January 31, 2025 (Knoxville, TN) – The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is thrilled to announce the reopening of its newly renovated, hands-on creative space which will include the debut of commissioned artworks by Knoxville-based artists, a new name and signage, a scavenger hunt, as well as new interactive art-making activities. The space formerly known as Creative Corner will now be named “Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play,” in honor of Aubrey Jaye Burleson and the transformative support of her parents Melissa and Randy Burleson. The Burlesons have been long-time supporters of the KMA in a variety of ways, and were motivated to offer a family-friendly space to museum-goers that cultivates and inspires the creative energy of children, as well as all those young-at-heart. Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play encourages young visitors and their families to make art while surrounded by art – offering both traditional media (drawing & painting) as well as custom-designed digital tablets loaded with a plethora of possibilities.
Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play is conveniently located next to the museum's front desk, making it a perfect first stop – or finale – for visitors. This colorful, engaging space encourages children to channel their inherent artistic talents into masterpieces that can speak to what they see and feel in the Museum. While children immerse themselves in play and exploration, guardians are encouraged to join in on the fun, making it a dynamic destination for visitors of all ages.
The renovation, which began in October 2024, is a collaborative project featuring the work of five esteemed local artists: Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Carl Gombert, Jean Hess, Paris Woodhull, and Annie Rochelle. The artists toured the space individually and collectively, to ultimately create a harmonious environment where their individual styles merge into something magical beyond the sum of its parts.
Meet the Artists:
- Denise Stewart-Sanabria: Known for her hyper-realist portraits on a variety of scales and materials, Denise’s work has been showcased in museums and collections nationwide, including the Knoxville Museum of Art. In this context, her wooden figures reflect Knoxville community members, including a portrait of the donor’s daughter and dog. They are friendly faces and works of art, further emphasizing that Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play is welcoming to all.
- Carl Gombert: A master of pattern and symbolism, Carl’s work draws inspiration from global traditions of both ornamentation and mysticism. His intricate mandalas blend spiritual themes with playful elements of pop culture. For this installation, Carl marries shape, color, and mandala-like forms to engage children with a kaleidoscopic experience.
- Jean Hess: With a mixed background in anthropology, education, and art, Jean’s mixed-media works fashion environments where light and nature meet universal musings and meditations. Her lifelong commitment to what art can inspire in people is evident in Jean’s magnetic collages and assemblages that urge you to step inside. In Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play, Jean is crafting a cozy, welcoming space for soft reflection under a gauzy canopy and swooping birds.
- Paris Woodhull: well-known to Knoxville from her Gay Street shop + studio, Paris is an accomplished artist, muralist and illustrator whose work has been featured around the city, as well as platforms like Sesame Street and HGTV. She is especially skilled at crafting stylized maps of cities and sites that highlight their most creative and colorful dimensions. For this context, Paris transforms a wall in Art Play into a lively and entertaining visual guide of the museum, including a scavenger hunt.
- Annie Rochelle: Annie’s work sweepingly bridges classical art techniques with contemporary aesthetics. She is especially adept at imagining spaces where pattern and shape merge with figures and environments. In the center of the Art Play space, Annie has crafted a pair of swirling skyscapes inspired by the impressionistic landscapes seen in the KMA’s Higher Ground exhibition.
In addition to its installations and warm new design, Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play will feature state-of-the-art technology developed by Protozone Interactives. These dynamic interfaces have also been featured at the National Gallery of Art, San Francisco Exploratorium, and Brooklyn Children’s’ Museum, to name just a few.
The KMA extends its thanks to Protozone for both their partnership and in-kind support, as well as High Resolutions in Knoxville for the production of signage and vinyl applications, and our deepest gratitude to the Burleson family for their unwavering commitment to the arts.
Aubrey Jaye’s Art Play is set to reopen on Sunday, February 9, 2025, in conjunction with the museum’s regularly scheduled Second Sunday Art Activity. Families in the Knoxville community are warmly invited to visit, explore, and enjoy this creative space with their children.
About the Knoxville Museum of Art
The Knoxville Museum of Art celebrates East Tennessee’s rich, diverse visual culture and its connections to the wider currents of world art. Located at 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive in downtown Knoxville, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday (10:00 AM–5:00 PM) and Sunday (1:00–5:00 PM). Admission and parking are free. Learn more at knoxart.org.
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Photo credits:
Courtesy of the Knoxville Museum of Art