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Sunday, September 20, 2009

First Annual "Arts Crawl" in Downtown Kingsport

The Arts Council of Greater Kingsport (ACGK) will host the first annual Arts Council Arts Crawl: A Passport to the Arts in Kingsport on September 24, 2009. Start your travels at the State Theater where you will pick up your passport, wrist band, and your commemorative wine glass. Then travel to 5 local galleries and the newly remodeled BANQ building, getting your passport stamped along the way. Enjoy wine and delicious appetizers from area restaurants as you view local art work. Passports stamped by all 6 locations may be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the participating gallery of your choice. Tickets are on sale now!

Participating galleries and locations include Cindy Saadeh Fine Art Studio and Ripper Arts Studio and Gallery, The Gallery of Local Artists, Downtown Kingsport Association Gallery, Suzanne Barrett Justis Fine Art Studio and Gallery, Up Against the Wall Gallery and The BANQ. Participating restaurants include Stir Fry Cafe, Bone Fire Smokehouse, Cafe' N'Orleans, Divine Cafe & Catering, Kaffé Blue, Kingsport Grocery Company and Rose Cottage Bakery.
Up Against the Wall Gallery will be hosting a book signing by local author and reporter Vince Staten. His Latest book “I Always Wanted to be a Cowboy When I Grew up till I Figured out I was Scared of Cows” will be available for purchase the night of the event. It is a collection of his columns from the Kingsport Times News.

Heidi Mayfield will also be at Up Against the Wall Gallery for the event. Her work is on sale there and has been very well received. Heidi received her Advertising Graphic Arts and Design degree from The Art Institute of Florida. An artist all of her life, Heidi has explored different mediums and techniques, and her style has drifted from graphic to realism to impressionism and now primarily to abstract with a cubist influence. A dominate and recurring theme in her work is the female form and the aura of energy. The rich colors Heidi works with are influenced by the radiant fall colors of the native Virginia and the cool ocean colors of her Florida residence, both juxtaposed in unexpected and compelling ways. Working in thin transparent layers of color and encaustic wax along with a mark making process of scratching and scraping into the painting’s surfaces creates depth and intrigue in her work.

Tickets for this event are $32.00 per person and can be purchased in advance online at www.KingsportARTS.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase on the night of the event under the marquee at the State Theater, 155 Broad Street. For more information contact the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport at 423-392-8420.

The Arts Council of Greater Kingsport is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, as well as, the Kingsport Community Foundation (a fund of the East Tennessee Foundation), Eastman Chemical Co., the City of Kingsport’s Cultural Arts Division, and other local sponsors.
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Location, Location, Location

Location, Location, Location
www.MoveToKingsport.com is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the Eastern U.S. This city of 50,000 in a metro of 308,000, was planned by renowned American planner John Nolen in his office at Harvard Square. Located in the lush green foothills of the Tennessee Valley, it is surrounded by the Southern Highlands and mountain lakes. Kingsport is home to Marriott’s www.MeadowViewResort.com and thousands of acres of unique, natural amenities at Bays Mountain and Warriors Path Parks. The natural geography provides a temperate, well-balanced climate with four seasons and a natural shelter from extreme weather. Population growth has also been well-balanced, ensuring you will not outgrow your decision to relocate. With no personal property taxes, special assessments, or state income taxes on salaries/wages, you’ll find that Kingsport has a very low cost of living coupled with an exceptionally high quality of life (see for yourself at www.BestPlaces.net). The regional airport (TRI) has direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and St. Pete/Clearwater with easy access, parking, and virtually no security lines. The public education system was planned by Columbia University and Newsweek has repeatedly recognized the local high school as one of the best in America. Year in and year out our graduates go on to the top colleges and universities (and without costly private school tuition fees). Harvard also recognized Kingsport in 2009 with the Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiative. What are you waiting for? It’s time to leave the high costs, traffic jams, and stress behind and discover this hidden gem.