Art Gallery in Unlikely Place to Feature
Regional Artisans
at Inaugural Art Exhibition on June 1, 2012
KNOXVILLE, TN –- An art gallery in a most unlikely
place will open on Friday,
June 1, 2012 in downtown Knoxville.
The Gallery at Main Street,
located at First Baptist Church in downtown Knoxville, will feature
regional artisans at its inaugural art exhibition on June 1.
The exhibition will feature predominantly floral art. Mediums
represented will include watercolors, oils, stained glass, acrylics,
quilts, steel, photography, woodcarvings, and pottery.
Two commissioned artisans, Darlene Bakos and Mike Oliver, will be
exhibiting.
Darlene had the privilege of creating a private collection for the
prestigious Blackberry Farm in Walland,
Tennessee. The eight quilts are labeled "The Blackberry Farm Quilt
Collection." She also completed a commission for the Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA). This included three sister quilts that
documented the 75-year history of the TVA via photos. One of these
quilts goes on display at the American Quilters Society Museum in
Paducah, Kentucky in mid-September, 2012.
Mike has been carving for more than 30 years. His work graces the
homes of collectors all over the world including Germany, Japan,
Spain and most recently one of his carvings was given to the Mayor
of Bethlehem in the Holy Land. He and his carvings have been
featured on HGTV's "Country At Home" program as well as on several
local television programs. Several businesses have also commissioned
him for client and employee gifts and to decorate their lobbies and
offices. In addition to teaching woodcarving classes at local and
regional craft schools, Mike is also past-president of both the
Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers and the Foothills Craft Guild.
The exhibition serves as an opportunity for artisans to exhibit
their art or handcrafted items and also allows the public to tour
the historic church listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and one of Knoxville's most beautiful structures.
The church wants to let the community know that they are there for
them whether they are community leaders, downtown workers, or
homeless or impoverished people.
“First Baptist has been seeking ways to reach our downtown
neighborhood in fresh ways,” said First
Baptist Church senior pastor Dr. William Shiell. “This event, in
coordination with First Friday, extends the hospitality of our
congregation to people who enjoy the best of beauty and creativity.”
The gallery will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1. First
Baptist Church is located at 510 W. Main Ave., next to the
City-County Building.
"First Baptist is proud to partner with our downtown neighbors on
First Fridays. Knoxville
is blessed with great talent in the arts community, and First
Baptist welcomes our guests into a historic space of hospitality and
grace,” said Dr. Shiell.
Box lunches and beverages will be available in the church's Blue
Room between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00
p.m. Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public.
To reserve a box lunch, please email lunch@galleryatmainstreet.com.
Upcoming exhibitions to be held on the first Friday of each month
will include Tennessee art, landscape art, a wildlife exhibition,
and a quilt show. The quilt show will coincide with a chili
cook-off to be held in October on the front lawn of the church.
Travelers, for more
information about First Baptist Church of Knoxville is available
online at
http://www.fbcknox.org or by calling the church at
865-546-9661
