The University of Tennessee's School of Art Ceramics Department is a collective of students working in utilitarian, vessel, sculptural, and conceptual approaches. The program maintains a meaningful balance of ideas and technical ability to encourage the foundation of skills, which stimulate exploration and the student's development as an independent artist or academic professional. Included in the exhibition are graduate students Barron Hall from Florida, TeaYoun Kim-Kassor from Korea, and Jamie Alonzo from Louisiana. The exhibition also includes undergraduate majors Holly Milner, Elizabeth Toennisson, Jessica Rosenberg, Jessica Stansberry, Victoria D'urso, Jennifer Kelley, and Jeana Raby. For more information on the Ceramics Department, visit http://art.utk.edu/ceramics/index.html, or contact Frank Martin at (865) 974-0432.

The Monart School of the Arts presents a new exhibition showcasing the work of twenty students between ages 4 and 16. The exhibit will be on display May 18 – 26 with an opening reception on Sunday, May 20, 2-4pm. Media in the exhibit will include marker, graphite and colored pencil, chalk/oil pastels, watercolor, and oil paint. For more information on Monart School of the Arts, visit www.monart70deknox.com, or contact Sara Jane Tinker at (865) 531-7611.

[updated 04/30/07]

First Friday, May 4
When: Friday, May 4th -  5:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: the Market Square District & other downtown areas

One of the Southeast’s most alluring cultural attractions, Knoxville Opera's Rossini Festival brings a taste of Europe to East Tennessee and celebrates the color, fun and excitement of opera and Italian culture. The festival combines world class opera performances, art exhibitions, wine tasting, and a wide variety of other community events with a vibrant Italian Street Fair on May 5th, from noon to 9pm, in which Knoxville’s Gay Street is transformed from a busy downtown thoroughfare to a colorful European festival with three stages featuring a range of entertainment options, an upscale Artisan’s Market, the smells and tastes of authentic Mediterranean foods and beverages, and a special children’s area with entertainment, fun and games. The Italian Street Fair drew over 65,000 people to downtown Knoxville last year. This year, we're expecting many, many more!

This year's festival features two sizzling performances of Carmen at the Tennessee Theatre, first on Friday, May 4 at 8:00 p.m. and again on Sunday, May 6, at 2:30 p.m.

Other Highlights:

bliss
Tamela Wheeler is a fiber artist who was recently a guest on the Martha Stewart Show (February 5).  Tamela taught Martha the Japanese Art of Temari. Martha had never seen a temari and really enjoyed learning the art.

The Japanese art of Temari is a folk art dating back about 1,000 years.   Temari is made with a cotton core with hundreds of yards of sewing thread as the base color. The ball is then measured and pinned with a simple strip of paper and stitched and woven to form intricate patterns. For many temari, rice is placed inside the ball to rattle.

This art is held in strong tradition and rules. Temari represent deep friendship and loyalty and it is believed the craftsman's spirit is woven though the stitches. Temari are given in odd numbers for good luck. If given as a pair, one must be larger than the other (Prince/Princess).

Tamela will be doing an in-store temari demonstration and will do artist signings on the gift cards of any purchases.
more info at http://www.sassafrasgiftsonline.com/temari.html

Arts & Culture Alliance
The opening reception for “UT School of Art's Ceramics Department: Recent Works”The University of Tennessee’s School of Art presents a new exhibition of recent works by graduate and undergraduate students pursuing their degrees in ceramics. Join them for complimentary hors d’oeuvres on Friday, May 4, 5-9pm.  The exhibit will be on display May 4 – 12.  UT's Ceramics Department is a collective of students working in utilitarian, vessel, sculptural, and conceptual approaches. The program maintains a meaningful balance of ideas and technical ability to encourage the foundation of skills, which stimulate exploration and the student's development as an independent artist or academic professional.  Included in the exhibition are graduate students Barron Hall from Florida, TeaYoun Kim-Kassor from Korea, and Jamie Alonzo from Louisiana.  The exhibition also includes undergraduate majors Holly Milner, Elizabeth Toennisson, Jessica Rosenberg, Jessica Stansberry, Victoria D'urso, Jennifer Kelley, and Jeana Raby. 

First Friday "First" : Salon Visage
Will be holding a silent auction of various local art to raise money for the Gulf Restoration Network (healthygulf.org).  All of the proceeds will go to the GRN as part of Earth Month.  We will be serving hors d'oeuvres and wine at the event from 5p.m. - 7p.m.  There will be a variety of art from different age groups including, but not limited to, photography, drawings/paintings, creative print, etc.

Bijou Theatre
The Gourds return to the Bijou Theatre for a night of boogie-inspiring alt-country that's smart as a whip. With a sound that blends Cajun string-band tunes, folk blues and good ol' honkytonk, The Gourds plant the seeds for a perfect weekend. If you count yourself among the "the unwashed and well read," then The Gourds are for you. Tickets are only $15, available at the door starting at 7pm. The show starts at 8.

Abode
Will be featuring the photography and paintings of local artist, Stephanie Kowal.  Kowal draws inspiration from the things around her that most people might overlook. Her  photography covers a wide range of subject matter ranging from old abandoned architecture, to life's random moments and emotions that only the shutter can truly capture. As always, the wine is on the house and the home goods are on you. 

Reruns
Enjoy the psychedelic country sounds of Gresham Greene as you shop during their live in-store performance.  

First Friday "First" : Mirage
Half off all appetizers and house wine from 5pm - 8pm, Belly Dancer from 10pm to 2am. Enjoy their Authentic Arabic and Mediterranean Food. Lounge style environment, with pillow/floor seating, and candle light. Now with a full bar. Hookahs served nightly after 9PM.

Three Flights Up Gallery
Invites you to an evening of art, food and music. The 7 featured artists this month are all recent graduates of UT's painting department and include: Aliya Ball, Josh Culp, Sara Kate Farmer, Ernie Fulton, Katie Link, Rachel Murphy, and Elizabeth Scaperoth.

bliss home
Will host a reception for photographer Rececca Tolk. Rebecca has found the elusive combination of elements an artist needs to thrive: her medium, her subject and her community. Her photography has evolved into the fine art images that appear in the virtual galleries on this website. Rebecca displays her work in galleries and offers select prints in limited edition runs to the public and private collectors. It is important to remember that the images have not been digitally altered to produce the dream-like quality they capture; that is the result of the photographer and the camera itself. http://www.rebeccatolkphotography.com/rt_gllry.html

As alwasy wine will be plentiful and food from Pasta Trio will be served.

La Costa
Will feature $3.00 Caipirinhas and Micheladas until 9:00pm in addition to their regular happy hour (4:00 to 7:00,) which features $3.00 Margaritas, $2.00 Beer, and 1/2 off of all Wine Bottles!   Just in time for Spring…...La Costa introduces our refreshing hand made Caipirinha's! Made up of fresh organic lime juice, hand muddled limes, turbinado, and imported Brazilian cachaca (ka-sha-sa,) the Caipirinha has been a Latin American favorite for many years. The Caipirinha has gained international popularity in recent years, and after much demand (and a little of our own curiosity,) we've brought it home to Market Square.

Indigo
Artist reception at Indigo for Nancy Hellsten, noted by CityView as one of Knoxville's "premier wedding photographers". She will feature photos from Italy and other romantic sites and places. More info at http://www.nancyhellsten.com 

UT Downtown Gallery
Will host an opening reception for the exhibit Images of Human Rights From South Africa. This print portfolio, consisting of 27 black and white relief prints, was conceived of and released in 1996 in commemoration of the newly post-Apartheid nation’s Bill of Rights. The South African artists whose work is exhibited were chosen after an extensive competition and were encouraged to be creative in expressing a particular constitutional right. These prints were created by artists representing the nine provinces of South Africa and hand-printed by master printmaker Jan Jordaan.

Art Gallery of Knoxville
Net artist jimpunk works with digital smashup and code-based Art. Knoxville will host a raucous exhibition of his work through installation and online methods.

"jimpunk, is a talented and elegant artist who capitalises on  the Rococo potentialities of HTML ... His works have been perfectly described by Tricia Fragnito as 'a web version of a roller coaster ride: scary and fun and at the end you want to go again.'" - Melinda Rackham

Blount Mansion
Will host a reception for the exhibit “Knoxville Landmarks and Southern Expressions”. An exhibition of watercolors and prints by B.J. Clark.  Live music with the Tool Benders, tours of Blount Mansion, wine and hor d’ oeuvres.  This event is free and open to the public.  www.blountmansion.org

Gallery 1010
Presents work by Rachel Dove and Amanda Wiles. These two artists use non-traditional materials in an effort to further expand the viewers understanding of our contemporary environments natural and built.

Trio Cafe
Celebrate their 9TH week of business with all wines $5 a glass! Enjoy their covered patio while relaxing to jazz music, sipping wine and eating a great meal made from scratch.

Art Market Gallery
Spotlight on two AMG members: Bob Quinn - photography and Morgan Fitch - metal sculptor

World Grotto
Hosts Paul Sewell, Knoxville native and transient member of several southeastern artists communities (Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Asheville) he will present his take on visual music.

Vagabondia
Mothers' Day Trunk Show plus meet Jewelry Artist and Vagabondia regular Karen Plum.  Enjoy wine and snacks from La Costa whilst picking out that special Mothers' Day gift!

The Basemet Gallery
New works by gallery artists! "Mixed Media"
Tomato Head
A very special First Friday of Spring dinner special along with special prices on select bottles of wine, most reduced to $12.

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.

[updated 04/25/07]

UT Graphic Design Senior Show
Friday, April 27, at the Emporium Center

[updated 04/10/07]

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