Calendar of Events

As late as the early seventies, the Concord-Farragut area was a sprawling rural community dotted with beautiful farmlands. During that time, the late Roger A. Isbell observed this area's changing landscape with the addition of subdivisions and shopping centers and therefore began taking photographs of every barn and landmark in the community. Isbell's photographs of the Old Concord community have been coupled with information from long-time Folklife Museum volunteer Gene M. Abel and the late Frances Abel's book, "Concord Where Time Stood Still," to create the unique "Barns, Yarns and Landmarks Exhibit." In addition, this exhibit features photographs of barns and landmarks donated by local families as well as coverlets and handmade woven articles made by area craftspeople and the implements used to create them.

The Folklife Museum is also featuring the "Coward Mill Exhibit," which highlights Carol Stultz's photographs of Coward Mill, a historic two-lane arched bridge over Beaver Creek in west Knox County. Stultz made Knoxville her home after coming to East Tennessee forty years ago to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and became fascinated with the history of the Coward Mill and the surrounding area.

The Farragut Folklife Museum is committed to preserving the heritage of its East Tennessee community and features a remarkable collection of artifacts from the area, including an extensive collection of the personal belongings of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, first Admiral of the U.S. Navy and hero of the Civil War. Housed in the Farragut Town Hall located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive, the Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers free admission. For more information about the Museum or these special exhibits: 865-966-7057, www.townoffarragut.org

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

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