Knoxville Museum of Art
Through August 4
Featuring a selection of more than 50 works from the Hechinger Collection, Work and Play celebrates the transformation of common industrial objects into extraordinary works of art. By tapping into their metaphoric potential, the exhibition explores tools as icons of labor, labor as a component of creativity, and creativity as a form of play.
Some artists manipulate scale, material, and function to wondrous effect. Others treat tools as a stand-in for the self, often assigning them human attributes and honoring their simple efficiency and sheer elegance. The exhibition also features artists who embrace tools as a hallmark of civilization or use tools for humor and social commentary.
The renowned art collection of the late hardware magnate John Hechinger exemplifies the practical and artistic universality of all types of tools. John and his wife, June, were lifelong philanthropists and art enthusiasts, assembling an impressive collection of artwork that honors the beauty of common tools where form and function are inextricably linked. John devoted much of his energy, playfulness, and passion to this collection, seeking out works from numerous genres and artists of many backgrounds, all of them bound by a common theme: the democracy of the tool.
Visit KnoxArt.org for more information. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 to 5 pm; admission is free.
“It’s not just an understanding of the humor and artistry of a particular piece but an appreciation of how the collection fits the general theme of tools in the workplace, tools in life, and tools as art.” – John Hechinger