New Exhibitions Opening

THE ARTS & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from May 5-26. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop at KnoxAlliance.store.

Barb Johnson & Susan Miller: Our Walk in the Upper Gallery

Artists statement: The inspiration for this exhibition came during early morning walks through dew-covered pastures which provide the spiritual experience of nature. Our friendship developed as we participated in a community of artists called Art Group 21. Since we both live in Lenoir City, we began walking together three times a week, which has continued to this day.

On our year-round walks, which cover 80 acres of farmland, we watch the seasonal changes in weather conditions and vegetation. There is abundant evidence of wildlife in the fields, woods, and along the gravel roads. We pass farm animals, plants, and trees, new and deteriorating structures, and regularly used or abandoned farm equipment, elements we express in our artworks.

by Barb Johnson

images. She developed her own style for showing the “frozen moment”: When time stops, we’re a witness to nature, and it fills us with a sense of wonder and awe. Our spirit is found and often rediscovered in nature, and it is this spiritual connection that nourishes and inspires her art. Best captures this “moment” with acrylic in a modern impressionistic style, using entrancing outlines and colors to “freeze” the continual, ever-changing movement of nature.

Allen Monsarrat: I’ve Been Painting in the Display Case

Artist statement excerpt: I choose a subject with personal meaning based on my travels or a subject close to home in East Tennessee. The image must be a strong composition and contain a range of tonal values from darks to lights, which I manage by completing an underpainting using only burnt sienna. I then concentrate on colors and brush application, determining whether to make brush strokes apparent. By slowly edging away from my original tendency toward photorealism, some of my new works have a more painterly feel while still retaining detail as a photograph would. Creating a painting is always an exciting journey, as I am never quite sure whether it will be as successful as I have envisioned it in my mind.

by Susan Miller

A1LabArts: Re-Pair/Re-Connect in the Lower Gallery

This new exhibition, associated with the state-wide Tennessee Triennial for Contemporary Art, features a group of artists offering a variety of responses to the theme “Re-Pair/ Re-Connect.” This theme can be interpreted broadly to reference ideas such as ongoing post-pandemic renewal of public interaction and community events; interpersonal relationships and communication; individual renewal of creative vision, values, sense of self, and role in society; and relationships with the environment. The exhibiting artists are members of A1LabArts, a nonprofit, Knoxville-based arts organization founded in 1995.

Lynda Best: Water Spirits on the North Wall

Lynda Best is an impressionistic, contemporary artist of nature spirits. Her paintings are a form of meditation as she creates calming

Tracye Sowders: Melancholy’s Epiphany in the Atrium

Artist statement: The golden thread of sheer existence that binds us to one another and with the universe pulls me further onward through this exploration of color, light, trickery, and enchantment. I am inspired to create pieces that convey freedom of spirit. I paint about the light that settles in our souls and the idea that there is a natural touchstone for all of us as humans.

Tracye Burnett Sowders is a prolific painter in various media, including watercolor, oils, pen and ink, and alcohol inks. She is also a calligrapher, hand quilter, needleworker, illustrator, portrait artist, and pianist. Her original watercolors, oils, and quilts are in private collections all across the U.S.

The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, located at 100 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, with additional hours on Friday, May 12, from 9 am to 7 pm and Saturday, May 6 & 13 only from 10 am to 1 pm. For more information, call 865-523-7543 or visit KnoxAlliance.com.

ID A’ RIFFIC Fun in the Park returns this summer with free mid-week fun for area families! Each event offers activities, games, hands-on crafts, and other fun pursuits for families with children ages 2-12, hosted by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Special Events, Parks and Recreation Department, and other community partners. Participation is free, and no registration is required.

Events are on Wednesdays in June and July from 10 am to 1 pm in seven different parks and natural areas:

Fountain City Park, 117 Hotel Road

• June 14: Chilhowee Park, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave. (including a Touch-A-Truck)

• June 21: Safety City of Knoxville, 165 S. Concord Street

• June 28: Fort Kid, 1049 World’s Fair Park Drive

• July 12: Ijams, 2915 Island Home Park

• July 19: Lakeshore Park, 5930 Lyons View Pike

• July 26: World’s Fair Park

Established in 2019 as a weekly opportunity for summertime activities for youngsters and their families in Market Square, Kid A’ Riffic has expanded to include parks across the city and multiple community partners. Earlier this year, Kid A’Riffic was awarded “Best Children’s Event in the Southeast” by the Southeast Festivals & Events Association (SFEA). For more information, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov or call 865-215-4248.