Calendar of Events

In Old Appalachia, the quilt was a necessity-so much so that one mother cut up her boy's only coat to make warm bedding for the family. Patchwork was also a creative outlet for Appalachian women, often confined to lonely farms in isolated areas. It was a labor of love; Ethel Hall spoke for many when she said, "I'd druther quilt than to eat on the hungriest day ever I seen." For these reasons, the practice of making quilts never ceased altogether in this region of the country, says John Rice Irwin in his book on "A People and Their Quilts." Through August 31, regional quilts and their makers will be showcased in Stitches & Stories: Quilts of Appalachia, a special exhibit at the Museum of Appalachia near Norris. Quilts are displayed throughout the Museum; the special exhibit is included with regular admission. Many of the 36 quilts in the exhibit have never been shown publicly. They include exquisite examples of needlework and original design, said Ruby Patterson, a Museum volunteer and quilter who helped put together the exhibit. Several quilts have "humility" blocks, a deliberate flaw added to indicate that only God could make a perfect quilt. But the stories of their makers lend a special touch-and stories are a hallmark of this unique and fascinating place. Visitors can match numbers on quilts throughout the Museum with descriptions in a special brochure, telling pattern name, date, and maker. The craft and gift shop at the Museum features handiwork from regional artisans, including a special group of quilts and quilt-related items. The Museum is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, exit 122. For more information, call 865-494-7680, or visit the website at www.museumofappalachia.org.

Reception: July 10, 6:30-8:30PM.
Student Exhibit: Mary Secrist's watercolor students.

213 Hotel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 9-5, Wednesday & Friday 10-5, Saturday 9-1. More information: (865) 357-2787, www.fountaincityart.org

An exhibit featuring the art quilts of Sheila Rauen and the oil and latex paintings of Heather Middlebrooks. The opening reception will take place on Friday, July 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.. The artists will speak informally and answer questions about their work at 7 p.m. 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5, Sunday, 9-12 noon. For more information: 865-523-4176 or www.tvuuc.org

Quilts by members of the Smoky Mountain Quilters.

201 Badger Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9-5; Saturday-Monday, 1-4. For more information, visit the Web site or call (865) 482-1441.

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

Please join us for our Volunteer Work Days on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Activities will include brush removal, weeding, and light gardening. Please provide own gloves. Tools will be available.

Dates: May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17

2743 Wimpole Avenue, Knoxville, TN. 865-540-8690, www.knoxgarden.com

60 original contemporary works by painters and sculptors hailing from around the world. Organized annually and providing a wonderful comparison to 18th- and 19th-century bird art by Catesby, Wilson, and Audobon in the concurrent exhibition "Birds of the Smokies".

1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9-5 and Sunday, 1-5. FREE. For more information: (865) 974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

Drawn from the rich archive at the John Kobal Foundation in London, this exhibition focuses on the stars, the sets, and the scenes created by the film industry and memorialized by the most important photographers who worked in Hollywood from 1920 to 1960. Featuring more than 90 vintage prints, Made in Hollywood offers a glimpse into the world of fantasy, glamour, and perfection that the image makers produced. Kobal (1940-1991) was a leading Hollywood historian who collected prints by some of most important photographers working in Hollywood during its golden era: Ernest Bachrach, Margaret Bourke-White, Nikolas Muray, Clarence Sinclair Bull, Eugene Richee, George Hurrell, and many others. Their subjects are drawn from the pantheon of the greatest stars produced during the golden age of Hollywood: Garbo, Dietrich, Swanson, Cooper, Harlow, Gable, Hepburn, Bogart, and many others.

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

Saturdays from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and Wednesdays from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Local Produce, Live Plants, Baked Goods, Herbs, Free Range Meat, Artisan Crafts, & More.
(865)405-3135, www.knoxvillemarketsquare.com

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