Oak Ridge Today

Art Center show to highlight works by instructors, students

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The next installation in the Oak Ridge Art Center’s galleries will be the Instructor/Student Show titled “Movers, Shakers, Mentors, Makers II.”

This will showcase works by the current instructors and their students, a press release said.

“So if you were curious as to what happens in their classes, you will not want to miss this amazing show!” the press release said.

There will be an opening reception for this show from 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 17, with a gallery talk about the newest installation at 6:30 p.m. It’s a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend, the press release said.

Arts Council celebrating 60 years, asks for your support in United Arts Fund Drive

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The Arts Council of Oak Ridge is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and the organization is asking for your support in its United Arts Fund Drive.

“Our annual United Arts Fund Drive is a way for you or your business to help keep the arts alive and thriving in Oak Ridge,” a letter to supporters said.

The eight members of the Arts Council of Oak Ridge are Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association, Tennessee Mountain Writers, Oak Ridge Playhouse/Junior Playhouse, Oak Ridge Community Orchestra, Oak Ridge Community Band, and Music Arts School.

The Arts Council promotes the organizations and their events, raises funds, and provides a network to help them grow, the letter to supporters said.

Pledges to the United Arts Fund Drive must be received by July 31 to be included in programs and publications. [Read more…]

TN Creates, a juried crafts fair, at Secret City Festival on June 10, 11

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Linda Mabry

Linda Mabry will be demonstrating raku firing in front of the bus and shuttle drop-off area during the festival until 4 pm each day. This ancient process, while seeming almost magical, is a study in the properties of physics as one pulls a white-hot piece from the flame and places it in combustible material to smoke. Come watch Linda “burn” with unbridled passion. (Submitted photo)

 

TN Creates, the juried arts and crafts fair at the Secret City Festival, showcases some of the fine art and craft forms being practiced in our region.

The June 10 and 11 event will be the 10th juried craft fair within the Secret City Festival. Sponsored by the City of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Art Center, the fair will be held in the Shep Lauder gym at the Civic Center until 7 p.m. each day.

“The show promises to have more than 40 of the area’s finest artists and craftsmen creating or selling their work,” a press release said. “Since the show is inside the gym, guests to the fair will find it not only a great place to find some wonderful craft pieces, but a terrific place to cool off.”

During the show, there will be continuous demonstrations in many media by members of the Art Center, including oil and watercolor painting, block printing, pottery, and several jewelry making techniques. There will be seating around the demonstrators for those who are interested in watching and learning more about the processes artists use, many of which are taught at the Art Center. Raku pottery firings will be held both days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the show’s entrance near the bus drop off.

Parking will be at the mall with continuous bus service during the festival. [Read more…]

Artists, arts supporters to be recognized during Tribute to the Arts on Tuesday

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Arts agencies will showcase their talents during a Tribute to the Arts in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, and local artists and arts supporters will be recognized. (Submitted image)

 

Arts agencies will showcase their talents during a Tribute to the Arts in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, and local artists and arts supporters will be recognized.

This is the second time that the Arts Council of Oak Ridge has offered this unique gala giving members of the community a chance to recognize local artists and arts supporters for their wonderful work promoting the arts in Anderson County, a press release said.

Tribute to the Arts is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the Saint Mary’s Family Life Center in Oak Ridge.

“Each of the arts agencies will be showcasing their talents, so it’s the perfect time to sample an appetizer of arts in our community,” the press release said.

The event is being co-promoted by Arts Council of Oak Ridge and the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Sunset, with proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction benefiting both organizations and their philanthropies. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Arts Council of Oak office at (865) 482-4432 or contacting any representative from the eight member organizations. Those groups are Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association, Tennessee Mountain Writers, Oak Ridge Playhouse, Oak Ridge Community Orchestra, Oak Ridge Community Band, and the Music Arts School. [Read more…]

Opinion: Let’s keep the Secret City Festival, could still honor vets in November

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To the Editor:

Hopefully, the City Council will think long and hard before ending the Secret City Festival as we know it and move “something” to the fall. The Festival now has many activities for children, music by community and aspiring groups, community booths, and much more that might not be possible outside in November. Not to mention the plethora of festivals, football, and other events in the fall already, making October an impossible time to schedule things.

One thing that will definitely be gone is the TN CREATES fine art and craft show, which the city asked the Oak Ridge Art Center to develop nine years ago. It has gown in scope and interest over the years and is one reason many people come to the festival. The Art Center has had its own show in November for 30 years (November 9 this year), plus there are already numerous other shows in the fall, including Museum of Appalachia and Southern Highlands and Foothills in November, plus the non-juried Pilot Club show here in November, two weeks after the Art Center Gallery of Holiday Shops.

Has this small group, which did not ask for input from many who had led the Secret City Festival for ages, thought about a seven- to 14-day festival in late June, culminating with July 4, which is already a time of family visits home to Oak Ridge (I met dozens of my kids’ friends at Secret City last year)? What the task force seems to be envisioning as a time to honor veterans could still be held in November. We keep saying we want activities to attract younger families—let’s keep the great one we have now, which had its biggest attendance ever this past June and is a great summer family time.

Judy Kidd

Oak Ridge

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Note: The submitted letters and columns published in the Opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of Oak Ridge Today or its staff.

Knoxville has First Friday, now Oak Ridge has Third Friday

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The Locally Grown Gallery, home to 39 regional artists, will be hosting events from 5:30-9 p.m. in their gallery and studio as part of a new Third Friday.

The Locally Grown Gallery is located ​behind the Soup Kitchen in Greenwich Village Mall in historic Jackson Square.

The ​inaugural Locally Grown Gallery Third Friday event will be August 21. Weaver Andy Lyle and author B.J. Gillum will be the featured artists.

Lyle is an Oak Ridge native and member of the Foo​thills Craft Guild. She will be demonstrating on her large loom as well as teaching easy beginner projects. She will have small loom kits and fiber available for purchase. [Read more…]

Arts Council asks for your support in United Arts Fund Drive

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The Arts Council of Oak Ridge is asking for your support in this year’s United Arts Fund Drive.

The annual drive kicked off March 15 and ends April 30.

Here is the letter the Arts Council sent to arts supporters in March:

Dear Arts Supporter,

Oak Ridge has always had a strong arts community—even as a secret city—and the arts continue to be essential to the health and vitality of Oak Ridge and Anderson County today. They enhance community development, spur urban renewal, attract new businesses, draw tourism dollars, create an attractive environment for skilled, educated workers, and help make the Oak Ridge area a great place to live, work, worship, and play. The arts organizations in Oak Ridge are vital because they support and supplement school activities, attract tourists and visitors, and offer volunteer and participation opportunities. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Art of Crystal Polley highlighted in July at Oak Ridge Library

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Crystal Polley Artwork at Oak Ridge Public Library

 

The art display at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of July consists of photographs and paintings from artist Crystal Dawn Polley.

Polley has used cameras her whole life to remember friends and family. She grew up using Kodak, Minolta, and Fuji cameras.

Digital cameras have changed her format, but not her vision.

Polley is a graduate of Shawnee State University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specializing in photography. She was actively involved in the college art gallery and was art editor for Silhouette, the college arts magazine. [Read more…]

Arts Council has Tribute to the Arts on Thursday

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Arts Council of Oak Ridge

Arts Council of Oak Ridge

The Arts Council of Oak Ridge and its member organizations are having a premier Tribute to the Arts on Thursday.

It’s scheduled from 6-9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

“This exciting cultural event will recognize artists and arts supporters from our area for the outstanding contributions they have made through their hearts and talents,” a press release said. “The Arts Council member organizations have long contributed to the culture and vitality of our region, and ACOR believes there is a need to acknowledge these groups and individuals for their service and talents.” [Read more…]

This weekend: arts and crafts, ballet, theater, half-marathon

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There is much to do in Oak Ridge this weekend, ranging from arts, crafts, and theater to ballet, disc golf, and a half marathon.

We’ve already posted stories about some of the events, including today’s cash mob and “The Wiz” at Oak Ridge Playhouse. We’ve also written about the Secret City Half Marathon and free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday.

But we’ve also added several new events to our new events calendar. They include an arts and crafts fair at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, Girls Inc. Parade of Trees at Pollard Auditorium, Folk Art Nativities at Oak Ridge Art Center, and “The Nutcracker” ballet at Oak Ridge High School. Those are all happening today, although there is another performance of “The Nutcracker” tomorrow (Sunday).

Please check out our events calendar for more details on these and other events.

Tennessee Creates arts and crafts fair Friday, Saturday

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A juried arts and craft fair called Tennessee Creates will feature original arts and crafts from regional artists during this weekend’s Secret City Festival.

Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Art Center, the free arts and crafts fair is called Tennessee Creates. Now in its sixth year, it runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday.

[Read more…]