Artwork by Deb Cikovic
March 7–30, 2025 @ Emporium Center for Arts & Culture
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, opening Friday, March 7, from 5-9p.m A free gathering with the exhibiting artists also feature live music by Sarrenna, Travis Bigwood and Nicholas Horner.
Big Ears presents Wayne White: Big Wordsin the upper gallery
Born and raised in Chattanooga, Wayne White has used his memories of the South to create inspired works for film, television and the fine art world. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, White traveled to New York City where he worked as an illustrator for the East Village Eye, The New York Times, Raw Magazine and The Village Voice. In 1986, he became an Emmy-winning designer for his work on the hit television show “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” He has also worked in the music video industry, winning Billboard and MTV Music Video awards as an art director for seminal music videos, including the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” and Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time”.
For almost 40 years, White has been unleashing humor in all aspects of his career. His most successful artworks have been his word paintings, which feature oversized, three-dimensional text painstakingly integrated into vintage landscape reproductions. The message of the paintings is often thought-provoking and almost always humorous, with White commenting on vanity, ego and his memories of the South.
Instagram @waynewhiteart
This exhibition is one of four special exhibitions of visual art on display in downtown Knoxville during the month of March as part of the Big Ears 2025 festival weekend (March 27-30):bigearsfestival.org
A1LabArts: Creativity and Communityin the lower gallery
This new group exhibition includes artwork by members of A1LabArts, Inc., a nonprofit, Knoxville-based artists’ organization observing its 30th year of continuous activity in 2025. Throughout A1LabArts’ existence, its members (a rotating cast) have supported and engaged in a variety of creative work, including visual art in two and three dimensions; time-based art such as video, performance art, theater, written and spoken word; music; dance; multi-media events and more. Members have organized and taken part in a wide range of exhibitions, performances, workshops and classes, discussion groups, collaborations with other individual members as well as other organizations, participation in community eventsand other activities, some of which are difficult to categorize and some of which have become legendary.
The current show's theme of “Creativity and Community” goes to the heart of A1LabArts’ nature that encourages each member artist to address the theme to whatever extent, and by whatever means of expression, they see fit.
Over the years, A1LabArts has tried many different things and has, along with its membership, naturally changed. Hundreds of creative people have been members at one time or another, and new members are always welcome. A1 continues to change and to explore creativity and community in many ways. In a sense, A1 is an ongoing, developing work of long-term performance art in itself.
Learn more atA1LabArts.com, on Facebook atfacebook.com/A1LabArtsand on Instagram @A1LabArts
Deb Cikovic: Timeless Strings — The Art of Guitars and Clocksin the Atrium
Deb Cikovic is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey has evolved from digital design into a diverse and tactile exploration of artistic expression. With a background in graphic design and web development, she has seamlessly transitioned her technical skills into a rich practice that includes unique epoxy guitar art, hand built pottery, and oil and acrylic painting.
Entirely self-taught, Cikovic’s work is driven by an insatiable curiosity and a passion for pushing the boundaries of her materials. For this exhibition, her epoxy guitar art transforms musical instruments into striking visual statements, merging functionality with bold, dynamic resin designs.
Beyond her artistic practice, Cikovic is deeply committed to fostering creativity within her community. She teaches her techniques locally, sharing her knowledge to inspire others and encourage creative exploration. Through her work, she aims to create visually compelling pieces and cultivate a deeper appreciation for art as a form of connection and self-expression. Cikovic’s art is a testament to her lifelong pursuit of learning and creativity, from intricate resin embellishments to earthy ceramics and expressive paintings. Her ability to blend multiple disciplines results in a diverse and deeply personal body of work, continually evolving as she explores new artistic frontiers.
Learn more athttps://ybcreatives.com, on Instagram @ybcreatives and on Facebook atfacebook.com/YBCreativesKnox.
Hannah Doss: Flora & Fauna of Tennesseeon the North wall
Hannah Doss, influenced by a strong artistic heritage on her mother’s side, pursued her BFA at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. There she explored diverse mediums such as bookbinding, sculpture, printmaking, painting and pouring bronze sculpture in London. She later earned her MBA and now channels her expertise into teaching through her business, Mountain Mama’s Art & Adventure, where she offers classes in painting, jewelry makingand crafting.
Doss’s latest body of work reflects a renewed journey of learning and discovery, inspired by a fascination with resin techniques she encountered in a recent class. Hannah’s art predominantly explores wildlife, nature, and portraiture, inviting viewers to pause and savor the intricate beauty of life’s small details. Works are created upon ceramic tile, with the vibrancy in color coming from hand painted alcohol inks and sumi ink on vintage tracing paper. Metallic leaf is then added, as well as glitter, and then it is coated in resin.
mountainmamasartandadventure.com
Kerry Remp: From Paper to Thread to Yarnin the display case
Kerry Remp is a retired NASA Engineer and professional pianist who enjoys the exploration of various mediums to “build” art. A musician from the age of 3, Remp discovered visual art, via paper (modular origami) at age 40. Once he was hooked on creating, other paper art forms such as quilling, sculpture and portraiture began to take shape. At age 60, he began exploring the creation process using thread and eventually yarn. Currently involved in weaving on a rigid heddle loom, the love of creating continues to inspire him. He has been an active participant in Arts & Culture Alliance activities since retiring to Tennessee in 2017. In addition to individual commissions and sales, he has participated in displays/shows at the Emporium, Broadway Gallery and City/County Offices. Since becoming a grandfather to Malakai (a boy born with Downs Syndrome), all proceeds from his artwork are donated to GiGi's Playhouse, a non-profit organization that provides free programming and support to families affected by Downs Syndrome through 60+ locations across the United States.
The exhibitions are on display March 7-30, at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee. The Emporium is open to the public Monday tnrough Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Most of the works on exhibition are for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop atknoxalliance.store. For more information, seeknoxalliance.comor call (865) 523-7543.
Category: Exhibits