Art in the Great Smoky Mountains

Late May is a beautiful time of year to vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. This year the weather was particularly nice – not too hot or cold, and it didn’t rain much. Looking for arts and crafts is one of my favorite things to do while in the Smoky Mountains. I try to visit new artists and galleries each year while looking for my favorites.

Alewine Pottery

Alewine Pottery is a must-see every year. I love the atmosphere and the wooded location. Pottery is made and fired on site, and you can watch and talk to the potters as they throw on the wheel, make handles and glaze bisque ware. Munch on the free popcorn, relax in a rocking chair, and listen to some live bluegrass music when the weather is nice. The large shop showcases dinner sets, serving dishes, lamps, pitchers and more. If you are a pottery-lover, don’t miss this stop on the Arts & Crafts Community 8-mile loop!

Alewine Pottery, Inc.
623 Glades Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
865-430-7828

Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Village

Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Village on the Arts & Crafts Community 8-mile loop is home to several artists and shops. A few of my favorites:

A. Jann Peitso is a delightful, talented artist who loves to share art with children. “Using vibrant watercolors, she splashes, dashes and generally reminds one of someone at play as her pieces come together and begin to form her interpretations of wonders to be found in the mountains of eastern Tennessee.”
Black Oak Gallery specializes in fine art pottery, glass and metal sculptures. Especially interesting to me was the raku pottery and the black and white handbuilt pottery.
Nancie L. Bush Fine Art Gallery features fine art originals and Giclee prints on a variety of subjects.

Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Village
849 Glades Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738

Covered Bridge in the Glades

Covered Bridge in the Glades is one of the newer developments on the Arts & Crafts Community 8-mile loop. It features art galleries, gift shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Hills Creek Gallery & Studio of American Craft features unique jewelry, glass, pottery, kaleidoscopes, wood and bronze.
Neil’s Gallery features the work of local artists Robert A. Tino and Terry Chandler. “In our featured artwork, you’ll see the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee regions, as well as other areas.”
Smoky Mountain Pottery represents several artists and has been located in Gatlinburg on Powdermill Road for over 30 years. Their shop at Covered Bridge in the Glades just opened recently.

Covered Bridge in the Glades
849 Glades Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738

A Heart Awake to Beauty: Nature’s Influence Upon the Soul

Thomas Kinkade: Twenty-Five Years of Light

Turners and Burners: The Folk Potters of North Carolina (Fred W. Morrison Series in Southern Studies)

The Cliff Dweller’s Gallery

The Cliff Dweller’s Gallery on the Arts & Crafts Community 8-mile loop features several artists’ studios on the top floor and a shop where their work is sold below. This is one of my favorite places to stop – I have a chance to meet some of the artists at work, the location is so pretty, and the shop carries many different artists’ work including pottery, jewelry, carved wood, garden items and more.

The Cliff Dweller’s Gallery
668 Glades Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738

Photo above from the The Cliff Dweller’s Gallery web site.

Art of the South – Thomas Kinkade Gatlinburg Gallery

Art of the South’s Thomas Kinkade Gatlinburg Gallery in downtown Gatlinburg is located next door to the Park Grill Steakhouse. It is a beautiful gallery featuring paintings by many different artists. Besides admiring Thomas Kinkade’s work, I was moved by Mark Keathley’s paintings. I loved “Faithful Friend,” “Dance of Grace,” and “Highland Song.”

Other artists represented include Rod Chase, James Seward, G. Harvey and several more.

Thomas Kinkade Gatlinburg Gallery
1100 Parkway, Suite 1
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Telephone: 800-682-0547

Click here for more Art of the South locations in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Chattanooga.

Photo above from the Thomas Kinkade Gatlinburg Gallery web site.