| Fine art show to FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.... April 16, 2009 .... ....KNOXVILLE.., ..Tenn.....—Art meets “Art and community activism is a good fit because both come In this case, action is growing food. Whether you live in an Urban farming is a fast growing new movement, says Livesay, “We want to encourage urban dwellers to grow something,” he Sustainable home gardening demonstrations will promote Featured artists are Greenwood, Ken Marine, Brad Loveday, William Isom, Jill Sanders, Meghan Henley, and Dr. David Fox. Christina Horn of Hudson K will provide live music. Greenwood hopes these types of grassroots events will bring attention to important “We hope to increase
Written by Yvonne Loveday, a freelance writer in Knoxville, TN |
Shaw: Art show to aid breast cancer patient< Ammi Knight paints the chest of a volunteer model in preparation for the “Save The Ta Tas First Friday Celebration and Fund-raiser,” which will be held from 6-10 p.m. Friday at 8 Shooters Studio, 1202 North Central Street. It started out as a joke. Old North Knoxville resident Bekki Vaden painted a funny face on her chest to make her husband laugh when he was having a bad day. In fact, it worked so well she took a picture with her cell phone and sent the image to a few friends. That's when inspiration really struck, since some of them were raising money for a 35-year-old woman without health insurance who is battling breast cancer. "It just seemed like a natural fit," Vaden said. Breasts. Art. Fundraiser. They all went together and a Feb. 13 event originally organized to sell homemade clothing at Lox Salon in the Old City also became an art show featuring pictures of women's painted, well, breasts. "We raised $1,500 in an hour and a half," Vaden said. "That paid for a month of treatment. Then it just exploded from there." Those involved were determined to plan an even bigger show and word spread. By the time the next photo shoot was held, photographer Tovah Greenwood said 60 women posed and organizers had to turn volunteer models away. "Most of them were from Knoxville but they came from all over East Tennessee," Vaden said. "Some drove a long way, even as far away as Athens." "I was painted on and painted people," said Amy Duke, a sculptor who works at Mighty Mud on Sutherland Avenue. "It was not as intimidating as I thought it would be. There was a very laid-back attitude." The result is the "Save The Ta Tas First Friday Celebration and Fund-raiser," which will be held from 6-10 p.m. Friday at 8 Shooters Studio, 1202 North Central Street. In addition, a belly-dance performance will be held by Maria Kateri and Friends at 8 p.m. Ice cream cones. Shirt and ties. Van Gogh's "Starry Night." The pictures are as varied as the body types of the woman, who range in ages from 18 to 60. "Anything you can imagine has been put on breasts," Vaden said. Duke sported a cartoon of a Volkswagon Beetle. "I'll definitely purchase a copy," she said. "I don't know if it's going to go in the bathroom or bedroom." A silent auction will be held for 27 large format framed photos. In addition, 38 matted prints will be sold. "We'll also have a continuous slide show featuring each of the pictures," said Greenwood, who did all the photography and has been printing pictures non-stop for the past week. "And even if the prints are gone, we'll sell copies to anyone who wants them." As fun and light-hearted as the drawing and photo shoot was, the seriousness of the disease wasn't far from mind - especially when a woman who underwent a mastectomy participated. "I've never seen a woman who had her breast removed," Vaden said. "It was a real breast cancer awareness lesson for me." That woman is in a breast cancer support group of woman under 40. "Three of them are age 26 or under and have had mastectomies," Vaden said. "This isn't just a disease for mothers and grandmothers. It can happen to anyone." Greenwood said most participants have had a friend or loved one with the disease. "The bond that it creates is a very powerful thing," she said, which is why she thinks the idea has caught on. Others who painted models included Ammi Knight, Melissa Baker, Jessica Gregory, Rob Link, Sara McNally, Lisa Gale, Amanda Swiger, Zophis Kneiss and Linda Capps. Although Vaden's spur-of-the-moment inspiration led to Friday's event, she doesn't consider herself an artist. "It's not my profession," she said. "I'm a landscaper during the day. I like to paint and I'm just someone with a few ideas." They're not stopping with Friday's event. Organizers plan to put out a calendar and a coffee table book using the same concept. Terry Shaw is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel. © 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co |
