Exhibitions
LOVINGLY: BLACK, QUEER, INTERRACIAL TENNESSEE IN CRAFT
Arrowmont Gallery / 110 S Gay St. March 6 - 29th
Karen LeBlanc Sullivan
Lyn Govette
Ericka Basille
Ashley Buchanan
Kelsie Dulaney
Pam Faw
Jason Flack
Doniqua Joyner
Rahn Marion
Wokie Massaquoi-Wicks
James McKissic
Elisheba Mrozic
Jeremy Myles
Karena ‘Kidd’ Graves
The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, in partnership with the Crafting Blackness Initiative, ETSU Slocumb Galleries, Tennessee Craft, and The Bottom, proudly presents LOVINGY: Black, Queer, Interracial Tennessee in Craft. The exhibition will run from March 7 to 29, 2025, at the Arrowmont Gallery in Downtown Knoxville, with an opening reception on March 7 during First Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a DJ set by Ty from The Bottom from 7 to 9 p.m.
The exhibition highlights the creativity and resilience of Black LGBTQ+ and African American artists with interracial marriages in Tennessee. It draws inspiration from the landmark Loving v. Virginia case, which struck down laws banning interracial marriage and celebrates the power of craft to challenge societal norms and amplify marginalized voices. Through diverse artistic expressions, LOVINGY explores the intersection of interracial marriage and LGBTQ+ identity and incorporates themes of race, love, identity, and resistance, inviting viewers to engage with stories often overlooked in mainstream narratives.
During the opening reception, curators will host an artist talk and pay tribute to Knoxville-born LGBTQ+ poet Nikki Giovanni and artist Beauford Delaney. Attendees are encouraged to “come as you are” and celebrate the richness of Black, queer, and interracial experiences. LOVINGLY: Black, Queer, Interracial Tennessee in Craft is supported by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission for Crafting Blackness Initiative and ETSU Slocumb Galleries.
Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft’s first permanent off-campus exhibition space is located downtown Knoxville in the heart of the Gay St. arts district. The Arrowmont Gallery offers rotating exhibitions that complement workshops, conferences and programs, featuring instructors, staff, Artists-in-Residence, and other members of Arrowmont’s creative community. To learn more about this, and other exhibitions from Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts visit https://arrowmont.org/galleries/current-exhibits. Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Thursday from 10am to 5 pm, Fridays from 2-9 pm and Saturdays 12 noon to 5pm
