New Exhibitions Opening Soon at the Emporium Center in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Arts & Culture Alliance presents four new exhibitions Feb. 7-28 at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville.
A free reception will take place 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 as part of First Friday activities downtown. The public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition. The opening reception will welcome pianist Mike Stallings, Director of Music at Concord United Methodist Church.
National Juried Exhibition of 2020 in the upper galleries
The 14th annual National Juried Exhibition features selected works from 38 artists throughout the United States. The National Juried Exhibition was developed in 2006 to provide a forum for local artists to compete on a national scale and display their highest quality work. The exhibition encompasses all styles and genres from both emerging and established artists working in a variety of media. Over $1,000 in cash awards will be announced at an awards ceremony 6 p.m. Feb. 7.
Jordan Ahlers is the owner and director of Momentum Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the region’s premier art galleries. With over 20 years’ experience in the field, Ahlers has collaborated with thousands of professional artists working across the country in a variety of media. In doing so, he has developed an eye for what is both interesting and marketable. Ahlers has a reputation as a gifted curator and trusted art advisor. Ahlers opened Momentum Gallery in 2017 with a mission to provide access to museum-quality work for the region and elevate the Asheville arts community. Ahlers attended the Kansas City Art Institute and later created a home in Asheville, where his family has resided for generations.
Yumee Eun: “From Within” in the Main Gallery
“From Within” is artist Yumee Eun’s expression of being through paint and poetry. It is her invitation to her viewers to feel the stillness and emptiness one experiences through meditation. Eun connects her poetry and art as a way for her viewers to feel hopeful from the experience of chaos, heartbreak, and hardship. The crackle pieces in her work signify the trials and life experiences in which people are destroyed, yet, can also come through, see into, and explore the light within themselves and be reborn from it. Her poetic words are there to accompany the viewer and inspire and invoke hope and calmness.
Ellen Alvarez: “Driftwood Creations” in the Display Case
Ellen Alvarez’s driftwood creations have been inspired by years of collecting driftwood from her home state, Vermont. The driftwood is sourced from Lake Champlain, which consistently provides beautiful pieces of lake-worn wood perfect for creations. Her shells come mostly from Asia, where she spent over 20 years. Her daughter's unused glass and metal beads and recycled jewelry have all found their way into her shop. Alvarez kept collecting until she found the time to create the beautiful pieces displayed.
Josh Collins: “Story of a City: East Knoxville” in the Atrium
Josh Collins aims to tell the Story of East Knoxville from the perspective of someone who lives within the community and wants to share the beauty of life being lived there with people on the outskirts that may hold ungrounded biases. He wants to challenge viewers to look at life in East Knoxville with dignity, adoration and kindness. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on moments of growth the community has experienced together.
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.
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 and the City of Knoxville.