FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Suzanne Cada
PO Box 2506
Knoxville, TN 37901
(865) 523-7543
sc@knoxalliance.com
www.knoxalliance.com

Arts & Culture Alliance Presents “Sound Booth” by Brian Wagner

(08/13/2009/Knoxville) – The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present an exhibition of new works by Brian Wagner, the Betsy Worden Memorial Artist-in-Residence at the Emporium Center.  Works displayed are among those created during the time of Wagner's residency (April through September 2009).  “Sound Booth” will be exhibited in the Balcony at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 4-25, 2009.  An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on September 4 from 5:00-9:00 PM and will feature music by Ben Maney and other local musicians. In addition, Brian Wagner’s handmade photo booth will be on hand to capture photos of First Friday attendees.

Brian Wagner was born in Knoxville and graduated from Karns High School in 1996. He studied at the University of Tennessee before transferring to Western Kentucky University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Art in Photojournalism. Wagner worked for several newspapers across the country, including the Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, St. Petersburg Times, Herald in Jasper, IN, Midland Daily News, Charleston Gazette, Provo Daily News, and the Maryville Daily Times. Wagner has taught at Pellissippi State Technical Community College and begins his fourth semester as a fine art photography teacher at Maryville College this August.  Currently, he does freelance photography for various businesses, publications and individuals as well as weddings.  

Wagner describes the concept behind “Sound Booth” as one note and one frame at a time.  “Working to transcend my former existence in the news industry, I began photographing things of interest to me. While music has always been a passion of mine, 'Sound Booth' became the fusion of that passion and my own abilities as a photographer.”  Wagner started photographing local musicians he knew personally in a hand-made photo booth in his living room.  In exchange for their participation, Wagner allows the musicians to use the images created for self-promotion.  “Each musician in turn recommended others to photograph… with such a fruitful local music scene, the project quickly became much greater than I once imagined.”  Wagner expects to continue working on “Sound Booth” beyond the exhibition in September so that he can “sufficiently document musicians, past and present, who share of themselves with us all.  The project would not be possible without the collaboration of local musicians, and I am very grateful for their participation.”  For more information on Brian Wagner, visit www.brianwagnerphotography.com.

“Sound Booth” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, September 5, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.  For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

About the Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions by assuring their creative, financial, and operational well-being.
 
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