Mosquitos, heat, and drought, plus a Covid variant surge — all that and August has wrapped us in its warm, sticky embrace. Still, our art and music scene is trying its best to get past the painful hiatus of the past year and a half. Live performances are struggling back to life and will hopefully stay that way as long as we mask as necessary and get vaccinated. What’s more — this Friday is the August First Friday with the usual monthly openings—plus there are some interesting continuing shows to catch before they close.
• • • • • •
The Emporium Center – 100 S. Gay Street
The free opening receptions for the following shows are on Friday, August 6, from 5:00-9:00 PM. These public shows run from August 6 through August 27 at the regular gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.
• Kate Aubrey: From the Heart – people and portraits from noted watercolorist Kate Aubrey
• HERDCORE: Dale Mackey and Shawn Poynter – this collaboration from Central Collective co-founders Dale Mackey and Shawn Poynter promises an intriguing mix of photography and a PPE fashion show, portraits taken throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, embellished masks and face shields, and reflections gathered from the Knoxville community.
• Donna Moore: Hope is the Thing with Feathers – Moore is a photographer who works with pinhole cameras and historic/alternative photographic processes. She is the Co-Director of the Big Camera, a traveling darkroom and Camera Obscura.
• Creations of Love by A. D. – A. D. is a Knoxville resident and a KAT bus driver. His recent work covers subjects such as climate change, human trafficking, Harlem Renaissance culture, political and social issues, racism & classism.
• Debbie and Marc Meritsky: Our favorite three “R’s – Reimagining, Repurposing, and Recycling – a selection of handmade jewelry, mixed media collages, and stained glass all utilizing reimagined, repurposed, and recycled components.
• • • • • •
UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay Street
Walker Evans’ photographs paired with James Agee’s classic work, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, is the basis for an exhibition of 50 framed photographs printed by the Library of Congress from Evans’ original negatives and original archival material from the James Agee Papers loaned by the University of Tennessee Special Collections.
This exhibition has been extended through August 20, 2021
Special First Friday hours on August 6 are 5:00-8:00 PM.
The regular gallery hours are 11 AM-6 PM, Wednesday – Friday plus 10 AM – 3 PM on Saturdays. All shows are free.
UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay Street
Information — https://downtown.utk.edu
• • • • • •
Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay Street
Elle Colquitt is the featured artist here for August, showing both her captivating photography of urban window reflections and the artistry of fiber vessels.
First Friday reception is 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
The exhibition runs August 6, 2021 — August 29, 2021 at the regular gallery hours of Tuesday-Saturday 11:00 AM-6:00 PM; Sunday 1:00 PM-6:00 PM.
Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net, www.Facebook.com/ArtMarketGallery
• • • • • •
Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Avenue First Friday
Esther Sitver, a Knoxville illustrator, offers a show that centers around portraiture/figure drawing, editorial illustration, pattern design, plein air painting, and hand-lettering.
The First Friday opening reception is from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The show continues through August 27 at the Dogwood Arts gallery’s regular hours of Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• • • • • •
West Fifth Studios – Field Trip! at Red Gallery
The collective of artists at West Fifth is offering “Field Trip!”
Opening reception will be August 6th from 5:00 PM-9:00 PM at Red Gallery. The show will run through the month of August.
Red Gallery, 132 W. Jackson Avenue
https://www.instagram.com/westfifthstudios/
• • • • • •
Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Avenue
The August featured artist here is Julie L. Rabun.
“I start with watercolor paper upon which I affix newspaper and/or old book pages. Using this substrate, I apply mixed media to depict a landscape that I have personally visited and photographed. The final image results in areas where letters, words, and printed material are visible.”
The opening reception is Friday, August 6 from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM.
• • • • • •
HoLa Hora Latina in the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street
The featured works for August are paintings by Gabrielle Toledo.
The opening reception is on First Friday, August 6th, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM.
Casa HoLa is located inside the Emporium for the Arts on the bottom floor in Suite 112 at 100 S. Gay St., Knoxville, TN 37902. Regular gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 10am – 3pm.
• • • • • •
Rala, 112 W. Jackson Ave
Sarah Moore is the featured artist here for August and September. Her show, Yonder, features paintings of natural and wild places in East Tennessee.
The opening reception is from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, August 6. The show continues through September 28.
Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave
Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com
