Knoxville Museum of Art: History and Heart

By Olyver LaGabed, Staff Writer

Art is one of, if not the most, human things there is. It’s unique from science and math in the sense that it almost exclusively explores experience and soul through means of expression. Art is one of the only things that proves we as humans are as empathetic as we are – all of that is to say, art is deeply important to our culture, humanity, and communities. And yet, there is often not enough love shown to the art that lives in the heart of Knoxville. Sure, Nashville might be the music capital of America, and LA will always be known for Hollywood, but Knoxville’s art scene is unique in its thorough exploration of not only the history of art in Tennessee but also the more emotionally vulnerable parts of art as well. 

The Knoxville Museum of Art was originally founded in 1961, under the name Dulin House, and has since become a massive staple in the community of Knoxville. Located on World’s Fair Park Drive, the museum is home to several unique exhibits that showcase the museum’s celebration of diversity in the world of art. One of their permanent exhibits, the Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee, is a perfect representation of the diversity the KMA aims to achieve. The piece is a retrospective of visual arts in Tennessee (go figure), and it’s a centerpiece of the museum as it explores the vast art history Tennessee has to offer. One of my personal favorite pieces from this exhibit, James Cameron’s Belle Isle from Lyons View, is a wonderful example of just that. The painting, as depicted below, is a panoramic landscape of Belle Isle, which is by the Tennessee River. James Cameron’s work is highly regarded, given that he is widely considered to be one of Tennessee’s first professional painters. 

Beyond the historical and permanent exhibits that the KMA is known for, there are also plenty of exhibits featured there now that are just as important and fascinating. For example, Gabriel Lester, a visual artist and film director, currently has a display up in the Knoxville Museum of Art titled Melancholia in Arcadia, which is a reimagined piece of an earlier work Lester had done in 2011. The piece is the first of several contemporary pieces at the Eugenia Williams House. Unlike the aforementioned Belle Isle From Lyons View, this piece has less historical context and more emotional content, the piece being representative of the deceased passing through to the next life. In 2007, the piece was originally presented in Istanbul and dedicated to Lester’s late friend. Along with the art display, Lester is also holding an artist talk with the museum on August 26th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, presenting an amazing opportunity for Knoxville locals to get in touch with their artistic community.

So sure, Nashville can have its music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, but ultimately, the Knoxville Museum of Art is the centerpiece of Knoxville’s thriving artistic community. Through the free showcasing of pieces like Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee and Melancholia in Arcadia, Knoxville allows its city a chance to become involved with itself in a way that is uniquely expressive. The Knoxville Museum of Art is always accepting volunteers, and they are also free for visitors – it’s truly a unique experience, and I personally couldn’t recommend visiting the museum more, especially in the case of volunteer hours, since many Pellissippi State Community College students are on the Tennessee Promise scholarship. It just goes to show that there is no denying the importance of organizations like Knoxville’s Museum of Art and the doors they open to their community.