A long-awaited tribute to local artist Eric Sublett opens on First Friday, June 3, at the University of Tennessee Downtown Gallery, with an opening reception from 5-9 p.m. The works will be on display through July 2, and there will be a closing reception on Friday, July 1, from 5-9 p.m.
This exhibition features the paintings, drawings, photography, poetry, flyer/poster art, and film/videos of Sublett, with an emphasis on the artist’s connection to community and local culture. “Eric Sublett: The Creative Life” is organized by his friends and fellow artists, photographer Gary Heatherly, and songwriter/poet RB Morris.
Eric Sublett
Sublett passed away in 2018 after a long illness. A lifelong Knoxvillian, he was a graduate of West High School, the University of Tennessee, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine. Friends knew him as a talented artist, avid music lover and knowledgeable historian. Sublett was involved with the 1982 World’s Fair Art Colony and development of James Agee Park in Fort Sanders. He was a founding member of the 200 East and CHROMA art groups. He is the son of former UT School of Art painting professor and Knoxville 7 artist, Carl Sublett.
All UT Downtown Gallery events are free and open to the public. Masking is strongly encouraged. UT Downtown Gallery is located at 106 S. Gay Street. The gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info here or call 865-673-0802.
Other First Friday happenings are detailed here, including exhibitions, music, performances, culinary arts, public art and more. Be on the lookout for the ArtWalk flags outside of participating downtown First Friday venues.
For info on other local events, contact the Arts & Culture Alliance.
Suzanne Cada is deputy director of the Arts & Culture Alliance.