The Art Guild of Tellico Village is preparing for its free annual Art Show that will spotlight 89 artists and more than 250 pieces of art at the Community Church at Tellico Village on April 26, 27 and 28.

All local art lovers are welcome to attend.

‘IMPRESSIVE’ WORKS


East Tennessee artists will display art of various mediums … from acrylic paintings to clay sculptures to woodworking and a little of everything in between.

The three-day show also offers live music and live artwork demonstrations. There will be demonstrations from skilled artists while they talk about their inspirations, tips and tricks they’ve learned throughout their art journey.

During the opening ceremony from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26, most of the featured artists will be at their displays for meet-and-great opportunities. While some of the art will be for sale, the goal of the Art Show is to highlight the impressive work of local artists.

“This professional-level exhibit has long been a favorite community event of the spring season, welcoming art enthusiasts from near and far,” said Art Show Leadership Team Member Vicki MacLeod, in a press release to The Connection.

“With over twenty years of presenting an annual Art Show, the Art Guild is proud of this opportunity to showcase the extensive talents of its members,” she said.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES

Attendees are encouraged to participate in the People’s Choice Awards’ nominations. Everyone attending the event is allowed three votes for their favorite artwork. They can choose the same piece or various artists to nominate for the award.

On Sunday, April 28, at 3:30 p.m., Jerry’s Artarama of Knoxville — a fine-art supply store — will award $100 gift certificates to the top five People’s Choice winners. This year, the Guild has added Preferred Pharmacy and Sirrabelle Boutique — both of Tellico Village — and The Backdoor Gallery in Lenoir City as sponsors for the Art Show. These sponsors will provide additional prizes to the top five winners.

THE TV ART GUILD

The Art Guild of Tellico Village is an East Tennessee 501©(3) nonprofit organization, open to anyone who lives in the East Tennessee region. It was started in May of 1997 by Mary Lee Wilkerson, who began by teaching watercolor painting at her kitchen table.

Since the late ‘90s, the Guild has experienced exponential growth and now has more than 200 members. As a nonprofit, the AGTV is fully volunteer organized and operated.

Members of the Guild host workshops and classes for different specialties. A full list of upcoming events can be found at www.tellicoartguild.com/current-classes-and-workshops/.

AN ‘EXPERIMENTALIST’

Lil Clinard has been an artist for 50 years, but it wasn’t until she retired from her job with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and moved to the Village 20 years ago that she had time to invest into her art and learn new skills.

She traveled around the world throughout her career, and she captured photographs at every new destination. The 7,000-plus photographs on her computer from her travels are her inspiration and reference for many works of art.

In the last 20 years, she has become principally a watercolorist, but she does acrylic painting and encaustic painting — most of which mimic her photographs. She has been involved in every show since coming to the Village; and, in this show, she will have all three types of art displayed.

At a given time, Clinard could be working on 10 projects of different mediums. She said it allows her to still be creative and move to something new when she feels stuck or bored of the same work.

“I’m an experimentalist,” she said. “I like to try different and new things — new materials, new methods — and see how it goes.”

Clinard said that with the Guild’s growing classes and workshops, the artists have become more competent in different mediums. She expects this Art Show to be bigger and better than those in the past because of everyone’s increased experience levels lately.

“The quality has really escalated,” she said. “We have numerous very talented artists here. It’s amazing. After folks retire … we can really jump in full — both feet — into something and really accomplish it.”

The Art Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26, with a Welcome Ceremony from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday, April 27, the Art Show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 a.m.; and on Sunday, April 28, the Art Show will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the People’s Choice Awards starting at 3:30 p.m.

The event is open and free to the public.