The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville. The public is invited to free gatherings with the exhibiting artists on November 7 from 4 to 9 pm and November 14 from 5 to 7 pm.
November 7-9: Southern Woodworkers Showcase in the Lower Gallery
The East Tennessee Woodworkers Guild and Able Trade proudly present the 22nd Southern Woodworkers Showcase, formerly known as the Master Woodworkers Show. This celebrated biennial juried exhibition brings together the finest woodworking talent from East Tennessee and the surrounding region, featuring more than 30 accomplished craftspeoples.
From timeless tradition to creative innovation, the showcase highlights a wide range of woodworking styles, including fine furniture, cabinetry, woodturning, sculpture, marquetry, and more. Live demonstrations offer a look at the tools, techniques, and artistry that go into each creation. Test your wits on a handcrafted wooden puzzle box for a chance to win a prize, and vote for your favorite piece for the People’s Choice Award. Show hours are the 7th from 4 to 9 pm, 8th from 10 am to 5 pm, and 9th from 11 am to 2 pm.
Through November 9: Givin’ the What For curated by Michael Dickins in the Upper Gallery Givin’ the What For takes its title from a Southern colloquialism that expresses stern disapproval or a serious reckoning. It’s a phrase rooted in confrontation, calling for accountability and highlighting the weight of one’s actions. This exhibition showcases the work of six women artists who live and work in Southern Appalachia. Using a mixture of media and materials, these artists tackle urgent global concerns such as social justice, environmental degradation, personal and collective identity, and political unrest.
November 7-29: Michelle Lindsey & Jacene Witzel: Southern Comforts in the Display Case Southern Comforts is a tribute to the people, places, and flavors that define the state of Tennessee. Through her paintings, Lindsey explores everything from iconic architecture to classic Southern foods, and each piece is a conversation about history, community, and the simple comforts of home. Witzel created complementary ceramic work of the icons and everyday delights of our community. Together, their works weave a story of memory, place, comfort, and a little humor, inviting viewers to rediscover the joy of what makes East Tennessee home. November 7-29: William Holbert: The Celebrity Show in the Atrium The Celebrity Show is a collection of paintings of well-known actors, musicians, and athletes in a variety of media, including oil, acrylic, colored pencil, and alcohol ink. Creating art has opened up another world for Holbert – a creative world filled with friends. His true love is oil painting, and he has won multiple awards for his art. He practices daily, takes commissions, and hopes viewers will see joy and sadness equally expressed through his art.
November 7-29: Bethany Stahl: A Moment in Time on the North Wall A Moment in Time features a collection of plein air paintings, spanning scenes from Tennessee to Illinois. Working in oil, each brushstroke responds to shifting light, fleeting color, and the living atmosphere, capturing a moment that can never be repeated. Stahl captures the impression of the energy of the moment in her work This exhibition celebrates the world around us, inviting viewers to pause, notice, and reconnect with the subtle beauty in everyday landscapes. November 14-29: Ceramic Soul Collective: Pieces of Us: A Cultural Mosaic in the Lower Gallery Pieces of Us: A Cultural Mosaic is a celebration of evolution, progress, and emergence where individual expressions come together to share a story of collective unity through clay and culture. Join the artists for an opening on November 14. Ceramic Soul Collective is a growing circle of artists shaping the next generation of BIPOC ceramic craft in Knoxville. Rooted in community workshops at The Bottom’s maker space, the collective is also guided by its three pillars – community, culture, and creativity – forming the foundation of their artistic process and collective ethos.
November 14 – December 23: Shape of Time curated by Vesna Pavlović in the Upper Gallery Shape of Time is a new exhibition curated by Vesna Pavlović featuring artists Kyle Cottier, Amanda Leigh Evans, Jessica Ingram, Haein Kang, and Christina Renfer Vogel. The exhibition extends from Nashville artist Jessica Ingram’s video, July, to a conceptually connected group of regional artists who explore relationship between memory and time and express beauty in the everyday in their practice. Join the curator and artists for openings on November 14, as well as December 5 & 12. The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, located at 100 S. Gay Street in Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 p and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm, with additional hours on November 14 & 21 from 5 to 7 pm. Please note, the Emporium will be closed November 26-28 for the holiday. For more information, call 865-523-7543 or visit Knox Alliance.com.