March 1–30, 2024 @ Knoxville Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents four new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from March 1-30. A free gathering with the artists takes place Friday, March 1, from 5-9 p.m.and features music byTinca Tinca.
Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennesseein the lower gallery
In honor of National Quilting Day March 16, members of the Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee are mounting an exhibit of more than 30 quilts which illustrate the breadth of hand and machine techniques and the many reasons for making a quilt. Some are prize-winning works of art, while others were made for pleasure and daily use. Every quilt has a story behind it, and each quilter shares the inspiration for their creation as part of the exhibition. For example, one quilt commemorates 30 years of work by missionaries to translate the Bible into the native language for the people of Papua, New Guinea. Another quilter used leaves collected from her birthplace in Norway for a resist dyeing technique. A third SMQ member worked on a quilt depicting the promise of recovery while her younger sister was being treated for breast cancer.
“This exhibition is a celebration of the diverse talent of our membership and the many reasons we quilt,” said Merikay Waldvogel, SMQ member and the exhibition organizer. “None of us quilt solely for ourselves; it is a way to express our feelings through our art and to communicate with others when words are not enough. We hope this exhibit helps increase understanding of how quilts enhance our lives and bring us pleasure and comfort, whether we are the makers or the recipients of these beautiful works.”
The SMQ Educational Fund in memory of Peggy Garwood, a long-time member and master quilter, is underwriting the exhibition. SMQ typically meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville. SMQ strives toadvance the knowledge and appreciation of the craftsmanship, artistic expression, and historical significance of quiltmaking; sponsor and support charitable projects to provide encouragement to those in need; and promote friendship through shared activities. SMQ’s approximately 100 members range from novice to master quilters in diverse quilt styles, including traditional and art quilts, complex and minimalist modern designs, miniatures and bed-sized, and hand- or machine-stitched. For more information about Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee, emailinfo@smokymtnquilters.com.
www.smokymtnquilters.com
www.facebook.com/smokymountainquiltersoftn
Mac Bartine, George Denninger & Cosima Risolvo-Aryee: The Upstairs Show: An Elevated Viewin the upper gallery
Mac Bartine uses fluid layers of color, movement and form to explore the imagination and our connections to emotion and the natural world. He strives to create works that invite personal interpretations and celebrations of our own experiences with life and creativity. Bartine is a life-long East Tennessee resident who grew up in Roane County. His mother is a professional musician, which led to his life-long passion for music and art. Bartine has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Berry College and an Master of Science in Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Today, he leads Smartria, a software company based in Knoxville, and is the lead singer and songwriter of local band Chameleous. This is his first public show of his paintings.
www.bartine.com
Although George Denninger has had many interests, artistic expression was his first love as a child. In his career, he has been an aerospace engineer, an industrial and home designer, a college professor, a gallery owner, a motivational speakerand an author. Denninger has exhibited nationally, including the Renwick Gallery in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where his work is part of their permanent collection. He has owned galleries in Sugar Loaf, New York and St. Charles, Missouri.
www.georgedenninger.com
Cosima Risolvo-Aryee was born in Taranto, Italy, a gulf city in the Ionian Sea where she spent long days at the beach absorbing the beauty, serenity and high energy of the sea; these days undoubtedly inspired her creativity, imagery and soul of her work. At age 12, her family moved to northern Illinois and at age 18, she served in the U.S. Army. She later attended the School of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a double major in Painting and Drawing. In 2017, she began painting and exhibiting again, and her residence and art studio are currently located in East Tennessee. She works mainly in oils, occasionally using watercolors, pastel and charcoal.
My work is completely intuitive. Although you may almost recognize spaces, places and things in my work, my aim is not to render known objects. My aim is to express myself intuitively and authentically by following creative impulses, through which celestial blues illuminate some paintings and marine blues inundate others. I’m frequently told the spaces I create in my paintings are otherworldly and sometimes surreal. My approach to my artmaking is to tap into the wonder of the essence of subjects like light, portals, and energetic spaces; I am always surprised at what comes through me onto the canvas.
www.cosimas.art
Hannah Hancock: Aging Into Vintagein the Atrium
Aging into Vintageis the title for a new show which catalogs my experiences and works over the 25 years of my life and is based on a concept I learned when I started my first job at an antique store. In the resale market, anything older than 25 years is considered “vintage.” Having turned 25 after numerous "once-in-a-lifetime" events such as the COVID pandemic, 2008 recession, 9/11, and more, this series is a reflection of what it means to have lived through so much yet so little in the grand scheme, emulating a sense of walking through my map of memories in a both intimately personal and abstracted manner.
Hannah Hancock is a professional mixed media artist, born and raised in Knoxville. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Maryville College and currently works as a manager at Jerry’s Artarama. She has participated in numerous regional art exhibitions throughout East Tennessee and teaches at a variety of art and crafts centers throughout the area.
Instagram @coolio_punk
Works by Luis Santiagoin the display case
"My artwork is all collage, but from a different perspective. My artwork aims to challenge the viewer, making the familiar unfamiliar and the strange normal. It is up to the viewer to find a focal point, to look for the theme, and understand what is and what isn't as they observe. My collages are influenced by various art styles and forms ranging from abstract expressionism to surrealism to pop art. My art is also influenced by comic books, social media, graphic design, science fiction, body horror, and mythology," Santiago says.
Luis Santiago is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on collage. Drawing on influences ranging from comic books, graphic novels, animation, mythology, music and literature, he pulls these elements together on the canvas. The surreal, the abstract, and the absurd come together to add depth to the pieces. Santiago received a Bachelor of Arts from Montclair State University.
Instagram @LSartnstuff
The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee. The Emporium is open to the public Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Emporium will be closed n Friday, March 29.Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop atwww.knoxalliance.store. For more information,seewww.knoxalliance.comor call (865) 523-7543.
Category: Exhibits