Got art? Great stuff at Artscapes!

Melanie Wood is one of my favorite local artists. I love this piece of hers called "Iris" that is part of the Artscapes offerings.

Melanie Wood is one of my favorite local artists. I love this piece of hers called “Iris” that is part of the Artscapes offerings.

Artscapes is a wonderful art sale benefiting the Knoxville Museum of Art. But it’s also one of the best opportunities around to purchase beautiful original jewelry and art for your home, office or for gifts. (It’s almost the season, you know.)

Artscapes itself is a black tie optional auction and dinner to be held Friday at the museum. Silent auction is at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and a live auction at 8:30. On Saturday, you can return to the museum for an art fair from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. So, you see, there really is no excuse not to pick up some great finds this weekend.

To give you a little taste of what’s available, I attended the Artscapes Preview Brunch this past Sunday and saw some awesome pieces. In fact, so many offerings were sold at the preview that museum folks were scrambling to assemble new items to offer Friday. So, the items on this blog post are only scratching the surface of what’s available.

A great crowd attended the preview on Sunday. Attendance was 140, up from 100 last year.

A great crowd attended the preview on Sunday. Attendance was 140, up from 100 last year.

Artist Kelly Brown was outside making a sculpture out of twigs!

Artist Kelly Brown was outside making a sculpture out of twigs!

Who doesn't love Joe Parrott's paintings of Knoxville scenes?

Who doesn’t love Joe Parrott’s paintings of Knoxville scenes?

Pamela Chips and David Butler, the executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Pamela Chips and David Butler, the executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art.

From left, "The Orinthologist" by Roelna Louw; "Nested Pot" by Manya Pirkle; and "Wildflower Vase" by Michael Hoffman.

From left, “The OrnithologIST” by Roelna Louw; “Nested Pot” by Manya Pirkle; and “Wildflower Vase” by Michael Hoffman.

Bernard and Lesley Rosenblatt. He is chairman of the museum's Board of Trustees.

Bernard and Lesley Rosenblatt. He is chairman of the museum’s Board of Trustees.

Nancy Kendrick was the caterer. This is her mushroom quiche.

Nancy Kendrick was the caterer. This is her mushroom quiche.

A tower of muffins.

A tower of muffins.

The Arc de Triomphe photographed in 1945 by Ed Clark.

The Arc de Triomphe photographed in 1945 by Ed Clark.

Maggie Erickson

Maggie Erickson

Hummingbirds by Ann Nichols.

Hummingbirds by Ann Nichols.

Randy and Susan Humble

Randy and Susan Humble

From left, Jan Crawford, Mike Berry and Susan Hyde, the museum's director of development.

From left, Jan Crawford, Mike Berry and Susan Hyde, the museum’s director of development.

Julia Bentley, left, and Linda Claussen admired each other's taste in clothes.

Julia Bentley, left, and Linda Claussen admired each other’s taste in clothes.

These stunning flowers and the gentle harp music of Julia Stark set the mood for brunch and shopping.

These stunning flowers and the gentle harp music of Julia Stark set the mood for brunch and shopping.

Milton and Mimi Turner

Milton and Mimi Turner

From left, Lee Hyde, Sylvia Peters and Susan Hawthorne.

From left, Lee Hyde, Sylvia Peters and Susan Hawthorne.

And here are some photos of my favorite things. The Knoxville Museum of Art is trying to raise money to purchase a kiln for its children’s art classes. To that end, the museum commissioned art teachers to help children at several schools and organizations produce usable pottery plates to be sold for $35 at the preview brunch and the art fair this Saturday. I no sooner laid eyes on them, than I grabbed up eight different plates to purchase. All mine had animals on them! I just love them.

Here are some of those plates.

Here are some of those plates.

Jackie Wilson, a Francophile, snapped up a plate featuring the Eiffel Tower.

Jackie Wilson, a Francophile, snapped up a plate featuring the Eiffel Tower.

Here's one that I bought. It was made by Kelly Coffey, an art teacher who was instructing the students at Sterchi Elementary School on how to make the plates.

Here’s one that I bought. It was made by Kelly Coffey, an art teacher who was instructing the students at Sterchi Elementary School on how to make the plates.

Here she is!

Here she is!

Here's another one I bought. I was trying it out on my dining room table!

Here’s another one I bought. I was trying it out on my dining room table!

So, if you are as charmed by these plates as I am, drop by the art fair at the museum this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and pick up a few.

Finally, a big thanks to the folks at Harley Davidson, who are the presenting sponsors of all of Artscapes.

This Ducati is one of several interesting motorcycles on display at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

This Ducati is one of several interesting motorcycles on display at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

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