June 1, 2022
Marble City Dentistry & Facial Esthetics has partnered with Laurie Kay of Monsters Made with Love to host a First Friday art showcase that will feature a selection of monsters created by local artists and artisans. In addition to their own interpretations of monsters, each artist has created a fleece monster from one of Kay’s monster kits.
The event will be held Friday, June 3, from 4-7 p.m., at Marble City Dentistry & Facial Esthetics, located in First Horizon Plaza at 800 S Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. Attendees will view the pieces and enjoy light appetizers, as well as beer and wine provided by Knox Brew Hub and Corks Wine & Spirits.
The event also will feature art by local painter Alan Lemke. Lemke specialized in impressionist florals and landscapes. Working in watercolors and acrylic paints, he employs a bold color palette to capture nature.
“We’re always seeking new ways to engage with our community,” said Dr. William Pippin, owner of Marble City Dentistry & Facial Esthetics. “We’re excited to host the work of Alan Lemke and Laurie Kay, a talented artist who teaches others to express themselves and embrace their true selves. That is something that we strive to help our patients do every day.”
Kay turned Monsters Made with Love into a business in 2015 after years of making them for family. The monsters are hand sewn from felt and other pieces of fabric and include buttons, string and other elements to bring the creatures to life. Since moving to Knoxville in 2017, Kay’s efforts to inspire “sewing with a self-love twist” have developed into art therapy and teaching self-acceptance. She now hosts monster-making workshops across East Tennessee, including at the Emerald Youth Foundation and in Knox County Schools, at corporate team-building events and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
The fleece monsters, some of which were shown as part of the Monsters at Dogwood Arts exhibition in February 2020, will be available for purchase at the June event.
“Laurie Kay is making a name for herself as a creative force in Knoxville. This is a unique opportunity for the public to view her work in action, and see what other artists were able to create,” Pippin said.
The First Friday event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.marblecitydentistry.com and www.monstersmadewithlove.com.
About Marble City Dentistry & Facial Esthetics
Marble City Dentistry & Facial Esthetics is a dentistry and facial esthetics practice committed to helping the Knoxville community improve and maintain their health, well-being, and quality of life. The practice was founded by Dr. William Pippin, a native of Bristol, Tenn., and graduate of the UT College of Dentistry in Memphis. Dr. Pippin has been practicing for over thirty years, providing high-quality dental and facial rejuvenation services to patients across East Tennessee. To provide the greatest health benefit to his patients, he has completed advanced courses in implant surgery and IV sedation at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He is currently a member of the American Dental Association, The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.
To learn more visit www.marblecitydentistry.com or call 865-888-8999.
