Calendar of Events

Learn how to conserve energy and water. Part of the malls' educational eco-friendly kids events
April 18, Knoxville Center Mall
April 25, West Town Mall

The 1st Annual Juried Outdoor ECO-Sculpture Exhibition & Competition. Artist reception and awards presentation during the Last Friday Art Walk on April 24 at the Davis Penthouse Loft at 7:00pm. This event is designed to coordinate with Earth Day on April 22 and Earth Round-UP on April 25. It's intended to help raise environmental awareness within our community through large-scale environmental installations and sculpture to be on public display at the Greenbelt Park in the center of Maryville. TN Senator Doug Overbey will be the guest speaker at the artist reception and a presentation about the importance of "environmental responsibility" and "recycled art" will also be given. Also part of this event will be a Community Collaborative Sculpture Project. During Last Friday Art Walk from 5 to 9 pm, the public will be encouraged to participate in a project where they add to an existing structure with provided materials, creating a "Community ECO Sculpture" by the end of the night. It will then remain on display all day on Sat. during Earth Round-UP.

For more information: (865) 740-1169, www.MaryvilleArtWalk.com

Spring Concert 2009 by Ballet Gloria' Dance Company
April 18 @ 7:30 pm & April 19 @ 3:00 pm

With original compositions by WENDEL WERNER and featuring live guest performances by ALEX CANTRELL, AMY DUNCAN, MOMENTUM DANCE LAB, ALAN ELEAZAR, MELISSA RAINES, and others. $14/Adults, $10/Seniors/Students/Children, Group Rates Available.

At the Pellissippi Performing Arts Center, (865) 689-8525, tcfa@comcast.net

With their latest Sky Blue Sky. Tickets on sale via the Tennessee Theatre box office, Tickets Unlimited outlets, by phone at 865-656-4444 or online.

604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

Tickets $13 in advance and $15 at the Door. Tickets are all Plus Tax.

113 West Broadway, Maryville, TN. Information: 865-983-3330, www.palacetheater.com

Old-Time String Band

Those who had the pleasure to see the fabled Freight Hoppers perform from 1992 to the band's lay-up will certainly know what a sight and sound it is to witness the fiddle and banjo combination driven by David Bass and Frank Lee. The Freights were one of the hottest bands on the old-time circuit back in the mid 90s. Now, Lee and Bass are back and have brought in Isaac Deal on guitar and vocals and Bradley Adams on upright bass. With two original members reunited and joined by Deal, whose ardent high lead and tenor voice holds the line and traverses the music's authentic spirit and Adams on powerhouse bass, a string band has been created to rival the best that ever kicked up dust. During the 1990s, The Freight Hoppers became the most popular modern day old time music string band in the world. The Freight Hoppers recorded two critically acclaimed albums that climbed into the Top 20 of Billboard's Americana music charts: "Where'd You Come From, Where'd You Go?" (1996) and "Waiting on the Gravy Train" (1998).

At the Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916. More information: 865-522-5851, www.jubileearts.org

Five friends, running low on gas, detour to an abandoned house in rural Texas. Additional plot devices include; cannibals, 2-cycle power tools, and assorted moments of mayhem doled out by a guy named Leatherface. Made in 1974, this baby pretty much defines the independent horror film. At the very least, it can lay claim to being the first installment of the Chainsaw Massacre franchise, one that remains healthier than many 401-K accounts. Directed by Tobe Hooper and starring a passel of people that most likely went on to bigger and better things, TCSM was shot in about 4 weeks and was filmed in and around Austin, Round Rock and Bastrop, Texas. The vibe is pretty much dead on in terms of locale. It's a classic, a landmark slasher film, and maybe not the ideal first date movie, but we'll leave that up to you.

803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. More information: (865) 522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com

Families are invited to get lost in a good book at the 3rd annual festival presented by the Farragut Arts Council at Campbell Station Park located next to the Farragut Branch Library on Campbell Station Road. Children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite storybook character's costume.

This educational and entertaining event will offer an array of activities throughout the afternoon, from storytelling to book signings to music. Storytellers will include Knox County Public Library librarians Marilyn Jones, Libby Nelson and Fredda Williams; professional storyteller Georgie Schmitt; and Three Rivers Rambler Conductor Bill Perry. Local authors Doris Gove, "The Smokies Yukky Book" and "My Mother Talks to Trees," and Karen Claussen Bishop, "The Christmas Lantern," will be on hand to meet participants while selling and signing their books.

Additional happenings will include art activities and the Ruff Reading Program, which allows kids to read to dogs. The Akima Club of Knoxville will present storytelling – "Clarence the Copy Cat" by Patricia Lakin – an art activity and face painting. Local entertainer and Farragut resident Frank Galbraith and local composer and musician Danette McCrary will provide music during the event. Free hot dogs, popcorn and lemonade will be available beginning at 11 a.m. while supplies last.

The "Farragut Book Fest for Children" is free and open to the public. Limited parking will be available at Campbell Station Park; additional parking will be available at Christ Connection Church, located across the street from the park on Campbell Station Road. (865) 966-7057, www.townoffarragut.org

Held at Pellissippi State's main campus off of Hardin Valley Road in Knoxville, TN. Join us for a day of food, fun, entertainment, and lots of environmental education opportunities. Admission is FREE! EarthFest 2009 is aiming to be a Zero-Waste Event again! Exhibitors and food vendors will be required to control the types of materials they sell or distribute. EarthFest organizers, sponsors and volunteers will provide recycling and composting opportunities for everything distributed at the event.

www.knox-earthfest.org

Eight Knoxville writers will read from a newly published anthology at Carpe Librum Booksellers. Marianne Worthington is editor of Motif: Writing by Ear, An Anthology of Writings about Music. Motif: Writing by Ear is the inaugural volume in a themed, annual anthology series, launched this year by MotesBooks, Louisville, Ky. This first Motif anthology includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and song lyrics that use music as a motif, either prominently or in artfully subtle ways. Kate Larken, owner of MotesBooks said, "We are really pleased with the book. It's beautiful, and it holds high quality writing on a variety of music-related topics from 116 contributors."

Several of those contributors are Knoxville writers. Scheduled to appear at the April 18 reading are: Carole Ann Borges, Ruth Faulkner Grubbs, Jessie Janeshek, David Joyner, Cathy Kodra, Jo Ann Pantanizopoulos, Joshua Robbins, Jesse Graves, and Lucy Sieger. Other Knoxville writers featured in Motif: Writing by Ear include Jesse Graves, Marilyn Kallet, Candance Reaves, Jeff Daniel Marion, Linda Parsons Marion, and Knoxville musicians Scott Miller and RB Morris.

Free and open to the public. www.knoxvillewritersguild.org

Artists from across the United States apply annually for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts Artists-in-Residence (AIR) program, a coveted opportunity for five emerging artists. Marking the end of their 11-month artistic journey at Arrowmont is a final exhibition that showcases their recent works. On Saturday, April 18, the public is invited to meet the artists and learn more about their artwork and inspiration at a reception from 6:30-9:00 pm in the school's Main gallery.

The artists are Magda Gluszek, ceramic sculpture; Rachel Hunt, fiber, Damon McIntyre, wood; Lindsay Oesterritter, ceramics; and Susan S. Roberts, painting.

Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, 556 Parkway, PO Box 567, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. For more information: (865) 436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Andrea Wilson will have a solo exhibit of her botanical watercolors and copperplate etchings in the Loggia Gallery at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts. Andrea won the Grand Prize in the 2008 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Art Competition and is the featured artist for this year's Pilgrimage promotional material. Opening reception for the solo exhibit is Wednesday, April 22nd from 5:30 to 7:00pm at Arrowmont.

Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, 556 Parkway, PO Box 567, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. For more information: 865-436-5860, www.AndreaWilsonArtist.com