Calendar of Events

The Smoky Mountain Palace Theater in Sevierville has been designated as the U.S. office of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circle (SFLAC). The theater will celebrate this designation with a special opening ceremony and reception on Saturday, August 8 followed by the premier of Shanghai Artist's Performance and Exhibition Week. This cultural and art exchange will be an annual event; this year features some of Shanghai's finest artists and performers, including landscape painter, Jiafang Wang; Erhu (two-stringed Chinese fiddle) musician Ji Wan; So-na (Chinese clarinet) instrumentalist Chenyun Hu; and Kun Opera queen, Haohao Gu. Also participating will be the theater's resident performing cast of Cirque de Chine. The performers will share the stage each evening at 7:30 PM. All the exhibitions in the lobby, prior to the evening event, are free to the public," says David Zhao, the theater manager, "Each evening, at 6:45 people can enjoy watching live performances in the lobby by acrobats and demonstrations of Chinese painting and calligraphy by landscape painter, Jiafang Wang." A photography exhibit, titled "Shanghai Today", is also open to the public from 9:00AM to 9:00 PM. Shanghai Artists' Performance and Exhibition Week is August 8-14, 2009 at the Smoky Mountain Palace, 179 Collier Drive, Sevierville, TN 37862. Tickets for the evening performances may be purchased from the box office by calling 800-826-2933 x146 or online at www.SmokyMountainPalace.com.

Featuring painter Marie Merritt and the metal art of Morgan Fitch. The Gallery will host an opening First Friday Reception August 7, with live music provided by Gil Draper & Chad Beauchane playing traditional Irish music. 422 S. Gay St., operating hours Tuesday - Saturday 11-6 and Sunday 1-5. 865-525-5265 or visit the website at www.artmarketgallery.net.

August 1-30 featuring Youth Stone Carving Institute

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: (865) 525-6101 or www.knoxart.org.

By Ken Ludwig, Directed by Robert Hahn
Cast: Gay Harrison, Krisha Newport, Beverly Harrison, Alicia Sells, Mark Palmer, Erin Glisson, Robert McDonald, III, Gary Mullins
Showtimes: Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 8:00 pm and Sunday @ 3:00 pm
Tickets: Thursday, Sunday $10; Friday, Saturday $15.
319 N. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917.  865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Exhibit of before and after the Creation of the Park; explore artwork depicting Great Smoky Mountains National Park landscapes and life.

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

A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet. The two shows will play on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in Market Square.

For more information: 546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com

2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5, Sunday, 9-12 noon. For more information, visit the Web site or call (865) 523-4176.

A rare display of quilts and coverlets from the Ramsey House collection will be exhibited from July 10 through August 31. The collection includes quilts unique to Tennessee, and pre-Civil War era quilts and coverlets. Additionally, Ramsey House will be receiving as a gift from the Knoxville Committee of Smoky Mountain Quilt Trail a painted square representing the pattern, Twelve Triangles, to be erected this week. Information can be found at www.ramseyhouse.org or by calling 865-546-0745. Ramsey House is located at 2614 Thorn Grove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914.

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.

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

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