Made in Tennessee

Today we talk with Curator Stephen Wicks about two artistic brothers who were born in Knoxville -- Joseph and Beauford Delaney.  We learn about their roots in Tennessee, their national and international careers, and how a thoughtful collaboration of Knoxville's art patrons, historians, archivists and institutions made Knoxville a center for their work. We hope it inspires you to visit the Kno...

Today we learn the story behind the making of the soft drink Mountain Dew and its connection to Knoxville, Tennessee. We also learn about the graphic design behind the brand and its connection to Appalachian culture. And we learn a bit about the collectibles market for older bottles and signs. It's  a fascinating story and we guarantee you will learn something you never knew!

Today we are excited to be talking about samplers--needlework textiles created in the 19th century by young girls (and sometimes boys!) to teach them how to mend, monogram, and embellish their household fabrics. We speak with two textile experts, Julia Doyle, the curator of fashion and textiles at the Tennessee State Museum, and Jennifer Core, whose new book, Tennessee Samplers: Female Education a...

You might ask what art conservation has to do with Tennessee material culture, but the work Cynthia does not only keeps our state’s treasures in a stable form to last for generations, it also has given her a unique view and visual expertise when thinking about the formal aspects of Tennessee’s art history. We’re going to delve into that perspective and learn more about the role of a conservator an...

Welcome to our inaugural podcast!  Today we welcome Tracey Parks. Tracey is an avid student and collector of Tennessee decorative arts, and for the past thirty five years his research has specialized in the study of the furniture makers of the Volunteer state working before 1840. His in-depth investigation of the subject seeks to reveal the lives of craftsmen in context with their work and the wor...