Press Releases

KMA Offers Free Admission Through End of Year as Part of New Branding Campaign
June 18, 2008 | more...

The Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Photography Exhibition Featuring Fourteen Local Women
May 30, 2008 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond
May 21, 2008 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art to Host Third Annual "Artists on Location" Paint Out and Sale June 7-8
May 15, 2008 | more...

Educators' Open House at the Knoxville Museum of Art
April 23, 2008 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Launches New Art Lecture Series
March 25, 2008 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Offers Big Exhibition of Small Works
March 19, 2008 | more...

Selections from Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts on Exhibit in KMA Community Gallery
February 11, 2008 | more...

KMA Exhibition Shows Range of New Electronic Media
February 4, 2008 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Gives the Knoxville Community the Gift of Free Admission over the Holidays
December 14, 2007 | more...

$2 Million Pledged to Benefit Knoxville Museum of Art
December 13, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Images of Nuclear Explosions
December 12, 2007 | more...

Seven Restored and Renovated Homes Featured in the 2007 KMA Holiday Home Tour
November 29, 2007 | more...

Holiday Family Fun Day at the Knoxville Museum of Art
November 26, 2007 | more...

Annual Competition Allows East Tennessee Students to Showcase Artwork
November 20, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art to Offer Free Admission on Thanksgiving Weekend
November 19, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents New Photography from the KMA Collection
October 11, 2007 | more...

Art Museum Brings Exhibition with Innovative Drawings to Knoxville: New Techniques Redefine Traditional Methods Art Museum Brings Exhibition with September 11, 2007 | more... nnovative Drawings to Knoxville: New

Knoxville Museum of Art Features Fountain City Elementary School Exhibition
August 30, 2007 | more...

Purchase Fine Art and Craft at KMA's ArtScapes 2007
August 8, 2007 | more...

Works from One of America 's Leading Ceramic Sculptors on Exhibit at the Knoxville Museum of Art
July 31, 2007 | more...

Novelist Presents New Rembrandt Book at the Knoxville Museum of Art
July 17, 2007 | more...

Briceville Public Library to Hold Free Summer Art Workshops
July 21, 2007 | more...

Family Fun Day at the Knoxville Museum of Art
July 15, 2007 | more...

The Knoxville Museum of Art Features Work by Architect C. A. Debelius
June 8, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Exhibits Rare Rembrandt Etchings
May 10, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Announces Opening of Renovated Junior League of Knoxville Exploratory Gallery
May 3, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art to Host Second Annual " Artists on Location" Paint Out and Sale May 5-6
April 5, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Announces New Curator Appointment
April 2, 2007 | more...

L' Amour du Vin Wine Auction and Dinner Brought Lavish Food and Wine to the Knoxville Museum of Art
March 26, 2007 | more...

Celebrate Spring with the Knoxville Museum of Art at Family Fun Day
March 8, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Highlights Work of New York Artist Tim Davis
March 6, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Art and Visual Literacy Workshops for Adults
February 20, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art to Host Spring Break Art Classes for Children
February 16, 2007 | more..

The Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Renowned German Photographer Candida Höfer: Architecture of Absence
January 31, 2007 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Features Work by Artist Tim Thyzel
January 19, 2007 | more...

KMA Holiday Home Tour
November 21, 2006 | more...

Knoxville Museum of Art Introduces New Docent Program
November 29, 2006 | more...

KMA adds Four Acquisitions to Growing Permanent Collection | more...

KMA offers Bus Transportation Funds to Knox County Schools | more...

KMA Offers Free Admission Through End of Year as Part of New Branding Campaign

June 18, 2008 ( Knoxville, TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art offers free admission through December 31, 2008, as part of its new branding campaign. The campaign, which launched June 1 without outdoor advertising throughout Knoxville, demonstrates a fresh look for the museum. With the new tag line "open you eyes. open your mind." the KMA hopes people in Knoxville and East Tennessee will be open to a visit to the museum, even if they have never been before.

"The museum has really changed over the last few years," said David Butler, executive director of the KMA. "We want people in the city and the surrounding counties to know what our members already know - that we are a first-class museum with something for everyone."

The branding campaign began with a two-week teaser of outdoor advertising with simply a photograph of a closed eye and the words open your eyes. After two weeks of buzz and speculation, the museum displayed the reveal, which included an open eye sporting a reflection of the KMA logo and the tag line. It also revealed an updated logo and a notice of free admission. The boards are being supported by similar eyes on the museum itself as well as with some print ads.

"Having the eyes on the building is a great way to bring the message home," said Butler. "The eyes can be seen from downtown and World's Fair Park. There's now no excuse for people to not be able to find the building. They just have to open their eyes."

Dean Bastian of Drive-Thru Ideas was the mastermind behind the campaign. The longtime advertising executive and recent resident of Knoxville saw the need for an overall awareness of the museum. "The Knoxville Museum of Art needs to be top of mind as a destination for locals as well as out of town guests," Bastian said. "And now with free admission through the end of the year, the community can enjoy the museum as often as they like with no out of pocket expense. It's a great time to be a part of the KMA."

The Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Photography Exhibition Featuring Fourteen Local Women

May 30, 2008 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents Women of a New Tribe in its Community Gallery now through July 6.

Women of a New Tribe is a striking photography exhibition honoring African American women, their strength, beauty, and their role in American culture. In 2004, sixteen women from Knoxville and the surrounding area were selected from community nominations and photographed by artist Jerry Taliaferro to join the Women of a New Tribe . This exhibition organized by the Literacy Imperative features fourteen of these portraits. The Literacy Imperative is not just a place for books, but also includes visual literacy. In addition to promoting literacy for underserved communities, they also promote seeing the world from different perspectives so that all may appreciate it in a new way.

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond

May 21, 2008 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond July 10 - September 21, 2008.

Mary Lee Bendolph's extraordinary talent first garnered national attention when her work was featured among that of other quiltmakers from Gee's Bend, Alabama, in the 2002 blockbuster exhibition and book The Quilts of Gee's Bend. Hailed by the New York Times as "some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced," the abstract quilts from this tiny, isolated African American community prompted a rethinking of commonly accepted artistic categories.

Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond, and its accompanying full-color catalogue examine Bendolph's inspiration and creative process, as well as her profound connection to the cultural practices and expressive traditions from which her work arises. Twelve dramatically designed, richly colored, improvisational quilts created by Mary Lee Bendolph and her family members - her mother Aolar Mosely, her daughter Essie B. Pettway, and her daughter-in-law Louisiana P. Bendolph - are presented alongside complex and evocative found object sculptures by noted African American self-taught artist Thornton Dial and visionary "yard art" artist Lonnie Holley. Both of these Alabama-based artists have been influenced by the quilts and the quiltmakers of Gee's Bend. Intaglio prints by Mary Lee Bendolph and her daughter-in-law Louisiana P. Bendolph, along with documentary films about all of the artists, provide further context for their creative exchange. As the deep social and aesthetic networks of these six artists intersect, they give rise to new pathways of artistic influence, resulting in a powerful mixture of communal and individual creative energies.

Activities surrounding the event include a July 9 members' preview party, July 10 public reception, July 11 Alive After Five starring Willie King and the Liberators with the Gee's Bend Singers, July 26 Family Fun Day, and August 6 Dine & Discover.

Sponsors for the exhibition to date include presenting sponsor the Frank and Virginia Rogers Foundation and "Friends of the Quilts" Linda and Pete Claussen, David Butler and Ted Smith, and Sylvia and Jan Peters. Media sponsors include WBIR, AT&T Real Yellow Pages, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Lamar, At Home Tennessee magazine, Kroger, Method Bureau, and digital media graphix.

Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts, and Beyond is organized by the Austin Museum of Art and Tinwood Media. The exhibition is presented by Fidelity Investments. The exhibition catalogue is sponsored by Anderson Rogers Foundation.

Knoxville Museum of Art to Host Third Annual "Artists on Location" Paint Out and Sale June 7-8

May 15, 2008 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art will host its third annual "paint-out" and sale known as Artists on Location on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8.

On Saturday, June 7, more than 70 local and regional artists will gather at three locations - downtown's Historic Market Square Mall, the Knoxville Zoo, and the UT Gardens - to paint and photograph local sites. The public is invited to watch the artists at work from 9 am to 4 pm. This year's featured artist is Denise Stewart-Sanabria.

Artworks created on Saturday will be displayed for sale in the museum's Great Hall on Sunday, June 8, from 1-4 pm. Tickets to the event are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, which includes lunch by Back Yard Burger and Marble Slab Creamery.

"Artists on Location really brings the museum and the community together," said Jaynie Ely, KMA Guild member and Artists on Location event chairperson. "This event gives everyone in Knoxville and East Tennessee the opportunity to play a role in the art world. Whether painting, watching, or purchasing a unique work of art for a reasonable price, the entire community is involved in making this event a success."

Proceeds from "Artists on Location" will benefit the Knoxville Museum of Art in memory of Betsy Worden.

Presenting sponsor for this event is Cariten Healthcare. Additional sponsors include All Occasions Catering LLC, Backyard Burgers, Jerry's Artarama, and Marble Slab Creamery.

Advance tickets are on sale at Jerry's Artarama and the Knoxville Museum of Art. Tickets will be on sale Saturday, June 7, at UT Gardens and Market Square Farmer's Market, 10 am - 2 pm. Tickets are available at the door at the KMA on Sunday, June 8, 1 - 4 pm.

The Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art was created in 1996 to encourage participation and support for KMA as a cultural center for our area. The name "The Guild" was taken to honor the former organization, The Dulin Gallery of Art Guild, which promoted art in the East Tennessee region.

Educators' Open House at the Knoxville Museum of Art

April 23, 2008 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Area Museums Educators Roundtable hosts the 12th annual Educators' Open House and In-Service Wednesday, April 30 from 4 to 7 p.m at the Knoxville Museum of Art. This teacher in-service session welcomes all art and non-art instructors for grades pre K-12 in public and private schools in Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Union counties. In-service points are available. The emphasis for this year's Educators' Open House will be "Arts Education: Using Museums as Places for Learning."

Workshops by the East Tennessee History Center , the Knoxville Zoo, and the Frank H. McClung Museum will familiarize instructors with the programs and services for students offered by area museums.

Keynote speaker Daphne Odom is the consultant for all five Knox County Magnet Schools and is the coordinator for the Beaumont Museum Program.

The workshop is free, thanks to the generous support of Jefferson Federal Charitable Foundation and the Knoxville Museum of Art. Teachers should register in advance by contacting the museum at 865.525.6101, ext. 226, or rmartin@kmaonline.org .

Knoxville Museum of Art Launches New Art Lecture Series

March 25, 2008 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art kicks off a new art lecture series on Thursday, April 3 at 7pm in the museum's auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

The annual event at the KMA is named after Sarah Jane Hardrath Kramer and honors her passion for the visual arts and learning, and her many years of tireless, enthusiastic, and dedicated service to the Dulin Gallery of Art and the Knoxville Museum of Art. The event is made possible by the Sarah Jane Hardrath Kramer Fund and is supported by The Rogers Foundation, The Melrose Foundation, and Wayne R. Kramer.

The 2008 speaker, Peter Morrin, will present a talk entitled Install Yourself Within Change: Coming to Terms with New Art. Morrin, former director of the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, is currently executive-in-residence and associate in fine arts at the University of Louisville.

Knoxville Museum of Art Offers Big Exhibition of Small Works

March 19, 2008 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art offers a big exhibition of small works with its Size Matters: XS - Recent Small-Scale Paintings from March 28 - August 24, 2008.

The exhibition includes 42 works by some of America 's most important painters, including Thordis Adalsteinsdottir, Justin Allen, and Francis Alÿs.

T he miniature proportions of the works in Size Matters: XS represent a new interest among contemporary artists in exploring the expressive possibilities of small-scale painting. Abstraction, figuration, photo-realism, and caricature are just a few of the art historical genres reinterpreted by artists in the exhibition.

Size Matters: XS - Recent Small-Scale Painting is organized by the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (HVCCA), Peekskill, New York.

HVCCA founders and exhibition co-curators Marc and Livia Straus discuss Size Matters: XS Wednesday, April 2 from 12 - 1pm as part of the KMA's Dine and Discover series. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat or a lunch, contact Rosalind Martin at 865-525-6101, ext. 226.

Selections from Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts on Exhibit in KMA Community Gallery

February 12, 2008 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents selections from the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in its Community Gallery through March 30, 2008.

The works exhibited were chosen from Arrowmont's permanent collection which includes examples by some of the nation's finest craft artists working in wood, metal, ceramic, glass, and other media. All the artists represented in the exhibition have taught classes at Arrowmont. The school is an internationally known visual arts complex located in Gatlinburg , Tennessee , which serves as a cultural and educational center for visitors and students of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to its well-known spring, summer and fall one- and two-week and weekend workshops, Arrowmont sponsors art related conferences throughout the year. Community classes for adults and children during the winter offer additional studio experiences. An artist-in-residence program provides five artists time and space to work for 11 months. ArtReach, a hands-on outreach program to local schools, benefits nearly 4,000 school children each year. Arrowmont also offers scholarships as well as assistantship and work-study opportunities.

KMA Exhibition Shows Range of New Electronic Media

February 4, 2008 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art showcases Video Art/3 Visions, an exhibition that does more than just hang on the wall. From February 22 through May 4 , visitors to the KMA will have the opportunity to experience video art in three different ways.

The exhibition presents three independent video works that demonstrate the range of expressive and technical possibilities within this thriving art medium. Jenny Perlin, Peter Sarkisian, and Hiraki Sawa are acknowledged masters of electronic media who approach their materials in distinctly different ways with dramatically different results. Perlin focuses on the effects of sound and editing, Sarkisian on the physical effect of video footage projected onto three-dimensional forms, and Sawa on subtle, poetic imagery linked to childhood and domestic environments. Video Art/3 Visions represents the first time Perlin's and Sarkisian's work has been shown in Tennessee.

In Sight Reading, Perlin highlights rather than masks errors that occur when three professional pianists perform Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor for the first time simultaneously. As the video progresses, the virtuoso performances become increasingly disjointed from one another and chaos ensues. In Dusted, Sarkisian uses five projectors to create an eerie three-dimensional illusion of mysterious figures seemingly trapped inside a transparent cube. In Going Places Sitting Down, Sawa creates poetic settings that surround viewers' visual field and blurs the boundaries between consciousness and dream.

An exhibition preview party will take place Thursday, February 21, from 5:30 - 7:30pm . The preview party is open to the public and free of charge. (cash bar)

Media sponsors for this exhibition include WUOT, WBIR, Method Bureau, AT&T Real Yellow Pages and digital media graphix.

Knoxville Museum of Art Gives the Knoxville Community the Gift of Free Admission over the Holidays

December 14, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art wants to say "Happy Holidays" to the Knoxville community by offering free admission between Christmas and New Year's Day. Free admission days include December 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

"This is a good way to introduce family and friends to the museum without paying the admission charge," said David Butler, KMA executive director. "We have a lot of great exhibitions right now that the entire family will enjoy, as well as a wonderful gift shop that carries one-of-a-kind items. It will make for a fun trip on a cold December day."

$2 Million Pledged to Benefit Knoxville Museum of Art

December 13, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art Foundation has received new pledges totaling $2 million to support the KMA endowment. The first commitment comes in the form of a challenge grant from the Clayton Family Foundation, which will match all gifts to the KMA endowment at 50 percent up to a total of $1 million. In response to this challenge, Ann & Steve Bailey have pledged $1 million. This leaves an additional $1 million to be raised to qualify for the remaining $500,000 available for matching from the Clayton Foundation.

According to KMA Executive Director David Butler, "Building the endowment has been identified in the new strategic plan as one of the KMA's most urgent priorities. The commitment from the Clayton Family Foundation has jump-started our endeavors, and the pledge from Ann & Steve Bailey adds tremendous momentum to this effort. It is vital for the future of the KMA and the cultural health of our region that we grow our endowment. These generous gifts position us to exceed our goal of reaching $3.5 million in endowment assets by 2012."

The Knoxville Museum of Art Foundation, a separately chartered not-for-profit, oversees the KMA's endowment. Interest earned from endowment assets helps to support the museum's operations. Distributions by the foundation to the KMA budget are limited to 4.5 percent of the value of the endowment corpus; earnings above the 4.5 percent threshold are reinvested.

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Images of Nuclear Explosions

December 12, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents Michael Light: 100 SUNS, January 18 through June 1, 2008, which documents the destructive force unleashed during nuclear tests conducted by the United States following World War II. The photographs are both terrifying and beautiful at the same time.

Light, a San Francisco-based photographer, achieved international attention for his large-scale photographic projects examining humanity's relationship with its environment. For 100 SUNS, Light used digital software to scan or re-photograph rare images he hand-picked from the archives of the U. S. National Archives and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In many cases he was able to use digital software to restore something of the original intensity of color prints faded by time. The haunting images Light has assembled depict tests at or shortly after the moment of explosion. In some shocking pictures, human beings share the frame with the fireworks. In one image, troops huddle in trenches as they are showered by sparks from the detonation of a 1953 Nevada blast referred to as "Simon." Light's commentary adds a chilling note describing the next few moments when the "ground and air shockwaves will toss them like dolls, then fill their mouths with radioactive dust."

These found photographs, along with text and photographic imagery shot by Light, raise compelling questions about the lasting consequences of nuclear testing and the threat posed by "weapons of mass destruction" in the hands of any nation.

The museum will host an exhibition preview and reception Thursday, January 17 from 5:30 - 7:30pm. There will be a gallery talk with the artist at 6pm. The event is free for KMA members and $5 for non-members.

Seven Restored and Renovated Homes Featured in the 2007 KMA Holiday Home Tour

November 29, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) - Visit some of Knoxville 's most significant private homes during the Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art's 13th annual Holiday Home Tour. Two holiday home tours will be offered; an evening candlelight tour including a cocktail buffet on Thursday, December 6 , 6:30 - 9 pm, and a six home day tour including lunch Friday, December 7 , 9 am - 4 pm.

The 2007 tour shows guests w hat beauty and utility can result from the thoughtful balance of old and new when a home is renovated or restored.

Thursday evening's candlelight tour features a classic Sequoyah Hills Georgian, built in 1922, beautifully maintained and updated over the years, and renovated most recently by presenting sponsor Schmid & Rhodes.

Friday's tour features two revered Knoxville neighborhoods. The downtown neighborhood of Fourth and Gill, where a younger generation is bringing back the charm of Knoxville 's first suburb, includes houses built between 1890 and 1910, including a George Barber beauty and a classic Arts and Crafts bungalow. Additionally, two Sequoyah Hills homes from the 1940s and a Hickory Hills home from the 1960s are on the tour. Also included in the day tour will be lunch at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA lunch catered by Gourmet Market), Cherokee Country Club, or the Orangery.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $65 per person for the day tour, $85 per person for the candlelight tour.

The Holiday Home Tour is presented by the nationally acclaimed remodeler andcustom home builder Schmid & Rhodes.

Additional support is provided by Grayson Automobiles, Baptist Health System Foundation, Bluejack Concrete Surfaces, Friedman's Appliances, Taylor & Huie Fine Interiors, and Todd Richesin Interiors & Bobby Todd Antiques.

The Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art was established in 1995 to encourage participation in the programs, exhibitions and events of the Knoxville Museum of Art. The Guild's main function is to raise funds to support museum activities.

Holiday Family Fun Day at the Knoxville Museum of Art

November 26 , 2007 (Knoxville, TN) – The Knoxville Museum of Art invites children and parents to celebrate the Holiday Family Fun Day on Saturday, December 8 from 11 am to 3 pm . All events and museum admission are free thanks to the generous sponsorship of First Tennessee Bank and Regal Entertainment Group/Regal Foundation.

Family Fun Day is packed with art activities, artist demonstrations, continuous entertainment on stage, face painting, a life-size gingerbread house for decorating, docents in the galleries to talk with guests about the current exhibitions, and fantastic art-making activities inspired by the museum's current exhibitions and the holiday season. Santa Claus will arrive at 1pm to review wish lists and take pictures.

Entertainment will be provided by the music duo of Sean McCollough and Phil Pollard. Knox Dance Worx and Tap-N-Dolls will provide dance performances and Vine Middle School Snow Choir will also perform.

Artist Neranza Blount, a Knoxville native and artist, will be on hand to demonstrate art in various mediums including oil paints, pen & ink, graphite and photography.

Refreshments, popcorn, and food will be available for sale.

Annual Competition Allows East Tennessee Students to Showcase Artwork

November 20, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - Students from grades six through 12 showcase their talents at the Knoxville Museum of Art during the second annual East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition November 30, 2007 - January 6, 2008 . The competition, presented by the Tennessee Art Education Association and the KMA, offers students the opportunity to display their artwork and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional art museum environment. The awards ceremony for the artists on Thursday, November 29 at 6pm at the KMA is open to the public and free of charge.

There are 102 awards for students totaling over $390,000. The Best-of-Show winner receives a purchase award of $500, and the artwork becomes a part of the collection of James Dodson, on loan to the Knoxville Museum of Art's Education Collection. Additional awards are made possible by the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Jan and Sylvia Peters. The Maryland Institute College of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Art and University of Tennessee , Memphis College of Art and the Watkins College of Art & Design are awarding scholarships to several of the winning juniors and seniors.

Categories for the competition include ceramic, drawing, digital imagery, mixed media, painting, computer graphics, sculpture, traditional photography, and printmaking. The competition includes works from middle and high school students, grades 6 -12, from public, private or home schools in East Tennessee, and is being juried by art field professionals Daryle Grenead, K-5 visual art teacher at South Christian Elementary in Christian County, Kentucky; Baldwin Lee, University of Tennessee School of Art; Paul Lee, University of Tennessee School of Art; and Elizabeth Lynch, upper school art instructor for University School of Jackson.

The exhibition is made possible by the presenting sponsor Regal Entertainment/Regal Foundation Group, and additional sponsorship from Coleman's Printing & Awards, Crayola, Jerry's Artarama, and Morris Creative Group.

Knoxville Museum of Art to Offer Free Admission on Thanksgiving Weekend

November 19, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art offers free admission on Thanksgiving Weekend. Beginning Friday, November 23 through Sunday, November 25, admission fees will be waived for all visitors to the museum.

"Many people will have family and friends in town and will be looking for things to do over the Thanksgiving weekend," said David Butler, KMA executive director. "This will give everyone a chance to come to the museum at no cost and see the exciting exhibits we currently have running."

On view right now are New Directions in American Drawing and New Photography from the KMA Collection . Additionally, the ever-popular miniature Thorne Rooms are permanently on display as well as works by elementary art school students and local Hispanic artists. The Junior League of Knoxville Exploratory Gallery is always an interesting and fun place to bring children.

"The museum has never looked better and has a wide array of offerings for everyone's taste," Butler added. "It would make a great place to visit over the long weekend."

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents New Photography from the KMA Collection

October 11, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) -- The Knoxville Museum of Art presents New Photography from the KMA Collection October 12, 2007 through March 16, 2008.

This exhibition showcases selections of photographs from the KMA Collection, most of which were acquired in the last five years through the efforts of the museum's Collectors Circle and other donors. The works on view illustrate some of the ways in which artists have transformed photography into a vital contemporary art medium marked by innovation and experimentation.

Over the past two decades, a growing number of artists have raised the physical profile of photography by exploring new formats. David Hilliard, Sam Taylor-Wood, and Sarah Hobbs create large-scale color prints that rival paintings in size and presence.

Artists such as David Allee and Tim Davis explore notion of light in highly individual ways using traditional equipment. Christine Patterson prefers non-digital effects such as infra-red film and hand-tinting to give her poetic images a painterly, time-worn appearance. Mark Abrahamson and Chris Verene produce color photographs in more of a documentary manner, recording the world around them as it appears.

With access to affordable digital technology, many artists choose to manipulate and enhance their imagery to create new artistic statements. Loretta Lux, for example, uses digital techniques to raise questions about what in contemporary visual culture is real and what is staged or invented, and to comment on the fact that viewers today are increasingly exposed to virtual views of the world.

Other artists use traditional photographic equipment without digital effects, but stage or construct their imagery rather than discovering it naturally. Sarah Hobbs' large color prints depict environments she creates in her studio. Jeffrey V. Martin prefers black and white imagery and focuses on symbolic arrangements of everyday objects. Sally Mann photographs her own children outside her Virginia home, but adjusts their poses and gestures in provocative ways that hint at the approach of adulthood and the inevitable loss of innocence.

Art Museum Brings Exhibition with Innovative Drawings to Knoxville: New Techniques Redefine Traditional Methods

September 11, 2007 ( Knoxville, TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents New Directions in American Drawing October 26, 2007 - January 20, 2008. This innovative exhibition examines the renewed importance of drawing as a contemporary art form and highlights the dynamic ways in which artists are pushing the medium into new, creative territory.

The exhibition features 48 works by 16 emerging and established artists, several of whom have yet to receive a major museum exhibition: James Barsness, Suzanne Bocanegra, Hilary Brace, Brad Brown, Ingrid Calame, Russell Crotty, Valerie Demianchuk, Leonardo Drew, Anthony Goicolea, Edgar Jerins, Julie Mehretu, Amy Myers, Robyn O'Neil, Peggy Preheim, Jane South, and Lee Walton.

New Directions in American Drawing encourages viewers to redefine their notion of drawing, its aesthetic range, visual power, and expressive potential. Along with examples of innovative approaches to the medium, the selection includes works by artists who exploit, in extraordinary ways, traditional aspects of drawing.

Stephen Wicks, Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator of the Knoxville Museum of Art, organized this show during his tenure as curator at the Columbus Museum . His motive for assembling New Directions in American Drawing was "to reflect the rising status of drawing as a contemporary art form rivaling painting, sculpture and new media." By including works that hang from the ceiling, cover large walls and protrude out into space, Wicks also hopes the exhibition will destroy the notion of drawing as a small-scale, flat, preliminary sketch. He adds that "a growing number of artists are choosing to specialize in drawing and are using it as a dynamic, versatile medium for experimentation."

The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Lucille S. Thompson Family Foundation. Media sponsors include AT&T Real Yellow Pages, WBIR, Method Bureau, and digital media graphix. New Directions in American Drawing is organized by the Columbus Museum (GA), and was made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Knoxville Museum of Art Features Fountain City Elementary School Exhibition

August 30, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) – The Knoxville Museum of Art begins its fall series of elementary school art exhibitions with Fountain City Elementary School. The exhibition runs from September 1 through September 28 in the KMA Education Gallery.

The fall series of elementary school art exhibitions at the KMA highlights the fundamental importance of the arts in the school curricula, an essential component to the development and education of young people.

Admission is free on the opening weekend to all of the students, parents, instructors, administrators, and personnel of the featured school.

"The elementary art series is one of our favorites," said David Butler, executive director of KMA. "The talent that these young people bring is amazing, and we are proud that the KMA can provide a professional venue in which to display their art."

Purchase Fine Art and Craft at KMA's ArtScapes 2007

Local and Regional Art in a Variety of Styles and Price Points

August 8, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - Some of the region's finest art and craft will be available for viewing and purchase during the ninth annual ArtScapes Art Auction on October 4 and 5, presented by the Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Over 100 works of art will be on exhibit at the KMA for three weeks prior to the auction, beginning September 14. During this time, interested parties can also preview work at the KMA web site; www.knoxart.org . Absentee and advance bids will be accepted.

The exhibition culminates in a silent auction and cocktail party Thursday, October 4 and a live auction and dinner Friday, October 5. The auctions will offer selected glass, painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, and jewelry by local and regional artists from galleries in Knoxville , Atlanta , Asheville , and Nashville . Kathleen Guzman, a former executive at Christie's and Phillips auction houses, will serve as auctioneer.

Tickets for the Thursday night silent auction are $50 per person. Tickets for the Friday night live auction are $150 per person, or $250 for patron level. Live auction and patron tickets admit the holders on both evenings. Proceeds from ticket sales and auctioned art will benefit the Knoxville Museum of Art. Reservations are required by September 28 for both events, and can be made by calling 865-671-2118.

The 2007 ArtScapes event celebrates the art of Richard Jolley, internationally acclaimed glass sculptor and 2007 Tennessee Governor's Distinguished Artist Award, and honors the memory of Nell Sampson, Knoxville art collector and a founder of Artscapes.

Works from One of America 's Leading Ceramic Sculptors on Exhibit at the Knoxville Museum of Art

July 31, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents the groundbreaking work of Jun Kaneko, one of America 's leading ceramic sculptors, August 24 - November 11. Kaneko, born in 1942, is internationally known for his monumental forms that combine the ceramic traditions of his native Japan with dazzling glaze patterns influenced by American abstract painting.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based artist's smooth, elegant sculptures take the forms of oval plates and colossal heads, as well as tall rounded shapes called "dangos." Some weigh more than 1,000 pounds and stand seven feet tall. He is the first artist to attempt to create such large-scale ceramic forms.

David Butler , executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art, notes that this is one of the more complicated exhibit installations the museum has seen in awhile. "The size and weight of some of the sculptures are massive. We have to use extra braces under the pieces to try to distribute the weight to a wider area," he said. "As the first stop in a 10-city tour, we've had to work out a number of technical issues, but feel fortunate to be able to bring Knoxville such spectacular and innovative ceramics."

The exhibit is sponsored by Jewelry Television and the Japan Foundation. Media sponsors include AT&T Real Yellow Pages, WBIR, Method Bureau, and digital media graphix. The exhibition is courtesy of Jun Kaneko and is organized by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services, Kansas City , Missouri .

Novelist Presents New Rembrandt Book at the Knoxville Museum of Art

July 17, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) – Novelist Lynn Cullen discusses her new book about Rembrandt at the Knoxville Museum of Art on Monday, July 23 at 7 pm.

"I Am Rembrandt's Daughter" is the result of eight years of research and travel, and is her first novel for a general audience. This powerful account dramatizes the life of Rembrandt's illegitimate daughter, depicting a young woman's coming of age, and the larger-than-life father who threatens to eclipse her dreams.

"I Am Rembrandt's Daughter" was selected by Barnes & Noble for the "Discover Great New Writers" series for fall 2007. Cullen grew up in Indiana and now lives in Atlanta. She has close family ties to Knoxville .

A book signing and reception will follow the discussion. Admission is free.

Sordid and Sacred: The Beggars in Rembrandt's Etchings is on exhibition until September 2.

Briceville Public Library to Hold Free Summer Art Workshops

Collaborating with Knoxville Museum of Art and BWXT Y-12

June 21, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - This summer, the Briceville Public Library will offer four art workshops for children in collaboration with the Knoxville Museum of Art and sponsored by BWXT Y-12.

Students have the opportunity to personally work with an art master through this unique outreach program. Each session lasts 90 minutes and combines art history, art appreciation, and a take home hands-on art activity.

Scheduled workshops at the Briceville Public Library are:

"Art and Culture of Native Americans" July 9
10-11:30 am, ages 5-7
Noon-1:30 pm, ages 8-12

"Mexican Folk Art" July 23
10-11:30 am, ages 5-7
Noon-1:30 pm, ages 8-12

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of BWXT Y-12, there is no charge to participate. However, workshop space is limited and is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis so be sure to enroll as soon as possible. For more information or to register, contact Daphne Windham, Briceville Public Library assistant librarian at (865) 426-6220.

Family Fun Day at the Knoxville Museum of Art

June 15, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art invites children and parents to celebrate summer at Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 23 from 11 am to 3 pm . All events and museum admission are free thanks to the generous sponsorship of Regions Bank and Emerson Process Management.

Family Fun Day is packed with art activities, artist demonstrations, continuous entertainment on stage, docents in the galleries to talk with guests about the current exhibitions, and fantastic art-making activities inspired by the museum's current exhibitions and the Fourth of July. Face painting and balloon twisting will also be available.

Entertainment will be provided by the music duo of Grupo Lavolta. This father (Roberto) and son (Tolo) duo from Knoxville plays traditional South American folk music, primarily from the Andes Mountains regions. The UT Circle of Modern Dance will perform at 2 pm.

Leslie Wagoner, an artist-in-resident at Campbell 's Ceramics in Knoxville , will demonstrate her work on a pottery wheel. Alison Oakes, who teaches undergraduate painting classes at the University of Tennessee , will also demonstrate her painting abilities.

Bottled water will be available free of charge thanks to a generous donation from KUB. Refreshments, popcorn, and food from Sweet P's Barbeque will also be available for sale. Mayfield's is providing free ice cream for everyone.

Additionally, as a public service, Asen Marketing is making available a Medic Blood Mobile for blood donations as well as coordinating blood marrow testing in honor of Susan Scoonover.

The Knoxville Museum of Art Features Work by Architect C. A. Debelius

June 8, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art presents the cutting-edge work of architect C. A. Debelius June 22 through October 14, 2007, as part of its original Design Lab series.

Debelius, an associate professor at the College of Architecture and Design, University of Tennessee , Knoxville , is an innovator in the use of digital technology to explore conceptual models of architectural space. His computer-generated models are elegant and intricate configurations of space, form, and color.

The exhibition includes a selection of Debelius' design proposals, digital renderings, paintings, and models for a variety of public and private buildings. In addition, the artist will bring his design concepts to life for viewers by using the museum's gallery space as an experimental arena.

Knoxville Museum of Art Exhibits Rare Rembrandt Etchings

May 10, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) – The Knoxville Museum of Art presents rare etchings in Sordid and Sacred: The Beggars in Rembrandt's Etchings from June 8 through September 2, 2007.

Widely recognized as the greatest practitioner of the etching technique in the history of art, Rembrandt created hundreds of prints that constitute a body of work unparalleled in richness and beauty. The Sordid and Sacred exhibition is dedicated to images of beggars, which Rembrandt portrays sympathetically.

The exhibition includes 35 prints made from copper plate etchings, which date between 1629 and 1654, when Rembrandt was most actively involved with the medium. The works on display will allow museum visitors to have the opportunity to see how Rembrandt experimented with inks, paper, and the reworking of the copper plates to enhance the visual impact of the imagery. The exhibition is accompanied by Rembrandt and His Legacy: Master Etchings from Knoxville Collections, a group of prints demonstrating Rembrandt's influence on printmaking over the course of three centuries.

Sordid and Sacred: The Beggars in Rembrandt's Etchings is drawn from the John Villarino Collection in Los Angeles, California, and organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions.

Sponsors for this exhibition include Regions Bank, and Sandra and Monroe Trout. Media sponsors include WBIR, Real Yellow Pages, Method Bureau and Digital Media Graphix.

Knoxville Museum of Art Announces Opening of Renovated Junior League of Knoxville Exploratory Gallery

May 3, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) - The Knoxville Museum of Art announces the opening of its newly renovated children's Exploratory Gallery. Sponsored by the Junior League of Knoxville, the gallery offers hands-on activities for children of all ages.

Bright colors and sunlight fill the gallery where children can create their own artwork using rolls of paper on easels and hang them on the wall-mounted fridge door, construct their own miniature room, make designs on the wall-size light board, and don dress-up clothes to become part of a painting from the KMA collection. Additionally, children can relax on a couch or bean bag and read one of the many children's art books that are available. Behind the Exploratory Gallery, two new classrooms were created where children's art classes will be held.

"We are very excited about the new exploratory gallery space," said David Butler, KMA's executive director. "Children as well adults will find the gallery inviting and fun. We pride ourselves on being a family-oriented museum and this new exploratory gallery encompasses that philosophy. We are grateful to the Junior League for its ongoing support in this endeavor."

To celebrate the reopening of the Exploratory Gallery, all adults accompanied by children will receive free admission to the museum through the month of May. Children under the age of 17 always receive free admission.

Knoxville Museum of Art to Host Second Annual "Artists on Location" Paint Out and Sale May 5-6

April 5, 2007 (Knoxville, TN)-- The Knoxville Museum of Art will host its second annual paint out and sale known as "Artists on Location" on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6.

On Saturday, more than 75 local and regional artists will gather at three locations – downtown's Historic Market Square Mall, Sequoyah Park in Sequoyah Hills, and Fountain City Park – to paint and photograph local sites. The public is invited to come and watch the artists at work. The paint out will be from 9 am to 4 pm. Among the regional featured artists are Nancy Campbell, Anna Maria Gundlach, Fran Thie and George Rothery. The event also coincides with the Knoxville Opera's Rossini Festival.

On Sunday from 1-4 pm, an art sale will be held at the KMA, and the artworks created the day before will be displayed for sale in the museum's Great Hall. Tickets to the event are $15 for adults and $5 for children, which includes lunch provided by The Northshore Brasserie.

"We believe that this event touches the cultural core of Knoxville," said Sylvia Peters, KMA Guild member and Artists on Location event chairperson. "We are so pleased to be a part of an event that brings art appreciation to the general public in such a tangible way."

Proceeds from "Artists on Location" will benefit the Knoxville Museum of Art in memory of Betsy Worden.

Sponsors for the event are Cariten Healthcare, All Occasions Catering LLC, and Friends of Artists on Location, including Holrob Commercial Realty, Grace and Richard Jansen, David Butler and Ted Smith.

For advance tickets to the "Artists on Location" sale and lunch on May 6, call the museum at 525-6101, ext. 0.

Knoxville Museum of Art Announces New Curator Appointment

April 2, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - The Knoxville Museum of Art announces the appointment of Stephen C. Wicks as the Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator, effective May 1, 2007.

"Stephen was the search committee's unanimous and enthusiastic choice, following a lengthy and rigorous process that included three on-site visits by candidates selected from a national pool of applicants," said KMA Director David Butler. "He comes with a wealth of curatorial experience as well as a passion for the KMA's mission. Stephen's ability to communicate that passion to diverse audiences makes him a great asset for us." The curator oversees all aspects of the museum's exhibition and art acquisition programs.

Wicks served as curator of collections and exhibitions at the Columbus ( Georgia ) Museum between 2003 and 2006, and in a similar capacity at the Knoxville Museum of Art between 1993 and 2003. He holds a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He replaces Dana Self, who resigned the position in October 2006.

L'Amour du Vin Wine Auction and Dinner Brought Lavish Food and Wine to the Knoxville Museum of Art

March 26, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) - The March 3 L'Amour du Vin wine auction and dinner was a star production, featuring the best of food and wine with chefs from three Relais & Chateaux properties: Josh Feathers, Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee; Dean Maupin, Clifton, Charlottesville, Virginia; and Tarver King, Woodland's, Summerville, South Carolina. A five course dinner was paired with the wines of Paul Hobbs from California , Argentina , and Hungary . Sam Beall, proprietor of Blackberry Farm and Jenifer Freebairn, director of sales & marketing for Paul Hobbs Winery were on hand to introduce the menu and dinner wines.

Following the lavish five-course dinner, Beall brought out the three chefs and each took the podium, charming the audience with some interesting comments about their food preparation and the properties they represent.

L'Amour du Vin, wine auction and dinner, now in it's fourth year, is a benefit for the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Leadership for L'Amour du Vin was provided by Lee and Susan Hyde, and Pete and Jan Peter; and the presenting sponsor was Lexus of Knoxville.

The evening began under tent on the plaza of the Knoxville Museum of Art with a walk-around wine tasting and silent auction. The auction bids grew as the drums rolled and the trumpets blew. A festive occasion indeed!

A dinner and live auction followed in The Great Hall of the museum, with décor that corresponded to the incredible graphics that were produced by local artist, Marga Hayes, represented locally by Bennett Galleries and Company. The painting, "Vineyard in the Languedoc," was created as the graphics for the printed materials for L'Amour du Vin, and offered the painting as an auction lot, which brought in $4,500 at the auction.

Top auction lot was the Paul Hobbs trip for six guests to the Russian River Valley of California in luxurious accommodations and dinner with Paul Hobbs, himself. Other top auction lots included vacations in Paris , the South of France, Italy, Spain, and Colorado, and additional California trips. A Blackberry Farm culinary weekend and cooking school, two nights stay and dinner with wine pairings at both Clifton and Woodlands, and many dinners in some of Knoxville and the area's prestigious homes and some with visiting winemakers were also among top auction lots. The best of California wines were offered at auction that included Paul Hobbs, Rudd, Staglin, Martinelli, Howell Mountain , Ramey, Joseph Phelps Clark-Claudon, Turley, Spring Mountain , Darioush, Quintessa and more. Many local wine collectors donated from their cellars that included French and California wines for auction.

The live auction was lead by auctioneer, Bear Stephenson, and the crowd's enthusiasm grew with more drum rolls.

Guests included Steve Bailey, chairman of the Knoxville Museum of Art board, and wife Ann, Sam and Mary Celeste Beall, Doug and Melissa White, Randy and Deborah Loveday, Randy Burleson, Bob and Karen Gilbertson, Joe and Ruth Fielden, Jennifer Banner and James Schaad, Lee and Susan Hyde , Pete and Jan Peter, Tom and Barbara Wilkinson, Frank and Belinda Gambuzza, Townes Lavidge Osborn, Chuck and Donna Turlinski, Barbara Apking and son Jay, Steve and Sharon Gigliotti, Caesar and Dorothy Stair, Harvey and Judith Kaufman, Kimbro Maguire and Penny Lynch, Dale and Wendy Wortham, Matthew and Bobbie Helms, Don and Maureen Bosch, Mike and Kelly Conley, Roy and Elisa King, Bill and Geri Muse, Russ and Florence Johnston, Myron and Jayne Ely, Tom and Melanie Wood , Bob and Carole Martin, and Executive Director David Butler.

Celebrate Spring with the Knoxville Museum of Art at Family Fun Day

March 8, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN) - Everyone is invited to celebrate spring with the Knoxville Museum of Art on Saturday, March 24 from 11 am to 3 pm . Spring Family Fun Day provides fun art activities for the kids, artist demonstrations, continuous entertainment on stage, docents in the galleries to talk with guests about the current exhibitions, and fantastic art-making activities inspired by museum's current exhibitions and the Easter holiday.

Artist and middle school art instructor Jim Dodson will demonstrate the art of stone carving using alabaster. Dodson will be available for questions and answers and explaining the techniques of carving. Amelia Loehe who is an artist-in-resident at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, will demonstrate the traditional weaving techniques of Central and South America . Loehe will have photos from her visit to Guatemala and photos of the Mayan culture and landscape.

There also will be face painting and refreshments for sale. All events and museum admission are free, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Regal Entertainment Group/Regal Foundation and Phillips and Jordan, Inc.

Feel free to spend an hour or the entire day.

Knoxville Museum of Art Highlights Work of New York Artist Tim Davis

March 6, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) The Knoxville Museum of Art highlights photographs from modern-day luminist Tim Davis as part of its SubUrban series March 23 through July 8, 2007.

New York photographer Tim is concerned with light and his desire to “picture” light in its various manifestations. In Permanent Collection , the series featured at the KMA, Davis photographs famous paintings from museum collections. He then prints them almost actual size so that they become a representation of the original work. However, it is the reflection of light off the surface of the paintings that pinpoints the difference between the actual painting and photograph. The glare that Davis captures on the paintings' surfaces provides the paintings with an unexpected luminescence that adds to and sometimes changes the energy of the piece by obscuring one's view of the painting.

Davis received degrees from Bard College in New York and Yale University . His work has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times Magazine , ArtForum , and Art in America ; and is in the collections of The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum , and The Walker Art Center, among others.

The artist discusses his work at a gallery talk at 6pm on Thursday, March 21. This event is open to the public and is free with museum admission.

The Tim Davis exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The SubUrban series is made possible with the generous assistance of the Lucille S. Thompson Family Foundation through its ongoing support of new initiatives at the museum.

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Art and Visual Literacy Workshops for Adults

February 20, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) The Knoxville Museum of Art is hosting art and visual literacy workshops for adults through spring 2007.

Art workshops include classes in Contemporary Still Life; Basic Watercolor; Beyond the Basics Watercolor; and Bead Fabulous. Classes start the first week of March and run once a week for five weeks. Each class runs for three hours. All art workshops except for Bead Fabulous are $65 for museum members and $75 for non-members. The Bead Fabulous class is $130 for members and $150 for non-members, and runs once a week for four weeks.

Visual Literacy workshops include classes in Literacy, Print Media & Packaging: Visuals that Tell a Story; Propaganda in Advertising to the Addictive Personality; Literacy and TV: Product Placement in TV and Film; Propaganda as Visual Art; and Literacy, Media & Diversity: Bias and the News. The Visual Literacy workshops are one day each beginning in mid-April and run for 1 hour, 45 minutes. These workshops are free of charge thanks to the generous support of the East Tennessee Foundation.

All 2007 classes are held in the Knoxville Museum of Art's Great Hall. Advanced registration is required. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about any of the Knoxville Museum of Art's classes or other educational programs, please call the education department at (865) 525-6101 ext. 226.

Knoxville Museum of Art to Host Spring Break Art Classes for Children

February 16, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) The Knoxville Museum of Art is offering spring break art classes for children ages 3-4, 5-6, and 7-9, March 19–23, 2007. Classes begin at 9 am and end at 12 noon. Tuition for the five day morning workshop is $82.50 for museum members and $87.50 for nonmembers, and includes workshop supplies, instruction, and guided tours of exhibitions. Workshops are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, please call the museum's education department at (865) 525-6101, ext. 226 or e-mail rmartin@kmaonline.org . Fees are non-refundable unless the class has been canceled by the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Art Adventure Ages 3-4 . The young at art will be introduced to the wonderful world of art learning about color, line and shape while exploring a variety of materials appropriate for little fingers.

Art Extravaganza Ages 5-6. Through a diverse range of art projects, young minds will be kept interested and excited about art as they explore many of the materials that can be used to create art.

Brushing Up Ages 7-9 . Explore color, design, and pattern in this painting workshop. Students will experiment with tempera, watercolor, and resist techniques and will gain inspiration from KMA's current exhibitions.

The Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Renowned German Photographer Candida Höfer: Architecture of Absence

January 31, 2007 ( Knoxville , TN ) The Knoxville Museum of Art hosts a national touring exhibition of photography of acclaimed German photographer Candida Höfer February 23–May 20, 2007. Candida Höfer: Architecture of Absence is the artist's first American retrospective exhibition.

Born in 1944, Höfer creates meticulously composed, oversized images depicting interiors of public and institutional spaces marked by the richness of human activity, yet devoid of human presence. Höfer's photographs show rooms in public places that are centers of cultural life, such as libraries, museums, theaters, cafes, universities as well as historic houses and palaces. These photographs, some of which are over five feet in height, document Hofer's dedication to the perplexities and complexities of architectural space.

Höfer is a member of the famous Becher circle, which includes such respected figures as Andreas Gursky, Axel Hütte, Thomas Ruff, and Thomas Struth. Together they dominate world photography today, united by a common vision that finds grandeur in the most unlikely surroundings. All of these well-known photographers studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under the tutelage of renowned professor Bernd Becher.

The Knoxville Museum of Art will host an illustrated talk Friday, February 23 at 2 pm by Höfer expert Constance Glenn of California State University , Long Beach . This event is open to the public and is free with museum admission.

Candida Höfer: Architecture of Absence is co-organized by the University Art Museum, California State University, Long Beach , and the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach , Florida . Support has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal Agency. Additional support has been provided by Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e. V., Stuttgart . Media support has been provided by WBIR-TV, Method Bureau, and digital media graphix.

The Knoxville Museum of Art Features Work
by Artist Tim Thyzel

January 19, 2007 (Knoxville, TN) -- The Knoxville Museum of Art presents the playful work of New York artist Tim Thyzel February 9 through June 10, 2007 as part of its acclaimed Design Lab series.

In keeping with the spirit of Design Lab, Thyzel's whimsical constructions blur the distinctions between art and life, using everyday objects to make us more aware of the aesthetic value of our surroundings. The exhibition features works from his Tiled series, assembled from bathroom tiles and plumbing fixtures, and Slots & Dots , a group of sculptures made from common pegboard, slot board, and hooks. The results are humorous, elegant, and surprising.

Thyzel studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and the Hochschule für Bildende Künste , Hamburg , Germany . He has had solo exhibitions at Cynthia Broan Gallery in New York and Deepdale Gallery in Germany . This is his first solo museum exhibition.

The artist discusses his work at a gallery talk at 6:30 pm Thursday, February 8. This event is open to the public and free with museum admission.

Design Lab: Tim Thyzel is sponsored by Phillips & Jordan. Media support is provided by Method Bureau and digital media graphix.

The Design Lab series is made possible with the generous assistance of the Lucille S. Thompson Family Foundation through its ongoing support of new initiatives at the museum.

Beauty and Variety Mark 12th Annual KMA Holiday Home Tour

Explore the splendor of some of Knoxville, Tennessee’s most magnificent private homes at the Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art’s 12^th annual Holiday Home Tour. Two holiday home tours will be offered, an evening candlelight tour and cocktail buffet on Thursday, December 7, 6:30- 9pm and a day tour and lunch Friday, December 8, 9am- 4pm.

The 2006 tour will offer guests an exciting variety of home styles and décor ranging from elegant townhouses to superbly restored Sequoyah Hills “grande dames” and gorgeous new structures further west.

Thursday evening’s candlelight tour will be held in the home of Joe and Carole Ayres, formerly the UT Chancellor’s house. Friday’s tour will visit five wonderful homes throughout Knoxville . Also included in the day tour will be lunch at Cherokee Country Club, The Orangery, and for the first time, a third lunch location will be offered in the KMA’s Great Hall, presided over by Chef Holly Forbes of Gourmet’s Market.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $65 per person for the day tour, and $85 per person for the candlelight tour. Friday luncheon tables seat up to 10 at Cherokee and The Orangery and eight at the museum.

To reserve a ticket call Julie King at 675-4390 or Krista Wharton at 769-3971.

The Holiday Home Tour is presented by the nationally acclaimed remodeler and custom home builder, Schmid & Rhodes.

Additional support is provided by The Baptist Health System Foundation, Harper Porsche Audi Jaguar, and Prestige Cleaners, and by Bluejack Concrete, Cockrill Design & Planning, Friedman’s Appliances, and Todd Richesin Interiors and Bobby Todd Antiques. Todd Richesin provided interior design for several of this year’s tour houses.

The Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art was established in 1995 to encourage participation in the programs, exhibitions and events of the Knoxville Museum of Art. The Guild’s main function is to raise funds to support museum activities.

Knoxville Museum of Art Introduces New Docent Program

The Knoxville Museum of Art is currently recruiting for its new docent program. The docent course will begin January 8, from 9am- 4pm, with a session focusing on visual thinking strategies led by Karin DeSantis, senior research associate with New York-based Visual Understanding through Education. Additionally, Professor Tim Hiles with the school of art at the University of Tennessee will conduct a four-part modern and contemporary art history series. Docent teaching sessions will run through February 12.

The new focus of the docent program at KMA is about looking, thinking, talking, and creating a process of mutual discovery about contemporary art between the docent and the visitor.

Support for the guest presenters is made possible by memorial contributions from the Sarah Jane Hardrath Kramer Docent Professional Development Fund.

To register for the class of 2007, call Sherry Spires at (865) 525-6101, Ext. 230.

KMA adds Four Acquisitions to Growing Permanent Collection

The Knoxville Museum of Art recently added two Bessie Harvey untitled sculptures and a Sally Mann photograph, Untitled (Juliette in Chair), to its permanent collection. The Harvey work was a gift to the KMA from the Marion C. Chapman and Sandra J. Springs Collection. The KMA purchased the Mann photograph.

About the Harvey Acquisition
Harvey, who died in 1994 in Alcoa , Tenn. , was born in Dallas , Ga. , in 1929. She married at the age of 14, moved to Tennessee and struggled to provide for her 11 children.
“To escape her abusive and alcoholic husband, Harvey would turn tree roots and tree branches into works of art late at night,” said Dana Self, Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. “She created these ‘dolls,’ as she often called them, to heal herself, adding glitter, beads, and even her own hair to them.”
To Harvey , the dolls were comforting and spiritually connected to her God. Harvey said that she often had visions from God while working on her pieces and that God spoke to her.
Harvey , while considered by many to be both a visionary artist and an outsider artist – someone who develops a body of work outside the mainstream of art schools, art galleries, and museums – complements the museum’s collection through the visual and conceptual strength of her work.
Harvey tried to redress segregation, slavery, and other social problems in her work by creating narrative dramas in which her root characters often acted out stories drawn from history and the Bible. The museum currently owns seven sculptures or installations by Harvey .

About the Mann Acquisition
Mann, who lives and works in Lexington , V A , is world renowned for her photographs of her children at play and at rest on her family’s Virginia home property. Often the children are nude, and their photographs beautifully illustrate the human body. Mann’s early series of photographs of her three children and husband resulted in a series called Immediate Family.
The KMA’s acquisition is from Mann’s series At Twelve, which comprises portraits of girls at age twelve.
“These gorgeous photographs deftly reveal girls whose expressions and body gestures suggest the fraught and fragmented nature of adolescence and the passages girls make from childhood to adulthood,” Self said. “Mann has captured Juliette as both childlike and womanly, expertly suggesting the fragile time between being a girl and being a woman.”
Mann received her B.A. and M.A. from Hollins College , Roanoke , V A . She has won numerous awards, including Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. Her books of photographs include Immediate Family; At Twelve: Portraits of Young Women; and Mother Land: Recent Landscapes of Georgia and Virginia.
Her photographs are in the permanent collections of many museums, including The Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, N.Y., and the Smithsonian American Art Museum , Washington , D.C.

The Knoxville Museum of Art recently added a Stuart Netsky work, titled Hard, Fast and Beautiful, and a Lisa Norton sculpture, Lazy Susan, to its permanent collection.

About the Netsky Acquisition
Hard, Fast and Beautiful was purchased with funds from KMA’s Collectors Circle in memory of the late Knoxville artist Betsy Worden. The piece is painted in sign enamel and resin on aluminum, measures 60 by 60 inches and is part of Netsky’s series of abstract paintings on aluminum.
“Netsky pours sign painter enamel paint on aluminum surfaces, referencing historical figures such as Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, and others, as well as 1960s Pop Art,” said Dana Self, Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. “His series of paintings on aluminum is a synthesis of his entire body of work that has dealt with gender, histories, surfaces, beauty and the body.”
A nationally known Philadelphia artist, Netsky’s abstract works emerge from his experimentation with cosmetics. He has used them as art material, literally painting with lipstick, nail polish, hair dyes, and other cosmetics. He uses these materials to discuss the literal surfaces of things and a superficial vanity implied in their use.
Netsky received his B.S. from Drexel University , his M.A. from Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), and his M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art, Temple University , Philadelphia , P A . His work has been exhibited in solo exhibitions at the Locks Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art , and The Fabric Workshop, Philadelphia , P A ; Grand Arts, Kansas City , M O , and others. His work is in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Philadelphia , P A ; the Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick, NJ, and others.

About the Norton Acquisition
Lazy Susan, a sculpture in steel and glass jars, is a gift from the Chicago-based artist herself.
Norton studies mechanical and mnemonic functional objects. She is interested in how things are made, what they are made of, and how they function in our environment.
“Norton is particularly interested in vernacular forms of metalworking such as handcrafted metal objects made by tinsmiths, because many of these objects have origins in early industrial societies,” Self said.
With Lazy Susan, Norton borrows from sheet metal projects typified by the magazine Popular Mechanics. The magazine’s patterns stressed utility and thrift as basic requirements.
“Sheet metal patterns function as parody in Norton’s work, because they refer to a ‘workshop project’ aesthetic,” Self explained.
Norton has exhibited her work at John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI; SECCA, Winston-Salem, NC; Atlanta College of Art Gallery, GA; and at many other institutions. Her work is in several public collections in China ; the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Charlotte , NC. ; Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington , D.C. ; Cranbrook Art Museum , Bloomfield Hills , M I ; and many others. She is currently working on collaborative projects in China .
Norton is an associate professor, department of sculpture, at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I L , and a well-known artist and writer.

KMA offers Bus Transportation Funds to Knox County Schools

Bus transportation funds are available from the Knoxville Museum of Art to qualifying Knox County Schools to help offset the costs of traveling to the museum for field trips.
“Thanks to a generous gift from Knoxville-based Jewelry Television and matching funds from members of the museum, we have about $9,000 available for the program,” said David Butler, new KMA executive director. “We expect that amount to increase significantly.”
Butler said that KMA members are passionate about the arts and understand the critical role the museum plays in the complete education of children.
“As a result of increased transportation costs, fewer children are able to experience field trips to cultural institutions like the KMA,” Butler said. “We are committed to removing any barriers for access to the museum. For many children a field trip to the KMA is the first time they have entered a museum.”
"Jewelry Television is committed to the arts in Knox County and we're excited about this partnership with KMA," said Kelly Fletcher, director of public relations for Jewelry Television. "KMA is an excellent community resource, and we want all children to have access. Helping offset school transportation costs is a natural way to help," Fletcher said.
Knox County Schools, under the direction of individual principals, are able to apply to KMA’s transportation grant program immediately. Funds are made available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For additional information please contact Rosalind Martin, assistant curator of KMA’s Outreach and Teacher Services, at (865)525-6101, ext. 226, or by e-mail: rmartin@kmaonline.org.

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