Join Us! We’ll have wine and bites in the Gallery at BENNETT as we welcome Andrew Saftel and folks from Blackberry Farm from 5-7pm Friday, November 6th.
We will celebrate Andrew Saftel’s new exhibit “We Go Together” and the publication of Blackberry Farm’s Blackberry Fifty, a special book exploring the stories of the people who’ve gathered here: the family who built it, the hands that tend it and the guests who keep coming home to it. 476 pages with 500 photographs and told by more than 100 voices, the book will be available for purchase at the event.
Friday, Nov. 6, 5-7pm | 5308 Kingston Pike | Knoxville, TN 37919 | (865) 584-6791
About Andrew Saftel
Andrew Saftel, born in New Bedford, MA in 1959, earned his BFA at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1981. From there, he continued to hone his skills by displaying his abstract colorful pieces in galleries across the country, largely in the Southeast.
The layering of Saftel’s paintings is geological, a build-up of thoughts, emotions and physical interactions buried in layers of paint. Only the surface is visible, but everything underneath influences what the surface eventually becomes. Saftel uses color to represent time, the spectrum representing it’s change as the day moves on; this cyclic nature creates an atmosphere of hope and reassurance.
“I combine historical imagery, references to the daily flow of events, and personal philosophical musings to create works that respond to contemporary culture. I want to prompt reflection of what is lost: the passenger train, the agricultural economy, the jazz era, the primeval forest. Images of the natural world, such as plants and animals, are paired with images of technology and progress to symbolize two still interdependent elements seeking a balance.”
Select Artworks in His “We Go Together” Exhibit at Bennett
About Blackberry Fifty
FROM THE BLACKBERRY FARM WEBSITE
Blackberry Fifty is a definitive tribute to 50 years of Blackberry Farm, told through the people, moments and ideas that have shaped its legacy. Across 476 pages, more than 500 images and more than 100 contributors, the book weaves together a broad and compelling range of voices – artists, musicians, business leaders, chefs, farmers and cultural thinkers — each offering their own perspective on Blackberry Farm’s influence and meaning. These stories span decades, capturing not only the evolution of a beloved destination, but the relationships and shared experiences that have defined it.
At its core, Blackberry Fifty is a story of stewardship — of land, of tradition and of community. The narrative traces the Beall family’s journey from a small, six-room inn to an internationally recognized hotel, and shines a spotlight on how they’ve remained grounded in the values that have always guided it: hospitality, craftsmanship and a deep respect for the natural world. Through essays, interviews and recollections, readers are invited into the rhythm of the Farm, offering unique insight into its kitchens and fields, quiet mornings and celebratory evenings, moments of challenge and those of renewal.
Visually, the book is as immersive as it is expansive, pairing rare archival materials with contemporary photography, creating a dialogue between past and present that underscores the continuity of the Blackberry story. The design is thoughtful and restrained, allowing the imagery and words to carry equal weight.
Blackberry Fifty is presented in two editions. One is housed in a sleek, dark green slipcase, reminiscent of the landscape of the Farm and offering a refined and understated complement to the book. The second is fitted with an alternate slipcase featuring original artwork by acclaimed artist Judith Cheney. Her piece, created more than 20 years ago, draws from the scenery, textures and quiet rhythms of the property that are still celebrated today.
This volume reflects the care, intention and creative spirit that have defined Blackberry Farm for more than 50 years and will continue to define it for generations to come.
