Pat Wood, Melanie Wood, Pat Medley

Note to readers:  We are re-publishing this post from May 12, 2012, on the Art DeTour we took visiting the lovely studio and home of artist Melanie Wood.  Her home is open again for Dogwood Art DeTour 2015 on April 11 and 12.  If you love quality impressionistic art filled with color, you’ll love seeing what Melanie has produced.

A map and listing of all artist studios open (and there are many!!) this year, please click here.  The Dogwood Arts Festival website has it all, and there’s a lot to do and see this weekend.

Last year, Bert and I visited an artist’s studio — the studio AND home — of Melanie Wood during Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival.  So, when the Art DeTour brochure arrived in our mailbox this year, we were delighted to see that she had once again opened the door to her colorful world of impressionist art!

I took Pat Medley this time around, because Pat loves anything related to the lovely countryside of France, and Melanie’s subject matter spans two continents from the fertile land of Provence to the shores of Hilton Head, South Carolina.  I also knew Pat would enjoy seeing the home of Melanie and Tom Wood filled with antiques collected during their travels and visits with their daughter who lived in France.

According to her website, Melanie grew up in Texas, the granddaughter of a celebrated artist.  The tradition has continued since Melanie’s daughter Amber followed in her mother’s footsteps pursuing a fine arts degree.  Melanie led us to her studio through the kitchen where she had displayed some of her favorite subjects — like colorful chickens — seen during her travels.

Melanie (interior designer, colorist, and former president of the Color Marketing Group, an international association for color design professionals) is right at home in her studio at the back of the house where she looks out at neat plantings in her courtyard and colorful potted annuals during this time of the year. We watched as she began painting red geraniums sitting on a wrought iron table right outside the door.

In the courtyard (and throughout the downstairs of the house), Melanie had set up easels to display her scenes of France and colorful bouquets of summer flowers.

Her husband Tom shared his love of antique clocks, Oriental rugs, and primitives with us.  These blue painted crocks caught my eye, especially the one on the far left — puzzling me with its bulging front.  What was that one used for, Tom? I asked.  He smiled and answered, Why that’s a chicken feeder!  There’s a hole in the front of that crock!

We were quite impressed with Melanie’s range of abilities: She not only is accomplished at painting flowers and landscapes — she can capture the expressions of people quite well, too.  Here are several of our favorites.

After spending quality time admiring each piece, we settled on these two:  the one on the left is now mine — Afternoon Shadows in Sauveterre —  and the one on the right depicting a favorite little town in France has found its way to the Medleys’ home: Village of Roussillion.

Bobbie Helms, Jillian Morse and Tom Wood seem pleased with the ones we selected!

If you go to Melanie’s website, you’ll see many more examples of her work, like these three favorites of mine.

Trees on Fire

Sunflowers of Tuscany

Special Occasions

Don’t pass up an opportunity to tour an artist’s home or studio next year for the Dogwood Arts Festival, if Art DeTour is repeated! You’ll see — Knoxville is an artist haven!

Melanie Wood, Impressionist: www.melaniewoodart.com

Melanie’s art can be seen in Knoxville at Upstairs and in Hilton Head at Smith Galleries.

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Yes, it’s true.  I write this blog from Knoxville, Tennessee — home of the Dogwood Arts Festival.  So, of course, I’m biased.  But if you’re ever in Knoxville at festival time, you’ll agree with me:  Spring shows off its finery nowhere better during this puttin’-on-the-pastels time of year!

Several years ago, my husband and I lived in Deane Hill subdivision (designated an official Dogwood Arts Festival Garden Byway). We had passed by the home of J. D. “Bud” and Carolyn Mynatt often but never stopped in to see their Open Garden during festival time.  This year, however,  we put it on our don’t-miss list and entered a beautiful secret backyard haven that the Mynatts have tended for more 34 years!

We sauntered past the white mounds of candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) lining front flower beds along with the statuary and mixed pots Carolyn has added. Then we headed to the back yard.

When Bud saw us, he came down the back steps as the Southern gentleman he is to welcome us to his private garden.  We shook hands, introduced ourselves, and then asked him to take us on a tour — which he did willingly.  He told us that he has recently turned 90, but he still maintains the garden.

However, he said, I did have to hire someone to spread 15 yards of mulch this year.  (No apologies needed here.  We can’t spread mulch at all!)

Bud Mynatt, on right, shares the history of the garden with Bert.

Bud and Carolyn bought the house and the overgrown lot with only five maples and a magnolia on the property in 1976 and began the work of clearing, planting, pruning, and showcasing. Bud mostly does the gardening and maintenance.  Carolyn is the design lady!

We admired the dogwoods just eeking out those creamy blooms . . .

and the Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) climbing gracefully over the deck at the rear of the house.

Bud was proud of this colorful pink Chinese fringe (Loropetalum chinense) . . .

and the profusion of blooms on the endless clumps of Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis).

Well-fed koi swam innocently around and around the lower levels of the bubbling pond, but we noticed a wire mesh covering over all.  Bud sadly explained: I had to cover the pond with wire ’cause big Blue Herons were swooping down and snatching my fish. (Guess herons can’t resist free food any more than humans can!)

The backyard showstopper for us was this Southern magnolia towering over the two men.  That tree was probably planted about fifty years ago, Bud told us. And it’s one of the few remaining plants we found when we bought the place.  (I’m no expert, but this looks like a prize-winner.)

We said good-bye to this dedicated gardener, and, on our way out, noted a pair of angels pondering a fitting quote for the Mynatts’ garden.

We love touring Knoxville’s Open Gardens.  But we’re especially fond of meeting residents like Bud and Carolyn Mynatt who take pride in their special place!

Click here for more information on Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival.

Click here for a listing of Open Gardens available for viewing until april 28th.

2013 Dogwood Arts Festival

602 S. Gay Street, Mezzanine Level

Knoxville, TN 37902

865.637.4561

info@dogwoodarts.com

Happy Blogging Anniversary!

It’s hard to believe, but one year ago we launched Oh, the Places We See!  We had just rented an apartment downtown in our own city of Knoxville, Tennessee, and pretended to be tourists for a couple of weeks — even though we lived nearby in the suburbs.

The experience was rich:  We joined the urban walkers each morning prior to heading to work, we ate in new (to us) restaurants at night, and we were right on the spot for all the downtown Dogwood Arts Festival events.  So, the idea for a blog was born: Let’s share our adventures near and far with others.

Now, after a year later, we’re still writing about our travels — and here are the blogging stats that make us smile:

• 61 posts (a little more than one a week)
• 12,125 views (thanks to all our readers and commenters!)
• 76 followers (We really, really appreciate you!)
• Posts with the most views: Books and Buttercream at The Great Cake Bake and Upscale, Classy, Personable: Publix Opens in West Knoxville (Hmm.  We must love to eat around here!)

To celebrate, we’ve posted a picture of one of the tallest layer cakes we’ve ever seen!  It’s from Zoozacrackers Deli — a little restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas — where you can get a good burger or sandwich and watch your favorite sports on the big screens.

A special shout-out goes to Cynthia Moxley who’s commented the most.  Her encouragement means a lot, and her blog, The Blue Streak, is still the gold standard for us!  (Click here to read her posts about what’s happening in Knoxville!)

And what does the future hold?  Well, we’re gonna keep on travelin’ and writin’ — at least for now.  We’ve booked a trip for this summer (Viking River Cruise: Imperial Jewels of China). So keep coming back to compare adventures if you’ve already been or enjoy the new sites and sounds right along with us. As always, though, we love seeing what Knoxville has to offer — it’s home!

Thanks again for reading and following!  What a great year for blogging!

Rusha and Bert

I guess I’ve driven down Westland Drive a thousand times and never, ever noticed the white structure that houses Bill Cook’s collection of marble, limestone, and alabaster — huge rough chunks of nature’s stone that Bill turns into elegant, simplistic sculture.

He shared with us a few of his pieces mounted on plain black bases allowing the focus to be solely on the sculpture. Bill names pieces creatively. Like Mahi Mahi Magic for this sea creature-like form curved gracefully.

Complex pieces, of course, take time, and Bill said he had to work more carefully on this one.  While sculpting, he noticed a vein of color emerging on this lady’s face. There was nothing to do but sculpt away more “flesh” to expose only pure white. Bill was in the process of sinking her eyes a little farther back, too. I never knew you could “move” a face!

His twelve-year-old daughter Lauren has taken to the craft, but she hasn’t told her art teacher at Farragut Middle School. 

I told her that her little emerging bear could surely earn her some points with her class and teacher at “Show and Tell,” especially since she can proudly say she studies with a real live artist — her dad!

Bill tells his children, Make haste slowly. It’s an old saying,  he said, that means take the craft seriously . . . work the stone patiently to completion.

He evidently practices what he preaches.  This Mobius form of Sylacauga, Alabama, marble was not only elegant to behold . . . it was smooth to the touch — the result of slow and careful sculpting by one who knows his craft.

We loved taking a closer look at Bill’s workshop where stacks of raw materials nudge up against shelves of works in progress.  As you would expect, we had to dust off our clothes before getting in the car! But who cares?  How often do you get to see a sculptor in action?

It was also with much pleasure that we stopped by the home of Suzanne Jack.  While I was Assistant Principal of Halls High, Suzanne was the art teacher who lent her creative touch to more than just classroom teaching. 

Her oil paintings have evolved from my first remembrances of her forest and stream scenes like A Walk in the Woods. She updates what seems to be an ordinary scene with touches of purple. By highlighting standard colors like moss green and bark with an edgier purple tone, she brings a more modern look to this forest pathway.

Some of her newest paintings are set with sunnier, perkier, robust shades of reds and yellow gold. Suzanne says times are good for her right now, and it’s not unusual for an artist to let feelings come through in the art. I think she’s in her golden period!

She had art propped up everywhere — in the kitchen, laundry room, hallway, and living room!  Here’s one that is almost Dr. Seussian — lighthearted, whimsical, clearly colorful . . .

These larger-than-life tulips greeted me a while back at a First Friday event at the Art Market Gallery. It truly was love at first sight for this piece titled Awakening: elegant shading, strength of color, and interesting composition — a favorite, for sure!

Portraits, too, get special attention from Suzanne.  This thoughtful one of her daughter Rebecca drew us closer to look at the detail and the way light bounces off her hair.

And this one — the face of innocence — shows us Suzanne‘s versatility in composition and range of color.

Suzanne’s website carries this quote which speaks to her character as well as her art: A joyful heart flows from a spirit nourished by understanding one’s emotions, character and passions.

Thanks, Dogwood Arts Festival, for creating an event that allows us to visit artists in their world.  And thanks to all of the artists who opened your homes and shared your techniques for those of us who appreciate what you bring to our world!

Stone Sculpture by Bill Cook, Jr.

9821 Westland Drive

Knoxville, TN 37922

865.206.2937

http://www.billcookjr.com/

Suzanne Jack Studio

1308 Farrington Drive

Knoxville, TN 37923

865.679.0645

http://www.suzannejack.com/about.htm

The Fountain City Art Center — about a block past the Duck Pond on Hotel Avenue in Knoxville– opened its doors, too, so visitors could take a closer look at some of the Art Guild members at work!

My husband and I found artists standing at easels, paintbrushes in hand — backing up then leaning in — squinting at art in progress.  Others sat with palettes beside them — dabbing, mixing, wiping  —  blending pigments for just the right shade.

Aurora Bull was touching up a painting of yellow flowers begun some time ago to breathe new life into it. 

Her website showcases a range of abilities and subjects — landscapes, portraits, florals, and figures — all fashioned with a precise hand and rendered in oils.  Like this one titled Adoration.  (One of the artists whispered to us that Aurora teaches others. She’s good, the fellow artist said. We agreed!)

Sylvia Williams, too, was revisiting a painting she had begun for a friend.

Although the wedding date has come and gone, she still wants to honor the bride in her fashionable gown with a portrait contrasted by a deep, almost-navy background.

Penny Berridge used a tool I have in my garage — a plain ol’ 2-inch brush — to cast wide strokes for an amber sunset. (It works!)

A birdhouse got Sue Lane’s attention — and there were plenty more just around the partition in the Center!

Soft colors comprised the work of Mary Wilbourn — suitable for songbirds and dogwood notecards.

Sarah Weber dabbed shades of brown to make river rocks come to life.  While we were there, she helped Mother Nature along by adding one more rock in the lower left corner — a solid base for a mountain stream.

Trays of paints took on a life of their own for Christine Harness who told me she had named a tray Anne Abbott.  Anne Abbott? I asked.  Isn’t she a teacher at Fulton?

Christine later commented, My trays are named after people I know and admire. Anne Abbott is a national artist that has workshops.  I did her workshop with the Tellico Village art guild.

The Anne Abbott I know is creative, too — an English teacher I admire! We admired Christine — for attending to the detail of a finely cut water goblet — larger than life. And glistening!

We loved the fanciful, almost childlike quality of Doris Prichard’s framed piece submitted for the Members Show . . .

and we liked Doris, too — a little fanciful herself!

These AMAZING hand-crafted books by Bob Meadows caused us to do a double-take. . .

not just for the cut-outs, torn paper edges, and bindings . . . but also for the poetic passages that drew us right in.

Although Fay Piquet wasn’t painting with her fellow artists on the day of the DeTour, we couldn’t resist snapping a picture of her award-winning watercolor, Coneflower.

And my had-to-have little takeaway: Emie Sue — a carefully, colorfully brush-stroked cow by Sarah B. Weber!

Treasures lie in wait at the Fountain City Art Center. So, we’ll be back! 

Just as we hope you’ll return to Oh the Places We See for our last two Art DeTours! Oh, what Knoxville artists can do!

Fountain City Art Center, Inc.

213 Hotel Avenue

Knoxville, TN 37918

865.357.2787

At that point, she handed me this card that stayed on my fridge ’til I could see Lisa, the maker of this hand-built flower holder or whatever you call this piece (a vase?), once again — at the Dogwood Art DeTour. 

And the best thing to look forward to? More artists joining her at her own home! Su-weet!

We arrived at her home in West Knoxville only to see another of my favorite artists — Joe Parrott — and his wife Nancy.  Joe’s latest scenes of Knoxville are nothing less than classic , so I was glad to see someone with good taste haunting the same artsy places my friend Pat Medley and I had chosen from the vast selection of open venues for Art DeTour.

We met Roger Luebke, premiere woodworker, who, surprisingly enough, had taught algebra to Mark Medley, Pat’s husband, at Holston High years ago!

It’s one thing to look at a rough piece of wood — just turned but not rubbed . . .

but when you touch a finished bowl, you feel that smooth, natural surface brought to life by an artist. And Roger is an artist.

Then you become sort of a wooden bowl snob, turning it over to see the tree origin, asking questions about the form, the wormy holes, or whatever makes the piece unique. And we grilled Roger on this one, the one we loved best — form meets function meets art!

Robbie Gentry, glass bead jewelry artist, set up on the porch.  She displayed her finished pieces — necklaces, bracelets, one-of-a-kind creations . . .

but she also demonstrated her craft, letting sparks fly as they may while she formed one bead — smooth, bumpy, or bubbly — at a time.

Lynnda Tenpenny, also on Lisa’s porch, let us look closely at her displays: mixed media collages, both framed and under construction. She showed us how she selects, places, and tears, if need be, pieces of hand-made paper, interesting scraps, string or what-have-you.

Her website showcases paintings, too, like On the Way to the Sea which won 1st place in the Smoky Mountain Anniversary Exhibit.

But, of course, I had to find Lisa, and there she was . . . in the garage with her friend Dana Barnes (on left) talking about Terra Madre – Women in Clay, a local group of women potters.

Another visitor, Candy Finley-Brooks, perked up at our discussion because she’s in Terra Madre, too.  I had just recently visited their exhibit at Blount Mansion, so I could add my enthusiastic comments to theirs about the work of these women who create art– like that drippy brown piece Lisa made that I dearly love!

For today’s Art DeTour, Lisa had wall pockets . . .

bowls decorated with random flings of glaze (well, they were sort of planned!) . . .

and hand-build tea pots with an Oriental flair.

Google Lisa Kurtz Highland Pottery, and you’ll find that this talented potter has inspired her whole family to be involved in art in some way. You just might see her at the Art Market Gallery in downtown Knoxville where she does some of the scheduling!

Oh, these Knoxville artists — creative, hard-working, personable! No wonder the Dogwood Arts Festival is right here!

What do you think?  Have you got a favorite artist from Knoxville?  Or somewhere else?  Let me know.  There are soooo many more places we need to see!

Lisa Kurtz

Highland Pottery

9193 Hemingway Grove Circle

Knoxville, TN 37922

865.216.8650

www.LKHighlandPottery.com

Drive slowly down winding Duncan Road in West Knoxville, past the family house, onto a curvy driveway and then stop.  You’re not at the door yet, but you can almost hear the quiet, the thinking, the work.

We parked and walked the pathway . . . down and around . . .

under the twig arch —  primitive, whimsical  — and strung with blue balls! 

We spied the curved wall topped with shards, tiles, bits of glass in a random, artsy mosaic — an almost Hobbit-like entrance for the place that artists work! 

Then the door opened. Potter Janet Harper (right) greeted my friend and shopping companion and her high school French teacher, Pat Medley!

And with hugs all around, we were in Two Pines Pottery where Janet and Judy bring clay to life!

The display room offered shelves of bowls, pitchers, platters, cups — diminutive to bold. 

Seeing where artists work is one of the goals of Art DeTour, a Dogwood Arts event.  Although idle today, the tools of the trade that Janet and Judy use told us about how they work the clay and shape their art.

Like these pieces that reminded me of linoleum block art — only with contemporary colors on clay . . .

And this stunning bowl . . .

And a unique little black and white two-piece thingy toddlin’ on four legs!

Pat purchased the sugar bowl and creamer (middle) to take to her home in Maine.

And I took home one of Judy’s creations — a little box with pink bird — now in my kitchen .  .  .  good for catching paper clips, coins, or Hershey’s kisses!

Janet wrapped up our purchases and bid us good-bye. 

And it was another interesting visit: an artist hamlet known as Two Pines Pottery!

Check back on this blog for my next Art DeTour !

Oh, the places we see!

Two Pines Pottery

Knoxville, TN 37919

865-588-8870

Call for appointment.

For Judy Brater, contact judybrater@gmail.com or go to www.judybrater.com.