Calendar of Events

Monday, September 25, 2023

Plein Air Smokies

  • September 24, 2023 — September 30, 2023

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Festivals, special events, Fundraisers and Science, nature

‘Plein Air Smokies,’ will once again bring 20 nationally acclaimed artists to paint “en plein air” (outdoors) throughout the national park. For the 2023 event, spectators are welcome to watch artists paint, Sept. 24-27. Artists will be positioned across the park throughout the week, with locations such as Cades Cove on Monday and Elkmont on Tuesday and Wednesday. A full schedule can be found online at https://friendsofthesmokies.org/schedule-of-events/

These one-of-a-kind paintings will be available for purchase first at the ticketed Collectors Soiree Sept. 29, then at the public sale Sept. 30. Proceeds benefit Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).

Purchase Tickets: https://friendsofthesmokies.org/plein-air/
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! #pleinairsmokies

UT Gardens: Fanciful Foxes Art Auction

  • September 21, 2023 — October 3, 2023

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fundraisers and Science, nature

Enhance your home garden with utterly unique fox-themed pieces by bidding in the online auction of our Fanciful Foxes exhibit! Around 80 works in total were created by local artists of all ages as part of our annual Art in the Gardens project. Bidding is open now and will close on Tuesday, October 3, at 5pm! You can preview the pieces in person at the UT Gardens, Knoxville until October 3. https://events.handbid.com/auctions/2023-art-in-the-gardens

Local amateur and professional artists donated their time and talent to artistically interpret this year’s theme with a fun and creative design. Teen/adult artists were given a large 3-D plywood fox to embellish using media of their choice. Again this year, we invited younger artists to participate by decorating either a fox head or a tree silhouette. Works have been on display throughout the Gardens for visitors to enjoy all summer. These unique art pieces will now be sold during this on-line auction with all proceeds benefiting the UT Gardens, Knoxville. This annual project was designed to promote community participation and foster artist collaboration as well as raise awareness and support for the Gardens. Our choice of a fox theme this year sought to bring a focus on urban wildlife and the need to protect them and their habitats from encroachment.

Winning bidders can pick up their item(s) during our Fall Plant Sale on Friday, October 6 (from 4-7 pm) or Saturday, October 7 (from 9 am - 2 pm). Payment can be made by credit card on Handbid or by cash or check at time of pickup.
Sponsors for the exhibit were Jerry's Artarama, Bench Dog Work Shop, UT Biosystems Engineering Machining and Fabrication Shop, Ed Dudrick, and the UT Wildlife and Fisheries Society. We are grateful to our sponsors and to our project artists!

https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/locations/knoxville/special-events-knoxville/art-in-the-garden/