New Exhibitions Opening at the Emporium Center Nov. 3

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Arts & Culture Alliance presents new exhibitions Nov. 3-22 at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville.

A reception takes place on 4-9 p.m. Nov. 3 as part of First Friday activities downtown to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork.

Nov. 3-5: 19th Master Woodworkers Show in the Lower Gallery

The East Tennessee Woodworkers Guild presents the 19th Master Woodworkers Show, a biennial juried show highlighting the works of 33 craftspeople and artists of East Tennessee and the surrounding region. The Show features many types of woodworking from traditional to whimsical, including fine furniture, cabinetry, turning, sculpture and marquetry. “We have a great show for 2017,” says Scott DeWaard, Show Director. The show hours are 4-9 p.m. Nov. 3; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5.

For more information, visit www.masterwoodworkers.org.

Nov. 8-22: The Arab American Club of Knoxville: From the Middle East to the Smoky Mountains in the Lower Gallery

The Arab American Club of Knoxville presents an exhibit of paintings and photos from the Middle East to the Smoky Mountains. The exhibit shares the experiences of local community members through their photo journeys to the Middle East and East Tennessee. Photographer Sam Mishu’s work includes photos of Jordan, the ancient city of Petra, and the majestic natures of Cades Cove; Dean Rice’s photographs capture his visit to the Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan; Rulla Habiby’s paintings captures the essence of her hometown Haifa and her husband’s hometown, Nazareth; Vivian Dakak’s expressive paintings tell the story of her Iraqi background and her life as an American; Hiba Alyawer’s paintings give abstract art a whole new meaning, exploring her life under Saddam, escaping as a child with her family to Kuwait and later settling in the United States.

Live and Local: Recent Works of the Pellissippi Art Faculty in the Balcony Gallery

“Live and Local” features a mix of ceramics, sculpture, installation, printmaking, drawing, painting, and mixed media. After a successful exhibition in 2012, the studio art faculty of Pellissippi State Community College returns to the Emporium to exhibit their recent works.

Kimberly Pack: lovenestmonsters in the Display Case

The drawings of Kimberly Pack came about out of necessity. Tough times call for some unusual ways of escaping. Her drawings of mopey-faced, scraggly-haired guys became an outlet for that escape. To create guys with lumpy bodies and eyes with dark circles and puffiness allowed her to bring to life with pen and paper the sadness and uncertainty of her life.

The Cape Ann Collection - Watercolors by Carl Whitten on the North Wall

Cape Ann sits jutting out into the sea 25 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. For more 150 years, famous artists have been coming to Cape Ann's quaint and rustic towns of Gloucester, Rockport, Annisquam, Magnolia, Lanesville, and Essex to paint its beauty. The summer Carl Whitten visited was like a homecoming since he was born on Cape Ann and could track his family ancestry to fishermen from Gloucester. Other than a few summer visits, Whitten had not lived on Cape Ann since early childhood, but now as an artist can appreciate its beauty and great history.

The Knoxville Community Darkroom in the Atrium

This show represents work from the board members of The Knoxville Community Darkroom and includes a combination of traditional analog, digital and alternative photographic processes. Knoxville Community Darkroom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, offering darkroom space for those who want to develop film and print in a traditional black and white darkroom. Education is a top priority, and Knoxville Community Darkroom offers classes in film development and printing in addition to alternative processes. They also offer classes designed for high school and middle school students. Their space provides a great opportunity for all photographers in the area to come together. For more information, visit www.theknoxvillecommunitydarkroom.org.

The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please note: the Emporium will be closed Thursday-Friday, Nov. 23-24. For more information, contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at 865-523-7543, or visit 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. The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, the City of Knoxville, and First Tennessee Foundation.

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