KMA expanding Art Fair and offering family activities

KNOXVILLE – The Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art will present Art Fair KMA 2014 September 14-20 at the museum. Art Fair KMA 2014 encompasses Artscapes, the Guild’s popular annual art sale and gala, as well as a day of family art activities. Festivities begin with a kickoff brunch and sale preview on Sunday, September 14; continue with a gala masked ball and art auction on Friday, September 19; and wrap up with an exciting day of free family art activities on Saturday, September 20.

The purpose of Art Fair KMA 2014 is to raise money for museum programs and engage a broad and diverse segment of the community in museum activities.

The kick-off preview brunch on Sunday, September 14, noon-3pm, features a first look at the Artscapes art offerings. Preview brunch reservations are $40 per person.

Items for sale can also be previewed free of charge during regular museum hours Tuesday, September 16 through Friday, September 19.

The gala Artscapes art auction begins on Friday evening September 19 with a reception and silent auction at 6:30, and dinner and live auction at 8:30, with a stellar group of more than 70 carefully selected works by artists of regional and national reputation. This year Artscapes has a masked ball theme. Another new feature is the offering for sale of sculpture specifically designed for outdoor display, as well as painted ceramic plates and bowls painted by local young people and inspired by the KMA collection. Artscapes: A Masked Ball reservations are $150 per person. Art Fair KMA culminates in a full day of family art activities on Saturday, September 20 10am-6pm. Approximately 50 artists will offer live demonstrations and have work available for sale around the museum grounds. Visitors can enjoy a display of vintage motorcycles organized by Time Warp Room Motorcycle Club, and delicious meals from the food trucks parked around the museum. Family activities will also extend across the street, where the Kids of Fort Kid Committee, a team of volunteers, will be hosting a work day to preserve the much-loved playground and city landmark.

For additional information about Art Fair KMA 2014 visit www.knoxart.org.

Chairs of Art Fair KMA 2014 are local artists Denise Stewart-Sanabria and Susan Watson Arbital. Art Fair KMA is presented by the Guild of Knoxville Museum of Art with sponsorship from Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson. Additional support comes from Foothills Craft Guild, Time Warp Room Motorcycle Club, City of Knoxville, Kids of Fort Kid, and several local art galleries including The District Gallery & Framery, Knoxville; Bennett Galleries & Co., Knoxville; Jessica Weiss Jewelry, Knoxville; River Gallery, Chattanooga; The Arts Company, Nashville; Blue Spiral 1, Asheville; and the Bellagio, Asheville.

Published August 19, 2014