Calendar of Events

This unique exhibition, featuring 34 painstakingly-crafted creations by some of Tennessee's most talented artists, blurs the distinctions between functional object and fine art. All the artists included in the exhibition are members of the Cumberland Furniture Guild, a select group of Tennessee artists who combine the best of contemporary and traditional furniture design with some surprising sources of inspiration. Their work is defined by variety rather than an identifiable regional characteristic, ranging from Greg Pennington's traditional Windsor settees to Scott Thompson's carved references to Craig Nutt's whimsical vegetable furniture.

Other Cumberland Furniture Guild artists represented in the exhibition include Chris Barber, Allen Brooks, Graham Campbell, Stephen Crump, Scott De Waard, Mark Dillon, Miles Fields, Peter D. Fleming, J. Michael Floyd, Tom Fuhrman, James Hopper, James L. Horne, Al Hudson, David Knudtson, Bob Marsh, Dale McLoud, DiAnne Patrick, Mitch Roberson, Brad Sells, Alf Sharp, Christopher Somerville, Worth Squire, Michael Summers, Matthew Teague, Scott Thompson, and Kimberly Winkle.

A members-only preview party will be held at KMA on Thursday, April 23, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members of the Cumberland Furniture Guild will be available to speak with KMA members and discuss their work.

1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. FREE admission. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Exhibit: The Campaign to Establish Great Smoky Mountains National Park

(865) 215-8830, www.east-tennessee-history.org

Free summer concert series in Market Square. Free parking after 6 p.m. at the Locust Street, Market Square and State Street parking garages.

April 9 - Arrested Development with special guest
April 16 - Cowboy Mouth with Phil Pollard & Band of Humans
April 23 - Karl Denson's Tiny Universe with Brent Thompson & His Wandering
April 30 - Big Head Todd & the Monsters with Joan Jones
May 7 - Local night featuring Royal Bangs, Same As It Ever Was, and Tenderhooks
May 14 - Gavin Rossdale with Vertigo
May 21 - Grupo Fantasma and The Belleville Outfit
May 28 - Dave Barnes with Jonathan Sexton & The Big Love Choir
June 4 - Shooter Jennings with 1220
June 11 - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals with special guest
June 18 - The Wailers with special guest Toubab Krewe
June 25 - Jamey Johnson with Brendon James Wright & The Wrongs

A world-class collection of large-scale outdoor sculpture in downtown Knoxville.

More information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

Tours every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from March-December. Bleak House, an antebellum mansion of fifteen spacious rooms and wide halls, stands well back on an eminence among lovely trees and elaborately landscaped grounds. There is a charge for the tour.

3148 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. For more information: (865) 522-2371, www.knoxvillecmh.org

The last Wednesday of every month, this live radio show features music from the Appalachian foothills to the Mississippi delta and beyond, by nationally recognized artists as well as up-and-coming artists who reflect our region's varied artistic culture. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, featuring a house band led by Dave Nichols, and broadcast live on WDVX and WDVX.com. Tickets are $10 advance, $15 night of the show, available at the Tennessee Theatre box office, the online gift shop at TennesseeTheatre.com and at the WDVX Blue Plate Special concerts weekdays at noon at the Knoxville Visitors Center.

803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For more information, please visit the Web site or call (865) 522-0832.

Scottish Country Dancing is a sociable dance form with roots stretching back for centuries. There are approximately 13,000 dances in existence. Dancers are grouped into sets, typically of 3, 4, or 5 pairs arranged either in two lines (men facing ladies) or in a square, and work together to dance a sequence of formations. While dances are danced with a partner, you do not need to arrive with a partner; it's social dancing. New dancers are always welcome. Please feel free to drop by any meeting to join in the dancing or observe and learn more.

2009 Meeting Dates are January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4, November 1, and December 6. At Erin Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall. More information: (423) 747-6474, knox_scd @ hotmail.com

These sessions are an informal meeting of artists, drawing and painting live models, under the tutelage of internationally known college level instructor Gifford Nicholaides.
- Life drawing practice sessions are held on Saturday mornings starting at 9:00 AM and running for two hours. Cost is $10, pay as you go.

The building is the former office of the Candoro Marble Company, located at 681 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, and resembles a small town post office. It is now owned by the South Knoxville Art and Heritage Center, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Community Room was used for drafting, therefore features a terrific bank of north facing windows. Constructed in 1922, and designed in the Beaux Arts style, the building features examples of carved ornamentation, columns, travertine interiors and polished marble.

More information: 865-573-0709

Knoxville Museum of Art: Alive After Five
Knoxville's unique live music experience on select Fridays in the museum's Great Hall. Non-smoking, two cash bars, dancing, catering, family-friendly and great for a date. Free parking. Admission is usually $8 for non-members, $4 for members and students.

March 27 - Sharon Mosby & the Wendel Werner Quartet
April 3 - Alvin Jett & phatnoiZ
April 10 - Phillip LeJeune
April 17 - Chuck Beattie Band
April 24 - Justin Thompson
May 1 - Christabel & the Jons
May 8 - Sheila Gordon & Evelyn Jack with the Downtowners
May 15 - Bluegill's Blues Bash: Zac Harmon, Miranda Louise & the Stella Vees
June 19 - Carib Sounds Steel Band
June 26 - Y'uns

1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

March 1-29: Alcoa Elementary School
April 1-30: Jefferson Elementary School
May 1-31: Elementary Art Exhibition
June 1-30: Autism Society of America, East TN Chapter

1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. FREE. For more information, visit the Web site or call (865) 525-6101.