Work by Hector Saldivar
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Arts & Culture Alliance presents four new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from Aug. 7-28. A free reception with the artists takes place Friday, Aug. 7, from 5-7 p.m. to which the public is invited to attend at 240 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.
Work by Recipients of Bailey Opportunity Grantsin the main gallery
The Arts & Culture Alliance presents an exhibit of painting, photography, woodwork, forged metal, jewelry, sculpture, and more by 25 of the individual artists who are recipients of an FY21 Ann and Steve Bailey Opportunity Grant. Artists in the exhibition include: Bobbie Crews, Curtis Glover, Jessica Gregory, Lila Holdenried, Alex Jaynes, Shannon Johnson, Jeanne Kidd, David Luttrell, Elysia Mann, Jess Maples, Ryan Mason, Renee Mathies, Tom Owens, John Phillips, Spencer Ratliff, Kerry Remp, Annie Rochelle, Nancy Rowland Engle, Ericka Ryba, Roberta Smashey, Emily Taylor, Houston Vandergriff, Brandon Woods, Rodney Yardley and Conny Zhao.
A part of the Arts & Heritage Fund, the Bailey Opportunity Grants provide financial and technical support to individual artists and small, professionally-oriented arts and culture organizations. The grants are designed to spur continued artistic and administrative growth in innovative, entrepreneurial artists and organizations at any stage in their development. Throughout the next eleven months, the 34 individual artists will utilize their collective $80,300+ for local, regional, and national workshops, studio time, technical equipment, and more.
Visitwww.knoxalliance.com/bailey-exhibition-FY21for more information on the artists.
Héctor Saldivar:Mis Raises(My Roots)in the display case
Héctor Saldivar was born in Mexico City in 1966. Even though he always considered himself a creative person, it was not until later in life that he embarked on developing his artistic talents. He has participated in events forCasa 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 analebrijesartist.Alebrijesare brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical (fantasy/mythical) creature. His art honors his Mexican roots. Follow him on Instagram @hectorleosculpture.
Mark Hipshire and Emma Slaymaker: Shared Spacesin the Atrium
These two Knoxville natives met for the first time across the ocean while living in western France. An intangible sense of familiarity helped them bond quickly in their respective foreign landscapes, and they soon learned about their many shared interests. Both want to promote conservation of the Earth’s ecosystems and find ways of their own to do so. They share a passion for art and use it as an outlet for this message of compassion and conservation. Mark Hipshire, coming from a marine sciences background, compliments Emma Slaymaker’s knowledge of terrestrial farm work and horseback riding and together they hope to use their art to reconnect themselves and others with a love for nature.
Hipshire’s passion for painting and drawing originates from his work in chemistry and marine biology. As an undergraduate student he worked in a research lab with crystalline scintillators that would glow under ultraviolet radiation. As a graduate student he would go on to study marine sciences, where he became fascinated with the bioluminescent glow of deep-sea creatures. His current portfolio uses scintillating (UV reactive) paints to recreate the bioluminescent effects of marine organisms. He aims to use the wonder of seeing these creatures to inspire others to help preserve our planet’s natural resources for the future. Follow him on Instagram @m_hip_jr.
Slaymaker is a Knoxville artist, born and raised. From a young age she developed a love for animals, especially horses. She has grown up riding and working on farms. This passion, along with her long held passion for art, has brought her down the path of animal portraiture. She wants to share her love for animals as well as spread a message of compassion and conservation through her art. Follow her on Instagram @es.artworks.
Paula Thomas: Evoked in Resinon the North Wall
As we journey through this life, we are affected daily with emotions driven by unlimited influences. Whether it be an event, an encounter, a passing by observance, the weather or nature, our emotions are evoked. How we choose to express those emotions can heal, encourage and provide escape and reflection. As an artist, I am driven to express emotions through color and movement within the fluid medium of resin. Resin is a unique medium in that it is intensely reflective and can be layered with color and texture within. Because of its fluid nature, it flows unpredictably, yet always turns out uniquely beautiful just like life! My hope is that this collection of work will evoke emotions in the viewer that satisfy and stir the soul.
A graduate of Texas Tech University with degrees in Graphic Design and Art Education, Thomas has created and taught art and been involved in interior design for over 25 years. Currently residing in Knoxville, her abstract art canvases are composed of the fluid medium of resin mixed with a myriad of paints, inks and mica powders on unique substrates such as metal and wood to create intensely reflective, colorful, layered pieces that are the perfect marriage of fluid movement, texture and color. Inspired by color and nature, the emanation of her works bring an influence of emotion and mood to the viewer. She currently has collections and works available in local galleries including The District Gallery and Whimsy and a Dream. For more information, visitwww.paulathomasdesign.com, follow her on Instagram @paulathomasdesign, or find her on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/PaulaThomasDesign.
Summer Members Show,continuing on display in the Balcony
This portion of the Arts & Culture Alliance Summer Members Show opened on June 5 and features the work of 46 artists who live and create in the region. Learn more atwww.knoxalliance.com/arts-culture-alliance-summer-members-showand purchase works atwww.knoxalliance.store.
The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the website atwww.knoxalliance.com.
