Calling all artists, artisans, creatives and craftspeople of all trades. Applications are now being accepted for Christmas Connection 2023. The two-day event will take place November 10-11 at the Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center.
“The Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair” is sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and is celebrating its 44th year of artistic creations. The event hosts the region’s best craftspeople, artisans, artists, and creatives. People from our region and beyond look forward to the Christmas Connection year after year.
Application deadline is July 1, 2023, and there is no cost to apply. Christmas Connection is by invitation only. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee, taking various factors into consideration to create a high quality, attractive show having a good mix of artistic and craft creations.
2023 DATES/HOURS:
Free admission to the public
Fri. Nov. 10: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 11: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
To access the vendor application from the city website, and for more information visit https://bit.ly/43xL6WU.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/CC_logo.23Circle-01.png800800Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2023-06-01 09:57:192023-06-01 09:59:42Deadline July 1st! Apply to the 44th Annual Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/06/IMG_8372.jpg8001067Jennifer Rogershttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngJennifer Rogers2023-05-29 02:30:012023-06-01 10:03:49Create your own gifts in “All About Resin!” workshop (July 29)
Adventure into the fun and unpredictable world of Acrylic Pouring!
Elena Corradino will teach you everything there is to know about this exciting style of abstract art.
You will make 10 paintings of various shapes and sizes, and each will be different. You will learn 5 different types of pours, including a double flip cup, AND 3 ways to make “cells”. You will discuss color theory and what makes abstract art pop, and Elena will go into detail about the materials, brands she uses, etc. You will leave with the knowledge of how to do this on your own as well as beautiful art!
The Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) Festival: A Celebration of the Arts will be a three-day festival held April 21-23 at the Kingsport Farmers Market.
A PREVIEW PARTY will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday April 21
Preview party tickets are $40 per person.
The festival will run 10am- 5pm on Saturday April 22 and 12noon-5pm on Sunday April 23.
Festival admission is $5 per person, with children under 12 admitted free.
Expect to see more than 30 arts and crafts vendors from across the region at the event, along with art demonstrations, a sculpture competition, public art programs, live music and the debut of 10 painted, full-size fiberglass goats.
The preview party will include heavy hors d’ouevres, a drink ticket, early access to vendors, admission for the entire weekend, first look at the goat sculptures and music by the Symphony of the Mountains. Tickets are $40 per person and recommended dress is business casual.
Tickets can be purchased through any of the festival partners. To purchase tickets and preorder a wine glass for the preview party visit http://bit.ly/3SC7aug.
Wine glasses can also be purchased at the party for $10 while supplies last.
Other highlights of the festival include – an interactive mural demonstration by DB Excel students, a Plein Air Art event by eight participating artists, a Tiny Art Throwdown sculpture competition. Festival T-shirts will also be available for purchase.
The G.O.A.T. Festival is presented by Engage Kingsport in collaboration with the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts. Our partners include Create Appalachia, the Inventor Center, the Kingsport Art Guild and the Downtown Kingsport Association.
For more information about the Greatest of All Time Festival call 423-392-8416.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/03/GOAT_fb_eventcoverImage.png8001422Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2023-03-13 12:59:412023-03-13 13:05:33The Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) Festival: A Celebration of the Arts!
Kingsport’s 13th Annual Sculpture Walk is a Sight to See
When the Office of Cultural Arts (OCA) put out a national call for artists for the show, artists all across the country responded.
“With an artist from New Jersey and an artist from Key West, Florida, we are proud that we can bring a diverse group of artists to exhibit in the show,” said Hannah Powell, Coordinator for the Cultural Arts program. “Our department strives to not only highlight the local talent that we have in the Kingsport area, but we also like to import various artists’ work to share diverse creativity with the community of Kingsport.”
This year, the OCA is bringing eight new sculptures to the downtown area of Kingsport. Two of the artists are new to the exhibition, while two of the artists have exhibited in Kingsport before.
“For those who really enjoyed C.R. Gray’s ‘Popsicles’ at the Kingsport Farmers Market, I’m sorry to report the sculpture has been replaced,” said Powell. “The good news is, it has been replaced by another one of the same artist’s treasures that is perfect for the market location: ‘Watermelons.’”
Jim Gallucci is also returning, this time bringing two arches, one at City Hall, “Monarch Migration,” and one on the corner of East Market and Commerce Street, “A Flock of Blackbirds.” Powell hopes that those visiting the art galleries like Cindy Saadeh, Suzanne Justis and Up Against the Wall will find his blackbirds arch to be a nice touch to the artistry found on Market Street.
New artist, Nathan Leslie, comes from North Carolina. Three of his sculptures can be found along the downtown strip of Broad Street. Two, “Family” and “Growth,” will be at the intersection with Main Street, and his third one, “Joy,” is a pop of color in the City Hall garden along Church Circle.
The other new artist is Mary Angers of New Jersey. Mary brings a sculpture called “Twisted” at Broad and Center Streets that resembles the line structure found in the Noland Plan for the city. Her second sculpture, “Timeless,” can be found on Broad Street at its intersection with New Street.
Though sculptures have been delivered and installed throughout the month of October, the official opening of the exhibition is October 23 with a reception at City Hall, 415 Broad Street. Shuttle rides to view the sculptures will begin at 10 a.m. Maps will also be provided for those who prefer to walk. Charlie Brouwer, guest juror, will be visiting to share his insight into the artwork he chose for show.
For more information on the Sculpture Walk, please visit www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414.
Gallucci
The public is welcome to walk the Sculpture Walk at your own pace.
Map of the SW13 Sculptures with brief bios is available for download viewing HERE:
The Office of Cultural Arts (OCA), part of the City of Kingsport, connects, coordinates and engages the public with a creative community. We operate the Renaissance Arts Center, the Farmer’s Market, the Kingsport Carousel, the Carousel Fine Craft Show, Kingsport Public Art Program, Engage Kingsport Performing Arts Series and a broad range of support to the area’s arts organizations. The OCA works in tandem with Engage Kingsport, Inc., the “Friends of the Cultural Arts” group, a private, volunteer-led 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
About the City of Kingsport
Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 53,000) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern U.S. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,500-acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.”
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/10/CR-Gray.jpg800583Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2021-10-19 12:45:512021-11-02 15:20:32Kingsport’s 13th Annual Sculpture Walk is a Sight to See
The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts is looking for regional and local artists to be featured in the new city hall main lobby. Art submissions will be entered into an artist database and future exhibits at the new city hall will draw from this database of submissions. Exhibits will be temporary, lasting one month to three months. If you would like to be considered for exhibiting your work, you may submit via email or mail a packet to the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts.
When submitting your work, please include the following information, along with 5-9 photos of your work and a copy of your artist statement.
Subject line of your email: “City Hall + [Your last name]”
Please include all of the following information in the body of your email:
Name:
Company Name (if applicable):
Phone Number:
Email address:
Type of Art (Art Medium):
How many pieces do you have available to exhibit?
Have you exhibited your artwork before? If so, where?
Please attach the following items to your email:
Your Artist Statement (If you have one.)
5-9 pictures of your work (Please make sure your images are a small enough file size to send through email if choosing this option. Do not exceed 12MB per email)
If mailing, please include all application info, a copy of your artist statement and 5-9 pictures of your work. Mail your submission packet to the address below:
City of Kingsport, Office of Cultural Arts
1200 East Center Street
Kingsport, TN 37660
For more information about submitting art for the new city hall gallery, please email KingsportArtEntry@gmail.com or call 423-392-8414.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/12/gallerydrawing.NewCityHall_c.png18241799Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2020-12-31 11:15:122020-12-31 11:21:18Now Accepting Applications for New City Hall Gallery
In Tennessee, drivers can purchase certain* Specialty License Plates in place of the normally issued state license plate. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plates supports the organization featured so it’s a great opportunity to support the cause you care about most.
Tennessee also permits the personalization of any plate with up to the amount of characters available on the plate. Choose a unique phase or name for your license plate and stand out from the crowd.
You can get a new license plate anytime—not just when your tags expire. Your tag fee will be prorated.
Certain criteria must be presented to be eligible for some Specialty License Plates such as emergency services or military.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/07/TakeYourPick-license-plate.jpg7451024Jennifer Rogershttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngJennifer Rogers2018-08-17 11:06:302021-01-05 10:39:26Have you ever thought about a specialty license plate?
Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre