Fundraisers for urban garden at children’s science museum in Chilhowee Park.

Join The Muse Knoxville and The Tomato Head each Tuesday in November as they host fundraisers that will add a new addition to the children’s science museum. “The funds raised throughout this month will be used to develop our on-site garden beds and the educational programs that will reconnect visitors with the natural world and the true source of their food,” said Ellie Kittrell, Executive Director of The Muse.

A portion of the proceeds from all food and drink sales generated during lunch and dinner at both Tomato Head locations goes directly to The Muse Knoxville.

“One of the focal points of the Loving Spoonful program is non-profits that work with kids,” said Scott Partin, Tomato Head co-owner. “When we looked at the energy and thoughtfulness going in to the redesign and growth of The Muse project we knew we wanted to be a part.”

With close to 4000 square feet, The Muse presents Knoxville’s only public access Planetarium, an exhibit for preschoolers to test motor skills and express themselves creatively as well as exhibits related to science, engineering, and design for older students.

“We are humbled that Tomato Head has selected The Muse as the November Loving Spoonful recipient and appreciate the commitment that Mahasti and Scott continue to provide to our organization,” said Ellie Kittrell.

For more information or interviews, please contact Ellie Kittrell, The Muse Knoxville Executive Director, at 865-594-1494 and ellie@themuseknoxville.org, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

About The Muse Knoxville

The Muse Knoxville is passionate about involving the community as a partner in the programs and services they provide families, which includes teaching kids valuable gardening and agriculture concepts and skills that integrate with several subjects, such as math, science, art, health and physical education, and social studies, as well as several educational goals, including personal and social responsibility.

About The Tomato Head

Opened in 1990, The Tomato Head is committed to helping the community by supporting sustainable agriculture, giving to East Tennessee nonprofits, and recycling its packaging waste. Its charitable donation program, Loving Spoonful, is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits and the restaurant. It consists of a series of Tuesday fundraisers with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner of the month.

Tell your friends we’re accepting submissions for our 2014 art exhibition schedule. The selected artists will have a monthly show at each Tomato Head location, including a First Friday one evening in Market Square. Labeled CDs are requested by October 18th, 2013.  Please include a brief bio, artist statement and sizes for each piece of work submitted. Artists retain proceeds from all sales.

Artists may submit a CD or email of 5-10 images of wall-mountable work to:

Tomato Head Exhibits Committee (for CDs)
c/o Bethann DeGrow
1710 Jefferson Avenue
Knoxville, TN  37917
or bethann@degrow.com 

You might have noticed the new artwork hanging in our Market Square store. Local artist Sloane Baker Tillman is donating 20% of her sales from now until May 5 to HABIT (Human Animal Bonding in Tennessee). UT College of Veterinary Medicine sponsors this animal-assisted therapy program where pets visit nursing homes, after school programs and mental health centers in our area.

Her paintings are on display downtown until April 6, and then they will move to The Gallery Shopping from April 7 to May 5. Help make a difference in our community by purchasing one of her paintings.

 

 

“Days of Wine and Roses” an exhibit of oil paintings by Carol Jones, will be on exhibit at The Tomato Head – Knoxville beginning January 7th through February 3rd. Her exhibit will be on exhibit at the Maryville location from February 5th through March 3rd.

Jones describes the paintings as “…an exhibit with vivid rose petals, colorful wine bottles, sparkling goblets, and Italian scenes.  Now that I’m retired from my day job of nursing, I take time to smell the roses and kick back with a glass of wine. You paint what you love and I love flowers, crystal, and Italian vinos which inspired these pieces.”

“Artifacts, Artscapes and Organics,” an exhibit of photographs by Terri Swaggerty, will be on view at the Knoxville Tomato Head
Restaurant, 12 Market Square, from September 3rd through September 30th, 2011.

Swaggerty says, “This exhibit is a collection of eclectic images with an overall southern flavor. It’s a photographic art journal of the past 18
months. All I had to do was look… to find art… around every corner.”

At The Tomato Head Maryville, an exhibit of Jarrod Justice’s will be on view from September 4th through October 1st, 2011.

June 3^rd—also known as a First Friday in downtown Knoxville–will be the last opportunity to view “Astonishing Tales of Perilous Adventure,” a mixed-media exhibit featuring the work of six artists from Work Horse Collective. After June 3^rd the exhibit will move to the Maryville Tomato Head location where it will be on display through July 3^rd.

New at the Knoxville location this month will be photography from The Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley. Images featured were produced through the ImageMakers photography program of The Club. The program encourages youth to learn and practice black-and-white, color, digital, and alternative process photography. All are invited to view the photo exhibit, on display through July 2^nd.

April’s featured artists will be Terri Yeatts and Nicholas Hankins.

Terri Yeatts work will be on display at the downtown Knoxville Tomato Head location, from April 2nd through May 6th, 2011.

Artist Statement: I use paint like a writer uses words, making this the main source of communication between the artist and the viewer.

The two subject matters that capture my interest the most are buildings and crows. I have been painting crows for several years now and my interest in them was sparked by my observation of their daily lives, mainly how they interacted with each other and other birds. I decided to do a little research and in doing so I discovered I was not alone in my interest with their behavior. I found that they are not only tool users but they have relationships much like humans. My paintings of crows depict a whimsical view of a highly misunderstood subject matter.

The buildings I paint appear to have a child-like approach. I prefer to focus on the simplicity and innocence of the subject matter and I am intrigued with their structures.

~

Nicholas Hankins will be on view at the Maryville Tomato Head, 211 West Broadway, from April 3rd through May 7th, 2011.

Every month The Tomato Head features new art, and with this March comes the work of Nicholas Hankins at the Knoxville restaurant. The collection of paintings and drawings will be on exhibit through April 1st.

The artist statement for the show:

I love to create work that I can become engulfed in with passion and enthusiasm. When I paint, I seemingly become freed from the constraints of time and place. Sometimes, ideas flow from inspiration through my hands so fast it is akin to an out of body experience; as if I am watching someone else at work on my painting. It is this elusive and satisfying state that I strive for, to be at peace with myself and the world around.

Feeling a sense of uncertainty about process affirms that I’m pushing boundaries while enjoying the sense of play with materials and mark making. I feel the traditional disciplines which inform my work are easily accessible and invite the application of a narrative from the audience.

An interesting aside to my working process is that the final image may be the calculated realization of a goal or simply the vehicle I have employed to spark the impetus for experimentation. This ebb and flow of “play” and “work” is not only enjoyable for me, but I feel provides a range of work for viewers that stays refreshing and interesting.

The work of Vickie Kallies Lee will be available for viewing at the Maryville Tomato Head, through April 2nd.

Paintings by Vickie Kallies Lee will be on view at the Knoxville Tomato Head Restaurant from February 2nd through March 4th, 2011.

“Vickie Kallies Lee’s paintings make reference to patterns and designs from American wallpaper, drapes and linoleum from the forties, fifties and sixties. Her vintage collection supplies the subject matter for interiors where dolls smile silently. Are they keeping secrets?”

In Maryville this month, recent works by Ruth Allen will be on view from February 6th through March 5th, 2011.