Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Arts & Culture Alliance present “Arts in the Airport”

The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) and the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville are pleased to present the 20th “Arts in the Airport” exhibition, a new selection of artwork from 37 artists in the East Tennessee region. “Arts in the Airport” was developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in the area. Over the past ten years, nearly 850 unique works of art have been displayed and over $55,000 returned to local artists in sales. The contemporary 2- and 3-dimensional artwork is exhibited in the secured area behind McGhee Tyson Airport’s security gate checkpoint from October 25, 2018 – April 17, 2019.

Best of Show - Iryna Lialko of Pigeon Forge; Alice in Wonderland (paper, pencil, ink, gouache)

Juror Jordan Ahlers, owner and director of Momentum Gallery in Asheville, NC, provided this statement about the exhibition: “The breadth of the work submitted was impressive – it is incredible testament to the talent and creativity present in East Tennessee. Narrowing the exhibition down to 47 works proved the most challenging. I chose works I have a personal response to: nature-based or works with environmental commentary, figurative works that convey narrative and personality of their subjects, abstractions with strong compositions and satisfying surfaces, and works that depict a slice of nostalgia and/or history, ever present in this area. I like the intricate detailing and whimsy I find in some of these works as well as the intensity and pathos in others. Overall, the collection represents the beauty that can be captured through visual expression, and I hope everyone who views this collection can take away some sense of inspiration and shared experience.”

The following artists’ works are on display: Lynda Best, Alan Brock, Sharon Buck, Yvonne Dalschen, Nick DeFord, Karen Ann Hummel DuGuay, Katharine Emlen, Robert Felker, Alan Finch, Diane H. Fox, Elena Ganusova, Carl Gombert, Giles R. Hammat, Clay Hardwick, David A. Johnson, Gary R. Johnson, Mari Cardwell Jones, Judith Kinzy, Doug Lawrence, Iryna Lialko, Bill Long, Alyssa Nealon, Tom Owens, Hei Park, Tatiana Potts, Gunnar Quist, Julie L. Rabun, Lennie Robertson, Caitlin Ryan, Betsy Spooner, Robert H. Thompson, Bill Timm, Rick Whitehead, Brandon Woods, Rodney Yardley, Conny Zhao, and Steve Zigler.

View of gallery of images at www.knoxalliance.store/product-category/airport-20/.

Congratulations to the following artists, who received cash awards:
Best of Show ($500) – Iryna Lialko of Pigeon Forge for Alice in Wonderland (Paper, pencil, ink, gouache)
Award of Merit ($250) – David Johnson of Knoxville for Student (Digital photography)
Award of Merit ($250) – Tatiana Potts of Maryville for Faces of Tajtania (Screenprint, folded paper, book)

Please note: the exhibition is normally available for viewing only by visitors flying in or out of the airport. Otherwise, visitors may view the exhibition by appointment with Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority staff. Contact Becky Huckaby, Director of Public Relations, at (865) 342-3014. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543.

Published November 17, 2018