About
Dogwood Arts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help fund arts education in our schools, promote the visual and performing arts, and to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of our region.
Bloomin’ bulletin:
Our latest newsletter, the Bloomin’ bulletin can be found here. If you’d like to sign up to receive it electronically, please sign up here.
Resident Artist:
Bobbie Crews is our Resident Artist through April and has her artwork displayed in our offices! There are 17 oil on canvas and mixed water media pieces compiling the exhibit of fine art, murals, and prints.
Originally from Northwest, Ohio, Bobbie has called Knoxville home since 1990. Murals, portraits, and design have been her livelihood since 1993. Her permanent studio is in the Emporium Center for the Arts, located at 100 Gay Street.
The artwork is available for sale. Be sure to stop by our offices [602 South Gay Street, Mezzanine Level, Knoxville, TN 37902] Monday through Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm to see Bobbie’s exhibit!
To learn more about Bobbie, or see more of her art, visit www.bobbiecrews.com
History of Dogwood Arts:
In 1947, New York newspaper reporter John Gunther, came into town, checked out the area, then returned to New York and wrote “Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America, with the possible exception of some mill towns in New England. Its main street is called Gay Street; this seemed to me to be a misnomer.” Thus, in 1955, members of the Knoxville Garden Club, led by Betsey Creekmore, Martha Ashe and Betsy Goodson, along with a group of concerned citizens with a vision began a civic beautification project… the Dogwood Trails.
Some Dogwood Arts milestones:
1955: Dogwood Trails are established
1961: First Dogwood Arts Festival
1970: Bob Hope appears at Festival
1972: Elvis Presley performs at Stokley Athletics Center
1977: First Limited Edition Print
1978: House & Garden Show established
1979: A Very Special Arts Festival established
2009: Bazillion Blooms and Chalk Walk established
2010: Dogwood Arts Festival celebrates 50 years
2012: 52nd anniversary of the Dogwood Arts Festival and 58th anniversary of the Dogwood Trails
Board of Directors:
Brandon Parks, President
Janet Testerman, Vice President
Charlie Harr, Treasurer
Dino Cartwright, Secretary
Patrick Birmingham
Daniel Brown
Brandon Clarke
Jay Cobble
Zane Conner
Lanis Cope
Brooke Cross
Michael J. Croyle
John Duncan, III
Jenny Eichholz
Sam Furrow
Quiana Hardy
Kim Henry
Chris Johnson
Alan Jones
Dale Keasling
Ford Little
Karen Massey
Jennifer Moore
Ashley Pace
Bo Shafer
Melynda Whetsel
Tim Young
2012 Festival Chairs:
Hallerin Hill
Mickey Mallonee
Advisory Board:
Ginger Baxter
Betsey Creekmore
Mike Edwards
Bruce Hartmann
Bill Lyons
Mike McClamroch
Alvin Nance
Sharon Miller Pryse
Rhonda Rice
L. Caesar Stair, III
William B. Stokely, IV
Laurens Tullock
Thanks to the Knox County Public Library for this wonderful word wall video, Dogwood Spring! The power of the written word is amazing. We love it!