Please plan to come see us February 3-4! Perhaps the weather will be less exciting. Don’t despair from all the cold and ice as the famous Sequatchie Valley Institute Spring Wildflower Hikes are now on the calendar! March 24 and April 14 will give all the stalwart wildflower lovers a chance to explore the trails through rocks, pristine forest, streams, and cliffs to find the true beauty of our beloved valley. More information upcoming, but feel free to register now! Just give us a call at 404-698-5444 or message us.
Our work is to care for our beautiful land and share it with others—to learn, to discover, to be enveloped by the beauties and wonders of Nature around us, even in the cold and dark of winter.
The sound of wind blowing the fallen leaves, the quiet of foggy mornings, the fall of rain-sometimes gentle, sometimes in torrents-the running water of streams and springs to discover and hear, babbling, rippling, or roaring. Streams and springs suddenly reappearing, flowing over moss-covered rocks and awakening the silent ferns.
Barren trees raising their bold limbs high above the forest floor in myriad patterns of light and dark. Only the bold beeches stay clothed with golden dancing leaves on long winter days, until the sharp anxious buds of spring push them off to fall sadly over the welcoming earth.
The forest floor still covered with plants, Partridge Berry, Pipsissewa, Little Brown Jug, Cranefly Orchids, struggling bravely, thrusting through dry leaves to grasp the precious energy of the sun randomly appearing through the bare canopy of trees above to feed their searching roots for the coming summer shade. Acorns and hickories layer the pathways, feeding the creatures searching for survival on these barren days, flying squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, chipmunks, possums, and even lost and sad armadillos wondering why they have come to this strange cold country from their sunny homes in the south.
Below a flowing spring, magical creatures sometimes appear on sunny days, flying in mysterious formations, for no apparent reason. Too small to be more than a wisp of life, they circle and fall to the cool water then rise upward to circle again, over and over in infinite patterns of the life of all living things.
Missed the Reception? So sorry, but there is still lots of art, and we might even have some Sequatchie Cove Creamery cheese and crackers left over– and lots of spiced cider on the stove! The weather will be warm and settled this weekend, and our friend and Woofer, Nate, has cleared the trails beautifully, so come on over to enjoy Tennessee winter, friends, and lots of lovely art made by Sequatchie Valley artists! We will be open from 11 till dark, but you may want to give us a call to be sure.
Sequatchie Valley Institute and Liquidambar Gallery are located at 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN, off Hwy TN-28 between Dunlap and Whitwell, just 45 minutes from Monteagle or Chattanooga. Watch for a subtle sign!Turn in and park, then walk across the bridge to the gallery.
Cross the creek to experience the Gallery and studios located in the magical heart of the Sequatchie Valley, featuring NEW WORK by our local artists, including Patrick, Carol, Leah, Asha, Michelle, and Linda Johnson who will be here with her exquisite baskets.
Enjoy this visual feast of art made locally and here in our studios featuring ceramics, flameworked glass, metal ornaments and sculptures, kaleidoscopes, jewelry, baskets, and paintings, all unique gift ideas. Sample wine, hot spiced cider, and Sequatchie Cove cheeses as you relax in the Gallery library with SVI’s favorite books on the good life--a cozy place to chat with the artists. Kids welcome!
While you are here, hike on over two miles of marked forest nature trails and Arboretum Trail, through 350 acres protected by the Land Trust of Tennessee. Dress for adventure!
SVI is located at 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN, off Hwy 28 between Dunlap and Whitwell, just 45 minutes from Chattanooga.
Website: https://liquidambarsvi.wordpress.com; svionline.org Facebook.com: liquidambargallery.SVI; Sequatchie Valley Institute For more Info, contact: 404-698-5444; Carolkimmons@gmail.com Proceeds from the Gallery help support the educational programs of SVI.
SVI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization promoting education and research in sustainable green living, ecology, and art.
And Liquidambar Gallery with Sequatchie Valley Institute will be there to celebrate! So the Gallery will be closed on Saturday, and we will be moving back in on Sunday. Give us a call if you want to come out Sunday, to see if we have unpacked yet!
We will have lots on new pottery ready for you at the show, so come by, celebrate, listen to great music, and watch the bicycles come in.
Our artists will be around this weekend. Asha is here from NYC with her lovely glasswork. Patrick’s new kaleidoscopes are on display. Carol’s pottery, fresh from the kiln, has some very exciting new glazes. Michelle may be back from a trip out west. The forest is green and fresh with all the rain, and the creek may be running! Singing birds abound, with several hawks entertaining us over the meadow. Lots of mushrooms in the woods, with some delicious edibles. Patrick can advise you on the edibility. So come and see us and our new art! Feel free to just drop by and visit awhile or take it easy in the air conditioned library with lots of art and nature books. Carol may even be persuaded to make some of her special herb tea from the gardens and woods. We will try to get some photos on the site tomorrow, so keep in touch! Give us a call if you want more information on the gallery or Sequatchie Valley Institute! Phone 404-698-5444 or email carolkimmons@gmail.com.
Come out and experience the thrill of seeing new warm pottery emerging from the kiln! We will be open from 11 am till 4 pm Central.
Summer days are here with lovely weather, so come to enjoy the flowers and forest. We’ve had some falling trees on the trails, but they are still passable.
Being in the forest helps us take a deep breath and rediscover our true essence, to remember our purpose and how we can serve the world. By immersing ourselves in nature and engaging our senses, we can reap the many benefits of the forest such as improved immune function, cardiovascular and respiratory health, and reduced stress and depression.
Forest Therapy is a practice that promotes healing and wellness through the calming and restorative atmosphere of forests and other natural environments. The practice originated from the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku or “forest bathing” and has been backed by research to provide an array of health benefits. By reminding us that we are interconnected with nature and all living beings, Forest Therapy goes beyond physical benefits and stabilizes our mood and cognition.
The big ash is down! It took 3 days of skilled work by our great crew of tree cutters! But we are now back to work on our art. A new load of Carol’s pottery will soon be emerging from the kiln. And ready for the Gallery on Saturday, June 24-25. Patrick will be away at Bonnaroo this week and Electric Forest in Michigan next, but we are still displaying much of his amazing works in the Gallery. He will be back and setting up again July 1-2. More pics coming soon, but here are some 12 oz beer mugs with Hops Vine impressions from the last firing!
We will be removing a VERY large and dying ash tree that is hanging over the gallery this weekend, so please put off your trip till next week! Carol is hoping to get a kiln firing this week, so we may have a number of beautiful new pieces to show you next weekend! Patrick will be leaving for 2 big shows–Bonnaroo and Electric Forest–soon after that, so plan to come before he packs up his best work.
Yes, 10% off on all Pottery and Glasswork at the Gallery this coming weekend for mothers! Bring the moms for an exciting hike on our self-guided nature trails along the creek. Lots of new work now in the gallery, and Spring is truly here, so the forest is beautiful, with late Spring flowers now blooming.
Our Wild Spring Hikes will be on March 25 and April 8 this year. So please join us to learn, experience, photograph the ephemeral blooms. The Gallery will be reopening on weekends and by appointment in March. Lots of new and beautiful artwork is on display. Call Carol at 404 698 5444 for more information or to set a time to come by. Cash, check, Venmo and Square are all acceptable. Carol’s mugs, with local flowers and leaves from our forest (and the name of the plants on the bottom) for coffee, tea, cold drinks, wine, or even good Tennessee whiskey will honor the spring blooms. Patrick has a large selection of amazing sculptures, along with pendants and kaleidoscopes for everyone to enjoy. Michelle’s watercolors can bring the beauty of the nature around us into your home.We have a fine new selection of flame-work heart necklaces made by Asha Ironwood for just $18, in every color.
Carol has beautiful work now on display from the first wood-firing in the kiln we built and fired using scrap wood from our forest and saw mill. Wood firing produces unique colors and pattern from the ash and fire itself, and cannot be duplicated. Each piece is a treasure. Ten percent of our sales goes to the educational programs of Sequatchie Valley Institute, a non-profit organization, encouraging sustainable living and understanding of our ecosystem. SVIonline.org website is now under construction, but will be back up soon.
Our trails are available on weekends with self-guiding booklets to make you more acquainted with the ecosystem, plants, trees, geology, and even history of 300 acres of untouched 100 year old forest on the side of the beautiful Sequatchie Valley, all protected forever by the Land Trust For Tennessee. Story Maps of the trails are online, but currently being edited, as 3 years of covid have altered the trails, so drop by the gallery to get the revised trail booklets. You will also to able to see our solar-powered homes that are sustainably built of rocks and lumber, all hand-crafted by our family and friends.
Some come to visit and find peace along the creek and streams along the trails that are now fast-flowing after the rains. The trails are easy to moderate, and, in case you tire along the way, there are easy round-trips to enjoy. Or you may simply wish to find a warm limestone rock to sit and watch the stream rush by. We are easy to find, between the charming small towns of Whitwell and Dunlap, just off the main road. You can find a number of very nice restaurants in both towns, including the Dunlap Restaurant, featuring great breakfasts with the best southern biscuits and gravy and fabulous country ham, Andy’s Pizzas, and The Cookie Jar, famous for its pies. El Metate is a favorite for Mexican food.
The Gallery and Sequatchie Valley Institute are located at 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN, off Hwy TN-28 between Dunlap and Whitwell, just 45 minutes from Monteagle or Chattanooga.
Turn in and park, then walk across the bridge to the gallery. For appointments or information, call 404 698 5444 or email carolkimmons@gmail.com
Desperate for that special present? We will have the Gallery open in 2022 by appointment! Lots of new and beautiful artwork is on display. Call Carol at 404 698 5444 for more information or to set a time to come by. We have arranged for self-service if we can’t be around, so bring cash or check and help yourself! Credit ok if we are available.
Come across the creek to see us. We are located in the magical heart of the Sequatchie Valley, and feature work by Carol Kimmons (Pottery), Patrick Ironwood(Natureofreaction.art), Asha Ironwood (IRONWOOD GLASSWORKS on FB), and Michelle Kimmons (paintings).
Our marked forest nature trails are also open, but please contact us in advance. Plan to go on a hike while you are here. Dress for adventure!
Due to covid, please bring your own snacks, drinks, and mask.
Sequatchie Valley Institute and the Gallery are located at 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN, off Hwy TN-28 between Dunlap and Whitwell, just 45 minutes from Monteagle or Chattanooga.
From Monteagle, take the Interstate to Exit 155; turn left onto TN-28N, drive 19 miles North past Whitwell. Turn left on Cartwright Loop and go 0.7 miles to 1233 and a Liquidambar sign.
From north Chattanooga, take US -27N to Hwy 111 toward Dunlap, turn left onto US-127 through Dunlap, then right onto TN-28S at the schools, go 7 miles to Cartwright Loop, turn right, and go 0.7 mile to #1233 and a Liquidambar sign. You may also come across Suck Creek road to Whitwell then north on TN 28 for about 8 miles. Turn left on Cartwright Loop after the Dollar Store.
Turn in and park, then walk across the bridge to the gallery.
Proceeds from the Gallery help support the educational programs of Sequatchie Valley Institute, a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization promoting education and research in sustainable green living, ecology, and art.
Valentine’s Day is coming so come find a present for your loved one! We have a fine new selection of flame-work heart necklaces made by Asha Ironwood for just $20, in every color. For the beer drinker, we have mugs with hops vines impressed in the clay, as well as many more mugs, with local flowers and leaves from our forest (and the name of the plants on the bottom) for coffee, tea, cold drinks, wine, or even good Tennessee whiskey. Patrick has a large selection of amazing sculptures, along with pendants and kaleidoscopes for everyone to enjoy. Carol has the beautiful work now on display from the first wood-firing in the kiln we built and fired using scrap wood from our forest and saw mill. Wood firing produces unique colors and pattern from the ash and fire itself, and cannot be duplicated. Each piece is a treasure. Ten percent of our sales goes to the educational programs of Sequatchie Valley Institute, a non-profit organization, encouraging sustainable living and understanding of our ecosystem.
Our trails are available with self-guiding booklets to make you more acquainted with the ecosystem, plants, trees, geology, and even history of 300 acres of untouched 100 year old forest on the side of the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. You will also to able to see our solar-powered homes that are sustainably built of rocks and lumber, all hand-crafted by our family and friends.
Some come to visit and find peace along the fast -flowing creek and streams as the flood recedes. The trails are easy to moderate, and, in case you tire along the way, there are easy round-trips to enjoy. Or you may simply wish to find a warm limestone rock to sit and watch the stream rush by.
We are easy to find, between the charming small towns of Whitwell and Dunlap, just off the main road. You can find a number of very nice restaurants in both towns, including the Dunlap Restaurant, featuring great breakfasts with the best southern biscuits and gravy and fabulous country ham, Andy’s Pizzas, and The Cookie Jar, famous for its pies. El Metate is a favorite for Mexican food.
Yes, I’m afraid the bad news is that there will be lots of sun to frighten our groundhogs. The good news is that there will be lots of sunshine with 60 degrees of lovely spring-like weather. So take advantage and try out our trails! Hick’s Creek is running clear and beautiful and the trails are clear and ready for walking. We are expanding the Hemlock Grove Trail so you will be able to walk further upstream along the creek.
Lots has happened since the Holiday Reception. Carol has been recovering from knee replacement and is already hiking the trails. Her nature-based pottery is practical and unique. The Gallery is replete with new work from Patrick and Nature of Reaction. This is a good time to see his unique sculptures before he packs up for springtime shows. We have new work from Asha Ironwood whose lampworking is beautiful. Michelle’s watercolors can bring the beauty of the nature around us into your home. We will provide some small refreshments for you, cheese and crackers no doubt, along with some fresh herbal tea collected from our gardens and forest.
It’s just 2 weeks until Valentine’s Day and we have a choice of ideas for your loved ones. Asha’s heart necklaces in all the colors of the rainbow make very special gifts.
Along the trail.
If you missed the Reception, you must come by to see the exciting work from our first firing in the Alpenglow Wood Fired Kiln. This beautiful kiln was built by Carol and Johnny with help from Patrick and many others, using mainly recycled and salvaged brick. We fired the kiln with the help of the family and especially Loren Howard, our wonderful potter friend who understands all the complex technical details of firing with wood. The firing took over 24 straight hours of tossing in wood every 5-8 minutes plus controlling air flow, dampers, and chimney. The wood all came from the forest around us, from trees that have died or fallen and scrap from our sawmill which also only cuts sustainably harvested trees from our 300 acres of forest. We had to wait 4 days for cooling before we could open the sealed kiln and see the results, which are stunning. You can see the results here in the Gallery now. We are now planning a second firing in March, and you, yes you, are invited to come help out! Details upcoming.
As if that isn’t enough excitement for Spring, it will soon be time for our yearly Sequatchie Valley Wildflower Hikes, scheduled for March 28 and April 11. Save the date!
Cross the creek to experience the Gallery and studios located in the magical heart of the Sequatchie Valley, featuring NEW WORK by Carol Kimmons, Patrick Ironwood, Michelle Kimmons, and more.
Enjoy a visual feast of art made here in our studios featuring ceramics, flameworked glass, metal ornaments and sculptures, kaleidoscopes, and paintings, all unique gift ideas. Watch our artists painting, working glass, and making pottery. Sample local mead, hot spiced cider, and Sequatchie Cove cheeses as you relax in the Gallery library with SVI’s favorite books on the good life–a cozy place to chat with the artists. Kids welcome!
While you are here, hike on over two miles of marked forest nature trails and Arboretum Trail, through 350 acres protected by the Land Trust of Tennessee. Dress for adventure!
SVI is located at 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN, off Hwy 28 between Dunlap and Whitwell, just 45 minutes from Chattanooga.
And lots of new stuff in the gallery. We will be closing the gallery on the 29th for our Fall craft shows, reopening for the Holiday Reception on Dec. 14, so if you are looking for some fabulous art made by local artists in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley, come to see us this weekend or next. It’s also a great time for hiking, as the temperatures are finally below the 90’s! The Glade is full of flowers now, goldenrod, lobelia, ageratum, and more, attracting out valuable pollinators and birds. Lots of muscadines are hanging on the vines in our vineyard, and are free for the picking as we have already put up over 35 qts of juice and more jam. Although we will be closing in 2 weeks, you may also give us a call if you want to come by another time for a hike or visit and we may be able to arrange it. Michelle’s paintings and our books will still be available, along with a selection of Patrick’s kaleidoscopes and Carol’s unique pieces. You will enjoy the autumn forest and the arboretum as the leaves begin to change.
We are a bit piled up at the Gallery right now, with Patrick just back from a successful and fun weekend at DragonCon in Atlanta, and Carol and Johnny preparing to go to the Native Plants Symposium at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, with our stock of lovely tiles and functional ware impressed with the native plants from our forest and fields. However, we still have lots of lovely work in the gallery, including the pieces that just came from the last kiln firing in preparation for the Native Plants show, as well as a new batch of beer mugs decorated with hops vines. We won’t pack them till Monday, just so you will have a chance to grab your favorite this weekend.
We want to show you part of the process for producing the tiles.
We just opened a kiln load with beautiful results!
Loading the kiln last week.
Johnny’s puzzle!
A beautiful firing with mugs galore! And with impressions from our summer forests and fields.
Still warm from the kiln. Get ’em while they are hot!
Tiles, dishes, pendants , and spoons.
Johnny is busy now fitting the tiles onto beautiful wood framing.
Time to get some great art along with outdoor exercise and forest relaxation on our Nature Trails, so drop by this weekend. Let us know if you want to come by on Labor Day, otherwise we will be closed. Call or text Carol at 404 698 5444. We will be closing the Gallery and Nature Trails in October for our Fall Art shows, so be sure to come see us soon while we have everything on display. We will reopen for our Holiday Reception in December.
We will be busy glazing for a firing, but we have lots of pottery, paintings, and Patrick’s amazing sculptures and kaleidoscopes in the gallery. We will have icy herbal tea available for visitors. The easy trails are open for hiking. Guides to the trails are available online at svionline.org, with printed copies here at the gallery. We provide bamboo hiking poles as well as insect repellent! So come watch the glazing process or just hang out in the cool gallery. The library has lots of great books and magazines to enjoy. Come on, y’all and bring the kids and dogs (on leash, please), and a picnic lunch to enjoy on the trail. Be prepared for forest trails, so wear good hiking shoes and jeans.
Consensus was reached this week to put off our wood kiln firing until the weather improves! That will happen much later, in fact, the 2nd weekend of Oct. We will keep you posted. In the meanwhile, the gallery is open and so are our lovely nature trails. So come see our newest treasures, in our sweet and COOL hideaway. The artists are working hard all weekend to produce more! Don’t forget, the gallery is open most weekends. Check here, or give us a call for more information.
Plan to come out and take a stroll along our easy well-marked trails this lovely hot weekend. Then enjoy the cool relaxing gallery with an iced drink. We are planning a Wood Firing July 12-14, so the Gallery won’t be open that weekend as we will be busy shoving wood. Call for more information. 404 698 5444
Trails and Gallery will be open all weekend, so have a quiet Memorial Day here in the forest, no traffic, just the trees and the art. The woods are spectacular now, fully dressed in their summer best. The rainfall has given us large and elegant leaves, forest flowers, butterflies, and nesting birds. We listen to the symphony of bird calls in the morning and frogs in the evening, along with the wind in the swaying trees. Sadly, the creek is no longer flowing as the trees have sucked up all the water, but the trails are still beautiful. Come and see us and find peace along the trails.
Coming up soon is our annual Food for Life program. This year sees a shorter single day program based on vegan foods on June 8. Tickets are on sale now! See SVIonline.org for more information.
Food for Life – Vegan Edition
Going vegan is not by any means the only way to health, though many do find benefit. If you are curious to learn more about this lifestyle (or if you just wish to enjoy a full meal and wonderful company in a nature reserve), then come on out and join us on June 8!
A hearty meal will be provided that will include locally-sourced ingredients from here in the Sequatchie Valley and from Hamilton County.
There will also be a Vegan Chili Contest, so bring your best creation for your chance to win a prize!
Follow the link below and register online to snag an Early Bird discount on your ticket!
… and what better way to celebrate than a forest walk through the protected woods and nature trails of Sequatchie Valley Institute! The Gallery can also provide unique presents for your wonderful mother. There is no charge to drop by and visit, walk on the trails, and have a picnic by the creek.
All mothers (and fathers too) get a lovely glass of Patrick’s homemade wine to celebrate.
Lots of fabulous art, all made locally by S.V.I. staff and friends, is there to look at and possibly find that perfect piece to give a special someone or take home. Carol and Patrick are both busy making new pieces daily, so feel free to come by and see how it’s done.
The Gallery looks lovely and Patrick has filled his shelves with amazing new sculptures, jewelry, and kaleidoscopes. Carol is busy finishing off a new batch of pottery, almost ready for the kiln.
The trails are ready for easy walks, hiking, and running, with the trees now weighted down with fresh new leaves. A more beautiful place to spend a few hours of peace and quiet would be hard to find. The trails are a good place for the kids to run off their extra spring energy. Let us know in advance and we might have some fresh organic garden greens for sale, also.
The creek is running, trees are green, and summer flowers are beginning to bloom. Come for a forest walk on this cool and beautiful weekend. The gallery is open and full of lovely new art.
Be sure to come to the hike — the woods are full of blooms, both redbuds and dogwoods in their glory. You may also visit the Gallery before and after the hike today. See you here!
Plan to park at Gallery. Shuttles are available to the Trail Head and Tours.
The Gallery will be also be open during registration for the Hike, about 10 am, and after the short hike whenever we get back, probably about 3 pm! The flowers are in full bloom, so be sure to plan for the hike. For more information, call Carol at (404) 698-5444. Carol has new mugs and small tumblers in the Gallery with impressed early spring flowers. Patrick also has new work and kaleidoscopes on display now.
Follow the link below to learn more about what we do here at Sequatchie Valley Institute!
Yes, we will be open, and from 10-5 CDT for the spring and summer. Patrick is back with his beautiful kaleidoscopes and more. Carol has a number of new tumblers with the first spring flowers impressed on them. Don’t forget, the Sequatchie Valley Institute Wildflower Hikes are coming up, Mar 30, April 6 and 13. Plants are already in bloom, so come this weekend for a preview of the beauty in store for us this year.
Patrick will be at this prestigious show Friday, Sat., and Sun. Mar. 15-17 in Atlanta: https://craftcouncil.org/shows/acc/american-craft-show-atlanta Carol and Johnny Kimmons will be at the Plant Natives Symposium Saturday, Mar. 16, at the University Center, UTC, 2nd floor, https://tnvalleywildones.org/plantnatives-2019/ where Carol will be showing her new tumblers, just out of the kiln, with the earliest wildflowers now blooming impressed on them. If I have time I’ll post pics of these (as soon as I get them out of the kiln) on the Liquidambar Gallery at SVI Facebook page. The Gallery will be open Sunday, Mar. 17, closed Saturday Mar. 16.
Already blooming: Bloodroot, toothwort, spurred violets, sedges, hepatica, and more. every day. Maples are almost finished, buds bursting on the trees. The woods along the trails are thick with Little Brown Jug (wild ginger) and Cranefly Orchid leaves.
Come out to the Gallery Sunday and Carol will give you a short hike and preview of what’s there now and what’s to come!
Our first Spring Wildflower Hike is coming up soon, March 30! Make your plans now.
Yes, despite the cold spell, the wildflowers are beginning to appear. Come and see them–even if you have to wear a raincoat and boots! Carol will be glad to give you an introduction to these fabulous native ephemerals on a short walk along the creek. Ephemeral means they don’t last long–so come check the earliest ones out. The Gallery will be open with plenty of lovely art.
We will be closed next Saturday, March 16, as Carol and Johnny will be at the Plant Natives Symposium at the UTC student center https://tnvalleywildones.org/, talking to people about Sequatchie Valley Institute, our Spring Wildflower Hikes, and the Gallery, as well as selling art with native plant themes.
Yes, we are open this weekend. You will need to park at the road and walk across the roaring Hick’s Creek on our lovely bridge to get to the Gallery and the Trails which are all available. Currently cleaning up the Arboretum Trail from the winter leaves but it is still OK.
There is a map of the Arboretum Trail on the Sequatchie Valley Institute website, along with Maps of the Kodai Trail and Hemlock Grove Trail. If you walk slowly, you will discover the earliest native wildflowers peeking out of the leaves with their blooms just opening.
The Gallery continues to have fabulous art, both functional and decorative, for purchase. You’ll find the mysterious and unique work by Patrick Ironwood, including his astonishing kaleidoscopes. You will also find functional pottery, botanical wall hangings, and bird feeders by Carol Kimmons and Appalachia-inspired paintings by Michelle Kimmons.
Wildflower Hikes are coming up soon, on March 30, April 6 and 13. More information on this is upcoming. Watch the Sequatchie Valley Institute Facebook page for updated information on times, etc. Carol will show her pottery that is based on our native plants at the Plant Natives 2019 Symposium at the University Center, UTC on March 16.
Friday & Saturday, March 15 & 16, 2019 University Center, University of Chattanooga
The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones presents its eighth annual Plant Natives 2019! weekend of activities. The theme for the weekend of events is “Partnering with Nature.”
The free Native Plant Marketplace & Expo on Saturday offers the opportunity to purchase native plants from four different regional nurseries. Other interesting vendors and related organizations will also be present at the Expo.
We are open for the new year most weekends, from 11-4 Central Time. This is the time to enjoy the creek and the forests without the little biters and poison ivy! Our art selection is excellent, so plan to make the beautiful drive over the mountain to this exquisite rural valley and find peace in our quiet woodlands.
The mysterious art of Patrick Ironwood will be on full display when we reopen, and the trails are now clear of leaves. We expect good weather and the creek will be running nicely.
Patrick at work in his studio. Come visit him and learn how he makes his kaleidoscopes and sculptures.
But call/contact us for times before coming out. We are here today and will probably be around all weekend, when we expect better weather, with sunshine on Saturday. With all this rain, the creek will be running strongly along the Hemlock Grove Trail.
Patrick Ironwood will be at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia this Friday-Sunday, so visit him there to experience his eerie and spectacular art. You are sure to find the perfect gift for that special person.
If you missed the Holiday Reception, Liquidambar Gallery will be open off-and-on ’til Christmas, along with the trails. Message Carol Kimmons or Patrick Ironwood to find out specific times. We’d love to see you!
As Carol’s studio is too far away for the tour, she will be exhibiting at the cozy American Legion Hall in downtown Sewanee, just across the street from The Blue Chair and Shenanigans (both great restaurants), along with 6 other excellent artists. And you can enjoy touring the adjoining University of the South campus, with its beautiful cathedral modeled after the Notre Dame in Paris and classic architecture with structures built from native stone.
You may also wish to attend Sewanee’s 59th annual Festival of Lessons and Carols which will be celebrated at three services in All Saints’ Chapel, two on Dec. 8 (4 p.m. and 7 p.m.), and one on Dec. 9 (4 p.m.). All tickets have been reserved. However, walk-up tickets may be available on the day of the service at Convocation Hall.
2018 HOLIDAY TOUR Sewanee, TN A tour of artists’ studios, galleries and holiday open houses DATES: Saturday, December 8, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Member Reception 5:30 pm) Sunday, December 9, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Please note these dates which coordinate with the 2018 Festival of Lessons and Carols in Sewanee.
Carol has just this minute opened her Kiln with her new and unique bird feeders and vases. We will put pictures on here asap–watch for them. She also has some new mugs with rather controversial recent political quotes…no more said! You’ll just have to see them. These will be at Sewanee tomorrow, Dec. 8, and here at home on Dec. 15, when we will be celebrating our annual Holiday Reception. Please join us for fun and great art!
Michelle, Patrick, Johnny and Carol will be here to share their creativity with you, and the trails will be open for hiking, or just wandering alongside the babbling creek and clambering over the limestone rocks.
There is so much to see in our forests in the winter, with the golden birch leaves still clinging to the trees and the forest floor dappled with Little Brown Jug (also known as Wild Ginger due to its lovely scent), purple orchid leaves gathering solar energy for their blooms next July, Christmas Ferns and Ebony Spleenwort, Ground Pine (a mysterious plant dating back millions of years to the first of the chlorophyll-laden land plants), Green Brier (with leaves and berries to sustain the deer, wintering birds, and turkeys), Crossvine climbing the trees awaiting golden blooms in early spring (ask us why it’s called crossvine), Hepatica hidden in limestone crevices, and our evergreens, including Redcedar, whose berries flavor gin, Shortleaf, White, and Virginia pines, and Hemlocks (not yet stricken with the dreaded Adelgid). You may want to gather some of the tiny hemlock cones, which make lovely Holiday decoration.
Don’t wanna walk? Well, our warm inviting gallery library will be replete with our own homemade wines, Sequatchie Cove Cheeses, Johnny’s famous fudge, and Carol’s steaming hot spiced muscadine apple cider. The annual Holiday Reception at Liquidambar Art Gallery is a free event and is fun for all!
On October 19-21, Patrick will be at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at downtown Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center.Filling both the concourse and arena levels of the venue, makers exhibit a variety of craft ranging from contemporary to traditional in works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry.
71stANNIVERSARY | JULY 20 – 22 & OCTOBER 19 – 21, 2018
Friday through Saturday, 10:00 to 6:00pm + Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00pm US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street | Downtown Asheville, NC General Admission, $8.00 and Children under 12 free.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
BE SURE TO ADD OUR LIQUIDAMBAR ART GALLERY HOLIDAY RECEPTION ON DECEMBER 15 TO YOUR TOP HOLIDAY EVENTS LIST!!!!
Cross the creek to find original art, made right here by the creek, all at the Winter Gallery and studios located in the magical heart of the Sequatchie Valley, featuring NEW WORK by Carol Kimmons, Patrick Ironwood, and Michelle Kimmons.
Enjoy a visual feast of art featuring ceramics, flame-worked glass, metal ornaments and sculptures, kaleidoscopes, and paintings, all unique gift ideas. Watch our artists painting, working glass, and making pottery. Sample local mead, hot spiced cider, and Sequatchie Cove cheeses as you relax in the Gallery library with S.V.I.’s favorite books on the good life–a cozy place to chat with the artists. Kids welcome!
While you are here, hike on our marked nature trails and Arboretum, through 350 acres protected by the Land Trust of Tennessee. Dress for adventure!
S.V.I. can be found at 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN, off Hwy 28 between Dunlap and Whitwell, just 45 minutes from Chattanooga.
Proceeds from the Gallery help support the educational programs of S.V.I., a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization promoting education and research in sustainable green living, ecology, and art.
Yes, it will finally be cooling down this weekend, as fall arrives. Fall Art & Craft fairs are coming up, and we will be closed on several upcoming weekends, beginning Oct. 6-7 with Carol at the John C. Campbell Fall Festival, near Murphy, NC. So come check out the art before the shows.
Try our easy, well-marked nature trails. There are ripe muscadines to pick & enjoy at the end!
Patrick and Carol will be in their studios at the Gallery producing new works this weekend.
Temperatures will be a bit lower, so it will be good hiking. There are lots of muscadines ripening at the Moonshadow vineyard, so plan to do some picking and snacking on the trail.
All books are currently 50% off! We have books on natural building (building with cob, for instance), cooking, fermentation processes, and gardening for children.
We have new art from Patrick, Carol, and Michelle, so come see us, and hike our easy nature trails and Arboretum. Patrick is away August 30 – September 3 at the 32nd Annual Dragon Con, Dragon Con and next weekend at Yellow Daisy 50th annual Yellow Daisy Festival September 6-9, 2018 Yellow Daisy Festival voted one of the top arts & crafts shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 event, and winner of multiple awards by the Southeast Festival and Events Association.
However, if you can’t make it to Atlanta, Patrick still has plenty of his astonishing art work, handmade glass jewelry, and kaleidoscopes in the Gallery. Carol will be headed out to shows in October, so come by and get a first chance at her new work, including beer mugs with hops vine imprints.
Dr. Ashley has had an excellent health column in the Chattanooga Times Free Press for several years and is now leaving us. We wanted to share his final comments on his hope for a healthier society. Look for the full article in the August 31st edition.
*A healthy society should have open spaces for its people to hike, walk, saunter, or just sit reading a book or taking time to watch the sunset.
*A healthy society has compassion for its individual members and a reverence to the Earth that harbors them.
Here at S.V.I., we hold these truths to be self-evident and endeavor to provide a place for everyone to be a part of a healthy and peaceful life.
Come hike, or if you prefer AC, just sit in our Gallery library and relax or play the old piano! Home-grown herbal tea is always a possibility.
Come see us and check out the Gallery with lots of new mugs, including Carol’s special 12 oz beer mugs with impressions of the hops vines growing outside the Gallery! Patrick’s kaleidoscopes and sculptures can keep you engrossed and astonished. Michelle’s watercolors will make your dark corners alight with joys. The giant hemlocks along the quiet Hemlock Grove Trail can bring you peace and “forest bathing”, the best solution for the week’s stresses over work and politics. And the kids need to get outside as they begin to cope with a new school year. See you soon!!
A huge flush on our oak logs just appeared after last week’s rain.
They are $9/lb, Saturday only.
Carol just opened the kiln with a lovely firing — lots of beer mugs with hops vine impressions, pendants, fairy dishes, and more!
Patrick has kaleidoscopes and his stunning metal art displayed, along with Michelle’s watercolors. Temps will be cooler and the trails are lovely now with the trees growing madly. Hemlock Grove Trail is lovely as our stately hemlocks are still healthy.
We will be open from 10-5am (CST), Saturday and Sunday.
We will be open for visitors from 10-5 this weekend, so come on out! i hope to get a firing in soon. Patrick has some amazing new work also. Everyone welcome!
Yes, we are open again! Patrick now has a permanent exhibit in the Gallery with his amazing Nature of Reaction work. We also have new watercolors by Michelle, and lots of my lovely nature-based pottery. There may even be a bottle of muscadine wine or iced herbal tea available!
The creek is flowing beautifully, so the kids can wade or swim-be prepared for wet feet. Of course, you can cross the footbridge if you want to stay dry. The forest is as green as it will ever be, lovely, dark and deep. Sourwoods are blooming along with the upcoming summer wildflowers along the trails, and hickory nuts are falling. There will be a number of branches down after this stormy week. Let us know if you want to take the Arboretum Trail, as it is a bit overgrown in places-we will be clearing it soon.
After our lovely, refreshing Florida beach trip, I will finally be getting back into my studio, and hope to finish glazing the spring mugs. Lots of hops beer mugs will be coming out of the kiln next week. Act quickly if you wish to reserve one. They go fast!
Patrick will be leaving for the Ashville, NC Southern Highlands Craft Fair July 20, and after that he will be headed out for a Colorado tour, where he will be presenting at multiple shows. More info for our Western folks on those shows next week.
We hope to see you before then. Don’t worry, we’ll have the AC turned on so you can relax in the library.
From Carol, your friendly neighborhood potter.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
71thA N N I V E R S A R Y | J U L Y 20 – 22 & O C T O B E R 19 – 21, 2018
Friday through Saturday, 10:00 to 6:00 pm + Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00pm US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street | Downtown Asheville, NC
Also free okra seedlings ready for transplanting! We just planted way too many in flats, and have lots left. Lots of art, too, and the creek is still running.
Indian Pink
The beautiful Indian Pinks are now blooming in the woods. So come on by!
And remember:
Food for Life is coming up June 8-10. The complete schedule will be on Facebook early next week. We have a remarkable lineup of speakers and workshop leaders this year, and the event caters to families with a great program for the kids. Rustic camping and fabulous meals cooked in the outdoor kitchen are included in the fees, and we have Dark Sky visibility of our heavenly neighbors.
Feel free to come out and hike our trails, picnic, play in the creek, and check out the gallery Sunday. Patrick is at the Renaissance Fair in Franklin, Tennessee, all weekends through Memorial Day. The Gallery will be open on most weekends.
Check out the website here, Facebook, or call us at (423)949-5922/4598 for details on when we are open.
And don’t forget that Food for Life is coming up June 8-10!
Yes, we are open! Come between showers Saturday or make it Sunday, with lovely weather predicted. The creek is still running so bring your suit if you crave some water sports! Unfortunately, Patrick’s work won’t be on show as he is at the Renaissance Fair near Nashville this month. But fortunately, you can see his work there!
For more information about the Renaissance Fair, click here.
At the fair last year:
Lots of pottery available, and new watercolors by Michelle. So come on by!
The woods are beautiful, filled with clouds of white dogwood blooms, pink redbuds, and every possible shade of green and yellow. All the spring flowers are now blooming, including buckeyes, mayapples, rue anemone, blue phlox, several species of trillium and violets, pawpaws, giant chickweed, phacelia, and more! These spring ephemerals will soon be gone until next year, so this will be your last chance to admire their beauty. The creek is bubbling, with crystal clear waters bouncing over the stones. We WILL have the Wildflower Hike, and hopefully the rain will hold off till evening.
The gallery will be open from 10am-5pm (CST), Saturday & Sunday and will be warm and dry! You are always welcome to look over our excellent book selection in addition to the fascinating art of Patrick, Carol, and Michelle.
The Wildflower Hike will be our last S.V.I. event until Food for Life on June 8-10, but the gallery will be open each weekend from 10am-5pm with hiking and picnicking available for all. It’s a great place for kids. Our home school group loves to hike the trails.
Spring is peeking through, so visit the Gallery and perhaps hike along the creek on our nature trails. Lots of lovely and unique art is available now, including Patrick’s kaleidoscopes, Michelle’s little bird paintings, Asha’s lampwork glass hearts, and Carol’s pottery. Our yearly Spring Wildflower Hikes will be on March 24 and April 13, so add these to your schedule!
Our Groundhog lied to us—now winter is returning, despite the masses of daffodils now in bloom! Those daffodils date back to the coal miners who lived on this lovely rugged mountainside back in the 1920’s. We think of the brave strong women who took the time from carrying water and wood and bearing children to planting those precious bulbs around their homes, the golden glowing blooms bringing joy into their hard and lonely lives—and now to us!
So brave the colder temperatures, drive on out and walk across our hand-built bridge to discover the newest work in our Gallery. The tiny bird paintings by Michelle will brighten the day, the Fairy Dishes by Carol will be loved by the children, and Patrick’s kaleidoscopes and sculptures will amaze you. Don’t miss Asha’s lovely handmade glass heart necklaces and her charming sun-catchers!
Our Groundhog lied to us—now winter is returning, despite the masses of daffodils now in bloom! Those daffodils date back to the coal miners who lived on this lovely rugged mountainside back in the 1920’s. We think of the brave strong women who took the time from carrying water and wood and bearing children to planting those precious bulbs around their homes, the golden glowing blooms bringing joy into their hard and lonely lives—and now to us!
So brave the colder temperatures, drive on out and walk across our hand-built bridge to discover the newest work in our Gallery. The tiny bird paintings by Michelle will brighten the day, the Fairy Dishes by Carol will be loved by the children, and Patrick’s kaleidoscopes and sculptures will amaze you. Don’t miss Asha’s lovely handmade glass heart necklaces and her charming sun-catchers! Wear warm clothes and hiking shoes if you want to walk our trails. Hemlock Grove Trail is an easy walk along the side of Hicks Creek, and now you can forest bathe as you glory in the sound of wild running water.
Be sure to put our Spring Wildflower Hike Sunday March 24 on your calendar! Guided by botanists, herbalists, and foresters, you will discover the beauty of early spring in the old growth forest and coves of the Sequatchie Valley western escarpment.
You may have to walk across our lovely bridge built by us on the old piers from the coal-mining days above the roaring Hicks Creek! Be sure to bring your phone for a picture. Just don’t try to drive across the ford! Awaiting you will be some lovely art that might make that special Valentine very happy. You will be able to choose between the mugs impressed with local plant designs, pendants, and sweet Fairy Dishes by Carol, tiny bird paintings by Michelle, lamp-work multicolored glass heart necklaces, and unique sculptural art and kaleidoscopes by Patrick. If the rain lets up, walk along the creek on Hemlock Grove Trail, listening to the flowing water’s sweet melody. We will be open next weekend also, so you may want to bring your Valentine for an early spring walk, discovering the first forest flowers peeking through the leaves and admiring the beeches, still holding their golden winter leaves until the new ones push them off.
Be sure to put our Spring Wildflower Hike Sunday March 24 on your calendar! Guided by botanists, herbalists, and foresters, you will discover the beauty of early spring in the old growth forest and coves of the Sequatchie Valley western escarpment.
The weather outside may be frightful, but the Gallery is so exciting! Come see our beautiful and unique kaleidoscopes and other amazing and fascinating sculptures by Patrick. Michelle has brought yet more of her beautiful tiny bird paintings to bring joy to January days. You may even get to see our creek begin to flow if it rains hard enough on Friday to finally bring it down—an exciting sight to see and hear as the babbling waters first arrive, full of leaves and limbs from the long drought. When it begins to flow, you will cross it on our bridge, built by us on the old piers from the coal-mining days. Brave the cold temperatures and let Hemlock Grove Trail guide you along the creek through the winter forest for the best Forest-Bathing around!
Liquidambar Gallery 