The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, August 2, from 5-9 p.m. As part of a special First Friday Block Party sponsored by the Alliance and City of Knoxville, the free gathering with exhibiting artists will also feature nearly 20 artist vendors and live music with Robinella outside along the 100 Block of Gay Street, which will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 p.m. between Jackson and Vine avenues.
Inside the Emporium, music will be provided by Rodney Lee and Too Easy (Rachelle and Kenneth Navy).
WIN THE FUTURE! in the lower gallery
WIN THE FUTURE!, created by Jake Barton, is an immersive experience allowing visitors the opportunity to interact with their future selves and see how their current decisions shape Knoxville’s future health and well-being. As visitors make choices, they will walk among the trees of the Smokies; then, while inside an interactive DreamCube, they may be invited to extinguish a forest fire, clear flooded streets, or plant virtual flowers. This unique experience, focused on the climate crisis, helps visitors discover actions that can change the future, for better or worse. Preview DreamCube
Jake Barton designs museum experiences that bring complex topics to life, inspiring reflection and action, as evidenced through his design of Planet Word, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center.
WIN THE FUTURE! is sponsored by Messer Construction with support from the Arts & Culture Alliance and the Emporium Center. Special thanks to the Knoxville Museum of Art. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM or by appointment through Thursday, August 29. Preview the DreamCube
Dogwood Regional Exhibition in the upper gallery
Hosted by Dogwood Arts, the Dogwood Regional Exhibition showcases artwork of all styles and genres created by emerging and professional artists working within a seven-state region. This year, they received 403 artwork submissions from 160 artists working throughout the Southeast. The 2024 exhibition, juried by Knoxville-based artist Chris McAdoo, will include work by 49 artists from six states.
*In addition to the display at the Emporium, the Dogwood Regional Exhibition includes large-scale installations in the Dogwood Arts Gallery (just down the street from the Emporium at 123 W. Jackson Avenue). The five artists with an asterisk will exhibit their work in the Dogwood Arts Gallery.
Over $2,000 will be awarded to participating artists on Friday, August 2. Dogwood Arts Regional
Suzanne Cada is deputy director of the Arts & Culture Alliance
