Twenty years ago, it would have sounded impossible—Downtown Knoxville deluged again with bustling crowds delighted for a Christmas Parade, parking garages filled to overflowing, and sidewalks trying their best to accommodate those headed elsewhere to galleries, theatres, and shopping. But here we are—the Eve of what could be the busiest First Friday ever. At the center of the Friday’s festivities is the 2023 WIVK Christmas Parade that will involve South Gay Street, including the Gay Street Bridge, all the way to Magnolia Avenue. Additional street closures on streets perpendicular to Gay Street will limit automobile traffic starting at 5:30 PM before the 7:00 PM parade.
Still feeling adventurous? Here are some other exhibitions and shows available December 1.
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The Annual Members Show hosted by the Arts & Culture Alliance at the Emporium
The Arts & Culture Alliance Annual Members Show is the largest exhibition of local artists in the Knoxville area. This exhibition features two- and three-dimensional works that run the gamut of painting, mixed media, photography, crafts, sculpture, ceramics, and fibers from over 150 artists.
These exhibitions open on Friday, December 1 (5:00 – 9:00 PM), and continue through December 15. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM and Saturday (Dec 2 & 9 only), 10 AM – 1 PM. The Emporium will be closed December 16 – January 1, reopening Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street
Opening reception: Friday, December 1, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
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Lilienthal Gallery: Flow, Mastering a Brushstroke
Flow: Mastering a Brushstroke opens on December 1, from 4–9 PM and will include a gallery talk at 6:30 pm by German artist Sigrid Artmann and an exclusive launch of a collaborative beer with Crafty Bastard.
“The three international artists Sigrid Artmann, Guo Hai-Jiang, and Anthony Huang aim to create works that are expressive, harmonious, and skillful in nature. They each have deep connections to the ancient practice of calligraphy, pursuing a spiritual approach to mark-making in which a single stroke conveys transcendent qualities.”
Lilienthal Gallery, 23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN
305-606-1180
lilienthalgallery.com
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Pretentious Beer Co. – Zach Russell album release: Where The Flowers Meet The Dew
Friday, December 1 — 8 – 10 PM
Pretentious Beer Co., 131 South Central Street in the Old City
Tickets
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Jubilee Community Arts: Tennessee Sheiks
The Tennessee Sheiks are Don Cassell, Nancy Brennan Strange, Don Wood, Barry “Po” Hannah, Ken Wood. Michael “Crawdaddy” Crawley, Marcus Shirley, Will Ross, Nicholas Cassell and Brent Thompson.
“The Sheiks’ members are known individually for their work with area bands and musicians for over 20 years working in bluegrass, blues, jazz, alt country and swing idioms.”
Friday, December 1, 8:00 PM – Jubilee Community Arts at the Laurel Theatre, 1538 Laurel Avenue, Knoxville
Tickets available at TicketLeap, see http://www.jubileearts.org/$20 at the door, $15 General Audience Advance, $14 JCA members, students & seniors 65+
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Tri-Star Arts: December Openings at Candoro Marble
Three new exhibitions will be opening on Friday, December 1, hosted by Tri-Star Arts at the historic Candoro Marble Building. In the main gallery: a group show, Greetings From Vestal III, featuring recent works by resident studio artists Rachel Sevier Dallery, Casey Field, Lisa Flanary, Risa Hricovsky, and Ashley Pace. The show will run through Saturday, January 27, 2024. Curator: Brian R. Jobe.
The next exhibition in their Golden Chain Gallery project space is Hop: Multiplicity in Motion by Gabrielle Barnhart. Located within the unique architectural space of a narrow wooden stairwell, this show will run through Saturday, January 15, 2024.
Also, Tri-Star Arts is presenting Melissa Catanese: The Lottery, curated / organized by Mauro Antonio Barreto (Nashville, TN) in the carriage house of the historic Candoro Marble Building for one night only on Friday, December 1, 2023 from 5:00—8:00 pm
Tri-Star Arts, 4450 Candora Avenue, Knoxville
