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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and Arts & Culture Alliance Present “Arts in the Airport”

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(04/21/2011/Knoxville) – The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) and the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville are pleased to present “Arts in the Airport”, a new exhibition featuring selected artwork from over 40 artists in the East Tennessee region.  “Arts in the Airport” was developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in the area.  The selected art features contemporary 2- and 3-dimensional artwork and will be exhibited in the secured area behind McGhee Tyson Airport’s security gate checkpoint from April 21 – October 20, 2011 with an opening reception on Thursday, May 5, at 5:00 PM.  Please note: the exhibition is normally available for viewing only by visitors flying in or out of the airport. Otherwise, artists and their guests may view the exhibition during the opening reception and by appointment with Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority staff. Contact Becky Huckaby, Director of Public Relations, at (865) 342-3014.

“This current selection is striking in the abundance of narrative images that engage the viewer through specific points of entry, whether a face, an object, a figure, or a path,” says juror Stephen Wicks, Curator at the Knoxville Museum of Art. “Photography is especially well represented, as are entries that reflect artists’ interest in exploring the expressive possibilities of non-traditional art materials such as tape, plastic, vinyl, leather, cardboard, and water. The fact that this selection includes quite a few works by artists who have never before participated in this exhibition is a healthy sign that bodes well for the future of the Art in the Airport program.”

“The Arts in the Airport program has been a tremendous success and we are looking forward to the opening of our newest exhibit featuring the talented work of East Tennessee artists,” said Kirk Huddleston, Chairman of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority’s Board of Commissioners. “This new exhibit is filled with amazing works in all areas of artist media and we believe that our passengers will be pleased with its beauty and craftsmanship.”

The following artists’ works will be shown:

+ R.L. Gibson and Jon Ives of Gatlinburg

+ Diana Scott-Auger of Greenback

+ Elaine Barnes of Harriman

+ Jason Sabbides of Johnson City

+ Ashley Addair, Eleanor Aldrich, Booder Barnes, Gray N. Bearden, Julie Bernal, Sarah Busby, Robmat Butler, Claudia Dean, Kortlyn Ford-Johnson, Jacques Gautreau, Chris Hornsby, Tom McDaniel, Sarah McFalls, Alex Merchant, Joe Parrott, Max A. Robinson, Dennis Sabo, Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Sierra Tajen, Patricia Tinajero, Frank Ulcar, and Mitchell Williamson of Knoxville

+ Barry Lynch of Louisville

+ Shirley Brown, Aaron Carroll, Carl Gombert, Marta Lee, Paul Lee, Steven Stewart, Tammy Stewart, Rachel K. Turner, and Linda A. Waterhouseof Maryville

+ Lisa W. Ellis and Ron Plasencia of Morristown

+ Sally Ham Govan of Murfreesboro

+ John Edwin May of Oak Ridge

+ Bob McAnally of Sevierville

+ Stephen Vosilla of Talbott

+ Laurie Szilvagyi of Vonore

A gallery of images may be viewed at www.knoxalliance.com/album/airport_spring11.html.

The Arts & Culture Alliance, with assistance from Stephen Wicks, juried the exhibition with final approval by the Airport Authority.  Prizes include $1,000 in awards to be announced at the reception on Thursday, May 5, at 5:00 PM (awards ceremony at 6:00 PM).  For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

Tags: arts in the airport, family dwellings, knoxville arts and cultural alliance, mcghee tyson airport