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New exhibitions open at the Emporium Center

emporium center art exhibit
Image courtesy of the artist.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville through October 25, 2019. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

These exhibitions are presented in conjunction with Tennessee Craft Week, October 4-13, a collection of craft events and happenings across the state each October. The purpose is to connect and celebrate Craft Artists, the work they create and the businesses that support them.


Townsend Artisan Guild: The Best of Us in the main gallery
This new exhibition, presented by the Townsend Artisan Guild, features original art by 20 artists including fiber arts, charcoal, pen and ink, oils, watercolors, acrylics, photography, pottery, woodworking, and mixed media. The Guild is excited about the opportunity to present the breadth and quality of these artists who live and work in the East Tennessee area.

Founded in 2007, the Guild brings together working fine artists and fine crafts persons to promote education, exploration, awareness, and development of arts. The group of approximately 80 members strives to promote community interest in and appreciation of the arts through participation in events, demonstrations, classes, festivals, and workshops. The Guild operates the Townsend Artisan Guild and Studios at 7719 East Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, where juried members display and sell their work, and artists work in their studios. The art represents a wide variety of visual arts and is rotated frequently to represent the continued creativity of its displaying artists. Membership in the Guild is open to working artists, aspiring artists, and those supporting the arts. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Wood N Strings Dulcimer Shop, 7645 East Lamar Alexander Parkway. The meeting includes a business meeting, a program, and a time for fellowship. Guests are always welcome to attend. For more information, please visit www.townsendartisanguild.org, find them on Facebook at Townsend Artisan Guild, or e-mail townsendartisanguild@gmail.com.


Barb Johnson & Anna Rykaczewska: Inside/Out in the Balcony gallery
Barb Johnson and Anna Rykaczewska will display work from their perspective of what they observe in photographed images. The images include both inside and outside spaces. The quality of light as it infiltrates a setting determines how textures and color tones play a major role in their compositions.

Barbara Rybolt Johnson is from Swayzee, Indiana and earned her degree in art education from Indiana State University. She taught art in public and private schools, most recently at Christian Academy of Knoxville. Barb is now a full-time artist, private teacher, and member of Art Group 21. Her artwork has been displayed in numerous juried art venues including Arts in the Airport, Oak Ridge Art Center, Art Guild at Fairfield Glade, Knoxville mayors’ offices, and art shows in the Emporium Center. Follow her on Instagram at @barbjohnsonart or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barbjohnsonart.

Anna Rykaczewska was born, lived in and received her education in Warsaw, Poland. She graduated from the High School of Fine Arts where she studied painting, sculpture, graphics, costume design, scenography, jewelry design, and photography. She then earned a master’s degree in art history at the University of Warsaw. Rykaczewska worked for seven years as the Art Specialist and Designer at Ars Christiana, the premiere and largest company in Poland specializing in religious art. She has resided in many European countries due to her husband's scientific career, and since 1997 has lived in the United States. In 2001, the YWCA honored her with a nomination for the "Woman of Distinction" award in recognition of her volunteer work. One of her paintings was presented to His Excellency US Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe by the local Polish-American Community in 2004, and the painting exhibited at the Residence of the US Ambassador in Warsaw for six years. For more information, visit ar-art.com.


Floral Photographs by Anthony Owsley on the North Wall
Anthony Owsley grew up in Knoxville but spent the majority of his life in Georgia where he attended The Art Institute of Atlanta. While living in Atlanta, he pursued a variety of creative ventures including cartooning, illustration, puppeteering, animation and theater. He was a member of the notorious Atlanta art collective 800 East from its inception in 1990 to its dissolution in 1998. He also served as comics editor for several alternative newspapers in the metro Atlanta region. Since relocating to Knoxville, Owsley has taken a passion for photography. His third exhibition includes a collection of floral photographs.


Bryan Wilkerson: Saddychack in the display case
Bryan Wilkerson is a Tennessee native and Professor of Art and Design at Roane State Community College. His creative practices are focused primarily on ceramics and public art but extend into design and drawing. His work explores humor, craft, irony, and play through common symbolic references. He is also the creator and director of the ArtMobile traveling gallery and pop up workshop space.

In this exhibition, Wilkerson will display clever, kooky, and quirky pottery and wall art. For more information, follow him on Instagram at @bryanwilkerson or visit bryanwilkerson.com.

Barbara West Portrait Group in the Atrium
Founded in 2001 by Barbara West, members hail from throughout the United States and even other countries. Their membership includes artists with a variety of backgrounds, professions and levels of artistic skill. By using a wide variety of media and showcasing differing art styles, they constantly explore and develop their skills. They have exhibited at the Farragut Town Hall, Peace Lutheran Church, Ball Camp Baptist Church, and Candoro Marble.

The Barbara West Portrait Group has developed a strong communal bond – artistic as well as emotional – as a wonderful by-product of their weekly meetings, which occur every Wednesday and Saturday from 2:00-4:00 PM in Knoxville-area churches. The open studio is $5 to attend with a live model; no instruction is provided. For more information, please contact Debbie Barnes at 865-661-1213 or visit www.facebook.com/TheBarbaraWestPortraitGroup.

The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Published October 13, 2019








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