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Kolaj LIVE Knoxville
Friday, November 5th to Sunday, November 7th, 2021
at the Knoxville Museum of Art
Kolaj LIVE Knoxville is a real time manifestation of Kolaj Magazine and Kolaj Institute.
From the evening of Friday, November 5th to Sunday, November 7th, 2021, artists, curators, and writers will gather for a weekend of collage making, slideshows, exhibition visits, and storytelling that deepen our understanding of collage as a medium, a genre, a community, and a 21st century movement.
Kolaj LIVE Knoxville is based at the Knoxville Museum of Art,
the site of "Under Construction: Collage from the Mint Museum."
SEE THE FULL PROGRAM
REGISTER TODAY!
KOLAJ LIVE KNOXVILLE
About Knoxville
First settled in 1786, Knoxville was Tennessee's first capital and is now its third largest city. It is home to the University of Tennessee's flagship campus, the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and is one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was host to the 1982 World's Fair, which left behind the famous Sunsphere tower and on whose grounds the Knoxville Museum of Art stands.
"Knoxville is a great southern city, big enough to have great cultural amenities and small enough to have a walkable downtown where people know your name. It sparkles, but isn't pretentious and I am proud to call it home," said Alan Sims, who writes the blog, Inside of Knoxville, a great source for learning about the city's culture.
Visit Knoxville states, "Here in Knoxville, we pride ourselves on our unique mix of natural beauty, outdoor adventure and cultural attractions. In other words, we're a nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda-town. And we can't wait to welcome you."
KOLAJ LIVE KNOXVILLE
Our Host: Knoxville Museum of Art
Since the Knoxville Museum of Art opened in 1990, its programming has evolved to become increasingly focused on the rich culture, old and new, of the Southern Appalachians. Permanent exhibitions include "Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee"; "Currents: Recent Art from East Tennessee and Beyond"; "Facets of Modern and Contemporary Glass"; and a series of nine miniature historic interiors from the 1930s, the Thorne Rooms. The KMA values diversity and inclusion in exhibitions, programs, staff, volunteers, visitors, and stakeholders; warmly welcomes and embraces all; operates ethically, responsibly, and transparently as a public trust; enhances the community’s quality of life; and strives to meet people where they are, to encourage life-long learning and engagement. MUSEUM WEBSITE
AT THE EVENT
Program Book
The Kolaj LIVE Knoxville Program Book documents the presentations and projects at the event. In these pages, you will find a schedule and descriptions of sessions, descriptions of evening events and special programs and some helpful information about being at Kolaj LIVE Knoxville.
SEE THE FULL PROGRAM
EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBITION
Under Construction: Collage from the Mint Museum
through November 7, 2021
At the Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive MAP
"Under Construction" features nearly seventy collage works by more than thirty international artists. The exhibition explores the growth and impact of the collage technique from the 1950s to the present. It explores not only classic collages by Romare Bearden (1911-1988), but the technique’s role in inspiring artists and other forms of art during recent decades. Collage, in which materials from different sources are cut, torn, and layered to create new meanings and narratives, experienced a renaissance after World War II thanks in large part to Bearden. Complementing more than a dozen works by Bearden are examples by Radcliffe Bailey, Sam Gilliam, Kojo Griffin, Robert A. Nelson, Man Ray, Kristina Rogers, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Howardena Pindell, Robert Rauschenberg, and James Rosenquist. Organized by the Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina. As part of Kolaj LIVE Knoxville, we will tour the exhibition. MORE
EXHIBITION
Empty Columns Are A Place to Dream
November 1-7, 2021
Bailey Hall At the Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive MAP
Eighteen international collage artists repurposed an 18th century imperialist monument as a focal point for 21st century values. “Collage artists have unique skills that are particularly useful in our historical moment. They understand that something beautiful, something meaningful can come from chaos. They understand that destruction is easier than creation, which takes patience, precision, thoughtfulness, and intuition. They know how to bring things together; to work towards harmony,” said Kadour.
Each of the artists in “Empty Columns Are a Place to Dream” used the photograph, The Square, Parsonstown by Robert French (1841-1917) from the Lawrence Photograph Collection, to imagine a monument that speaks to a world where all people enjoy safety, security, well-being, and dignity on their own terms. The photograph shows the 18th-century sandstone column in the centre of the town square that has stood empty since 1915, when the town council voted to remove a statue of the Duke of Cumberland who is best known for a bloody defeat of Jacobite rebels at Culloden, Scotland in 1746. The column and its statue was an act of imperialism, a message to the Irish people that a similar fate awaited them should they, too, resist the English. Working with the Birr Historical Society and performing their own research, artists present an idea of what the monument could be moving forward.
“Empty Columns Are a Place to Dream”, curated by Ric Kasini Kadour, debuted as part of the 53rd Annual Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival, 13-20 August 2021. A presentation about the exhibition, including a display of the collages in the exhibition, will be part of Kolaj LIVE Knoxville, 5-7 November 2021. A forthcoming book about the exhibition, Empty Columns Are a Place to Dream, is available for pre-order at Kasini House ARTSHOP. MORE
EXHIBITION
Lesley Eaton: Shaping Maternal Lineage
November 5-23, 2021
At The Emporium Center, 100 South Gay Street, Knoxville MAP
In the Display Case, Lesley Eaton presents a collection of painted paper collage, "Shaping Maternal Lineage". Having worked as a collage artist for years, this collection of cut paper work reveals a significant shift in Eaton's process and the resulting artwork. Letting the imagery for the work reveal itself to her and letting her intuition guide her, she became surrounded by a trove of lush velvety green, bright florals, and obscure kitchen tools. At first it seemed the connecting thread of this imagery was her maternal grandmother’s kitchen, but a deeper examination of these images that kept appearing revealed a deeper connection with her own mother’s kitchen, and a realization of the beauty and love passed down through simple, often uncelebrated, habits: trimming stems at the sink for the large vase filled perennially with cut flowers, lining the window sills with African violets, and meticulously chopping, sifting, grating, stirring, and perfecting each savory and sweet offering of nourishment. Lesley Eaton lives and works in Knoxville. MORE
HIGHLIGHTS
FRIDAY EVENING AT KOLAJ LIVE KNOXVILLE
Meet & Greet
November 5th, 2021 | 5-7PM
At Bernadette's Crystal Gardens | 26 Market Square, Knoxville MAP
Stop into Bernadette's Crystal Gardens in Knoxville's Market Square, pick up your event packet, and meet other Kolaj LIVE Knoxville attendees. Inside Bernadette's Crystal Gardens, you are surrounded by a variety of gemstones from around the world that have been painstakingly forged into works of beautiful art. Creating gemstone art is a highly specialized talent and many of the pieces inside Bernadette’s are done using unique processes that are known only to the artist. The bar offers cocktails, beer and food and is located in Knoxville's Market Square.
FRIDAY EVENING AT KOLAJ LIVE KNOXVILLE
First Friday Art Walk Knoxville
November 5th, 2021 | 7PM till ...
Downtown Knoxville
Explore Knoxville's art scene. First Friday is celebrated throughout the city, encouraging people to venture out and enjoy great art and great company in all of Knoxville. The city's galleries and venues feature a variety of artists’ displays and live music. Discover the city's great murals. Downtown anchors include The Art Market and the downtown Visitors Center, home of the WDVX Blue Plate Special, all conveniently located on Gay Street. A free art trolley takes you between Market Square, Gay Street, and the Old City. Be sure to stop by The Emporium (100 South Gay Street | MAP) where Lesley Eaton's cut paper collages are on view from the street. Stroll, sip and shop throughout the evening! Meander over to Market Square and the Old City for additional art, entertainment and dining options.
SATURDAY AT KOLAJ LIVE KNOXVILLE
Symposium
Saturday, November 6, 2021 | 10AM to 5PM
Sunday, November 7, 2021 | 10AM to 1PM
At the Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive MAP
In The Regal Common of the Knoxville Museum of Art, while the Collage Making Marathon is taking place, artists, curators, and other folks will make presentations about their projects and practices. Presenters will raise pertinent issues about 21st century collage. Artists will share their practices, speak about projects they are working on, discuss how they use materials or use collage to explore contemporary issues. As part of the symposium, Todd Bartel will lead an Uncollage Tour of the museum. Picnic lunch provided as part of your registration. Bring your questions, an open mind, and conversation! SEE THE FULL PROGRAM
SATURDAY AT KOLAJ LIVE KNOXVILLE
Collage Making
Saturday, November 6, 2021 | 9:30AM to 5PM
Sunday, November 7, 2021 | 9:30AM to Noon
At the Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive MAP
Bring your scissors and grab your glue and enjoy the day making collage in The Regal Common of the Knoxville Museum of Art. Attendees are invited to drop-in or step-out throughout the day. Because The Regal Common is also the site of the Symposium, artists are welcome to continue their collage making as presentations are made. The collage making space is hosted by The Mystic Krewe of Scissors & Glue from New Orleans. The space will have scissors, X-acto knives, glue, and a collection of papers and materials. Collagists are invited to bring their own supplies or use the supplies available. SEE THE FULL PROGRAM
COLLAGE MAKING SPACE HOSTS
Mystic Krewe of Scissors & Glue
The Mystic Krewe of Scissors & Glue, founded in 2018 by Hope Amico and Christopher Kurts, provides a community for collage artists in New Orleans to connect with each other, from people who have never collaged in their life until they attend a monthly meet-up to artists who have been working with collage for years, to activate spaces around the city with collage, to collaborate on projects, and to give back to the city of New Orleans. MORE
Places to Stay
ACCOMODATIONS
Places to Stay
Kolaj LIVE Knoxville is based at the Knoxville Museum of Art, near the World's Fair Park just west of downtown. There are several hotels in and around Knoxville. Hotels that are a short distance from the museum include:
The Cumberland House
1109 White Avenue, Knoxville
Website
The Tennessean Hotel
531 Henley Street, Knoxville
Website
Courtyard by Marriott Knoxville Downtown
210 West Church Avenue, Knoxville
Website
The Oliver Hotel
407 Union Avenue, Knoxville
Website
Hyatt Place Knoxville Downtown
530 South Gay Street, Knoxville
Website
Please consult your favorite travel website or travel agent for the most up-to-date information. Please note, Kolaj LIVE Knoxville has no affiliation with these hotels.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Covid-19 Pandemic
Kolaj Institute and Kolaj Magazine want to ensure that Kolaj LIVE Knoxville is a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. The situation with COVID-19 is constantly changing. We are committed to following the safety procedures and guidelines set out by the City of Knoxville, Knox County, and the Knoxville Museum of Art.
The success of the event depends on all of us caring about each other's health and wellbeing. One way to care about others is to get vaccinated and to wear a mask when asked to do so. Another way to care is to not attend if you feel ill. We will follow masking guidelines as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and the City of Knoxville at the time of the event. We will care for one another's well-being.
For information about the steps the Knoxville Museum of Art is taking, see the top of their website HERE. To keep up-to-date on what is happening in Knoxville, visit the city's Coronavirus portal HERE and Knox County's portal HERE.
When we all do our part, we got this!
Supporters
Kolaj LIVE Online is possible through the support of members of the Silver Scissors & Golden Glue Societies whose monthly pledge sustains the organization. JOIN TODAY!
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