By Betty Bullen

By Betty Bullen

New Exhibitions Opening at The Emporium

August 5–27, 2022 @ Emporium Center for Arts & Culture

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents five new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from Aug. 5-27. A free reception with the artists takes place Friday, Aug. 5, from 5-9 p.m.Most of the works will be for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop atwww.knoxalliance.store.

Tennessee Artists Association: 50 Years of Artistic Excellence: From the Past into the Futurein the lower gallery
This new exhibition celebrates Tennessee Artist’s Association 50th anniversary as the area’s oldest member-supported arts organization.

TAA began in 1972 with five members who met for coffee: Jerry Hester, an artist and art teacher, was instrumental in getting the group started with Nancy Hendrix, Randy Laws, Shannon Bays, Nancy Davis and Beverly Prince. Highlights of the first year included an art workshop at Coker Creek and a Spring Show at Concord Park. By 1974, TAA had increased its membership to 35 members. Show chair Virginia Woods helped secure a yearly fall show at West Town Mall which continued until the late '90s. Throughout the 1970s, TAA added shows at Dogwood Arts festivals, Christmas shows at West Town Mall, juried shows at Rechenbach’s Art Store, the Knoxville Mayor’s Office and the Dulin Gallery. By 1978, the Tennessee Artists Association had over 230 members from 34 cities in Tennessee and remained the only one of its kind in Knoxville. Social issues and concerns were highlighted by shows at the University of Tennessee’s School of Law and the Knoxville Women’s Center. In the 1980s, shows expanded to include Silver Dollar City in Pigeon Forge, Eastgate Mall in Chattanooga, Fort Henry Mall in Kingsport, Children’s Hospital Fantasy of Treesand 100 Oaks Mall in Nashville. The 1990s saw TAA’s continued interest in social causes with shows supporting Children’s Hospital, the Scholastic Arts program for students in grades seven through 12 in 14 counties in East Tennessee, and the sponsorship of a Boy Scout Explorer Post in the Arts.

TAA meets monthly at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. These meetings are free and open to anyone and include practical art demonstrations, discussionsand opportunities for individual artists to get involved in learning, community and shows. TAA welcomes guests to their rotating gallery and artist studio at the Emporium in Suite 106.

www.tnartists.org
Instagram at @tn_artists
www.facebook.com/TNArtistsAssociation

New Work by Terra Madre: Women in Clayin the upper gallery
Terra Madre is a juried group of women clay artists founded in the year 2000 by female ceramic artists in East Tennessee. Their mission is to support each other in their clay work, advance the appreciation of ceramics in East Tennessee and encourage each other in the pursuit of their dreams as artists and as women. Terra Madre members are affiliated with many juried and professional arts organizations. Collectively, the group exhibits in several shows annually; individually, their work has been exhibited all over the country and can be found in galleries, shops, juried fine craft shows and fairs and in many private art collections.

www.facebook.com/TerraMadreKnoxvilleTN
www.Terramadrewomeninclay.com

Works by Sergio, Estefano and Valeria Martínez & Hector Saldivarin the Atrium
This new exhibition showcases artwork by Sergio Martinez and his children, Estefano and Valeria, of Honduras, and their friend Héctor Saldivar of Mexico.

Sergio Martínez Ávila and his children live and work in Cantarranas, Honduras. He has 34 years of professional experience with primitivism (1989-1998), genre painting (1999-2005) and figurative art. He has exhibited in various cities in Europe, Asia, Canada, the United States and Latin America. In Honduras, he has participated in auctions, biennials, symposia, salons and anthologies.

Instagram @Sergiomartinez6857
www.facebook.com/Martinezavilasergio

Estefano Martínez is an emerging artist who started his career at the age of 13; he is a naturalist landscaper. Valeria Martínez is an emerging artist who began her career at the age of 12; her style is figurative representation. Both artists have exhibited work in Honduras, where they are recognized for participating in muralistic activities since 2019. Both are currently in their last year of high school.

www.facebook.com/eddieestefano.martinez
www.facebook.com/isauramartinez.valeriamartinez

Héctor Saldivar was born in Mexico City in 1966. Even though he always considered himself a creative person, it was not until later on in life that he embarked on developing his artistic talents. He has participated in events for Casa HoLa (part of HoLa Hora Latina) in Knoxville as well as with the Tennessee Arts Commission in Nashville. He mainly works with papier-mâché and clay, however he also paints with acrylics and oils. He is an alebrijes artist. Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical (fantasy/mythical) creature. His art honors his Mexican roots.

Instagram @hectorleosculpture

Foothills Craft Guild Fine Craftsin the display case
Foothills Craft Guild is dedicated to encouraging the development and appreciation of arts and handicrafts of all types; promoting high standards of workmanship in handicrafts; conducting educational programs on handicrafts with all ages; sponsoring handicraft shows and demonstrations; and engaging in activities which contribute to the advancement, development, and appreciation of arts and handicrafts of all kinds.

This new exhibition features work by more than 15 guild members as a highlight to the upcoming fall showcase, Tennessee Showcase of Fine Artisans, Nov.4-6 at the Expo Center.

www.foothillscraftguild.net

Jack Retterer: Languages of Arton the North Wall
Art, in its purest form, often communicates deep and strong feelings, private thoughts or shared events in the human experience.The Languages of Artis an exploration of these human experiences through both photographic and verbal artistic skills. As with any artistic endeavor, this work continues to evolve. Jack Retterer first created photography to be followed up with a poetic interpretation of each image. However, he soon began to write the poems first and then seek an ideal image to reinforce the feelings, thoughts and shared events of the poem. With one exception, both the photos and related poetry in this new exhibition are wholly his creations. The one exception features one of Retterer’s poems paired (with permission) with an image created by fellow photographer, Steve Olson.

Retterer is a fine art photographer, teacher and poet who is active in the arts community in East Tennessee. His American Impressionist style photography and large canvas prints have been on display and offered for purchase through the Art Market Gallery, Arts & Culture Alliance, Tennessee Artists Association, Plateau Arts Center in Crossville, Art Guild of Tellico Village, Arts at the Airport at McGhee Tyson Airport, Mayors’ Offices exhibitions, Clayton Center for the Arts, Rarity Bay Community Center, Fountain City Arts Center, Loudon County Visitors’ Center, Oak Ridge Art Gallery and the Venue Conference Center in Lenoir City. Prior to his move to East Tennessee, Retterer taught photography at Benedictine University in Naperville, Illinois. He teaches Fine Art Photography at the University of Tennessee. He is also active in presenting photography classes and presentations through regional art guilds, photography clubs and art organization across Tennessee.

www.JackRettererPhotography.com

The exhibitions areon display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday throughFriday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.and Saturday, Aug.27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.For more information, seewww.knoxalliance.comor call (865) 523-7543.

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