KNOXVILLE – Across disciplines, it is not uncommon that artists engage their chosen tools and media only after developing their artwork on paper. The UT Downtown Gallery will feature the sketchbooks of several artists from December 4 through January 8, 2010.

While sometimes ends in themselves, these preliminary inspirations and concepts go mostly unnoticed and unappreciated. This exhibit is a catalogue of inspiration and planning, doodling and designing, bringing to light the unique visual language artists employ in conversation between themselves and their as-yet unrealized work, in that quintessential artist’s book -the sketchbook.

Artists providing access to their journals include Fred Burton, Memphis, TN; Joseph Delaney, New York City; Gage Opdenbrouw, San Francisco, CA; Susan Kemenyffy, McKean, PA; and John Copeland, Brooklyn, NY.

This exhibit was curated by Timothy Massey, Director of the Tower Fine Arts Gallery at SUNY Brockport. He is also a native of Knoxville and a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Lectures by exhibit curator Timothy Massey, (Director, Tower Fine Arts Gallery at SUNY Brockport) will be featured at the gallery Friday, December 4, 2009 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 8, 2010 at 7 and 8 p.m. Reception follows the lecture at the Ewing Gallery, 7-9PM.

The UT Downtown Gallery will be closed for Holiday Breaks: Dec. 24-26 and Jan 1.  The Gallery Hours
Wed-Fri: 11-6, and Sat: 10-3.