Calendar of Events

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition by seven visual artists celebrating The Carpetbag Theatre's 40th Anniversary: Jeffrey Cody, Terry Collins, Eddie Davis, Walt Fieldsa, Alan Jones, Aisha K, Melody Reeves, and Sister Rakiah. The artists collaborated to create an installation in response to ways they have been moved and inspired by Carpetbag's work over the past 40 years. The exhibition will be shown in the Balcony at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from October 2-30, 2009 with an opening reception as part of First Friday activities on October 2 from 5:00-9:00 PM. The reception will feature public performances by members of the Carpetbag ensemble of actors, musicians and spoken word artists using excerpts from their repertoire of dramatic, spoken word and musical works. The Carpetbag Theatre (CBT) is one of the few tenured African-American professional theatre companies in the South. "It is important for us, as visual artists, to honor Carpetbag's vision and contribution to our regional and national cultural life,” says artist Melody Reeves. “They have created an impressive series of original dramas embodying essential stories from communities across the world. And they work constantly to train new artists and give back to their communities.” The 40th Anniversary Exhibition will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, October 3, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In addition to the exhibition at the Emporium, a 40th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration on October 9-11 is designed to create awareness about the theatre's success locally, nationally, and internationally, to reunite community partners and individuals who have benefited from CBT programs, and to showcase excerpts from CBT's body of work. Call 865-544-0447 or visit www.carpetbagtheatre.org.

Installation, sound art, video, photography, performance: you never know what you can expect from A1LabArts! A1 will present its biannual member show Shadoz in the Pegboard Gallery from 7-10 PM on Friday, October 2, at Fireproof Storage building, 201 Randolph Street, east of Old City. The theme Shadoz is developed from the word shadow to instill an air of Halloween into the show. Each member of A1 uses their own interpretation and submits work using their individualistic style. There are no restrictions for members and what they submit. The themes of the exhibitions aim to be seductive, provide wide latitude and inspire artists as well as the viewers. Partnered with Fireproof Film Productions, the exhibit will be on display until Oct. 23. Events are planned every Friday throughout the month. Approximately 40 member artists are expected to submit works to the Shadoz exhibit. Works in 2-D, 3-D and 4-D media will fill the A1ArtSpace with a comprehensive representation of the pool of talented artists residing in east Tennessee. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite pieces; a people's choice award will be given to the winner. There will be a costume event at the opening reception. A1 welcomes people dressing up in creative costumes. With the dedication to multi-disciplinary and experimental exploration of contemporary art issues in interdisciplinary arts, A1 continuously educates and serves local artists and the Knoxville community by introducing new modes and styles. For information: 865-773-9627 or www.a1labarts.org.

"Panama Overlays, The Map Series". At the O'Brien Art Gallery. For specific dates and updates to exhibits: 865-882-4649, wilkersonbs@roanestate.edu, or www.roanestate.edu/art/gallery.

The Town of Farragut Arts Council announces the Rocky Top Decorative Painters of East Tennessee (RTDP) as the October Featured Artist of the Month, in honor of National Decorative Painting Month. An exhibit showcasing the organization's work will be on display at the Farragut Town Hall. The exhibit features painted pieces by various members of RTDP, some representative of folk art and others fine art. Also featured are hand-painted ornaments for the organization's tree at East Tennessee Children's Hospital's annual "Fantasy of Trees". RTDP was chartered in 1981 by the Society of Decorative Painters, an international organization of nearly 23,000 artist members. The chapter has 88 members and meets monthly at Second United Methodist Church in Knoxville to pursue a diverse art form using a variety of techniques and media. Members contribute treasure boxes for Shriners hospitals and children's homes and memory boxes for area hospitals, as well as offer painting classes and seminars on decorative painting, watercolors and oils. For more information: 865-966-7057 or www.townoffarragut.org/artscouncil. The Farragut Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive directly across from the Farragut Branch Post Office.

An invitational ceramics exhibition featuring the work of eight nationally-celebrated ceramicists. Please join us for a First Friday Reception October 2 from 5-9pm. The exhibition includes works by Pennsylvania artist Adelaide Paul who will be present at the reception, North Carolina artist and UT Alumus Michael Kline, Bonnie Seeman from Florida, and Georgia artists: Ron Meyers, Ted Saupe, Sunkoo Yuh, Andy Nasisse and Lauren Gallaspy. Ted Saupe, current head of the ceramics area at the University of Georgia, taught ceramics at UT from 1980 through 1992. The exhibition features a wide range of ceramic forms with innovative surfaces from traditional vessels to figurative sculptures. 106 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. 865.673.0802 or www.ewing-gallery.org/New_Downtown/Index/DT_Index.html#

Juried Mixed Media Exhibition by Regional Artists
Opening reception, September 12, 7–9; Gallery Talk at 6:30, Awards Presentation at 7.

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.

Reception: Fri., Sept. 18, 6:30-8:30PM

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

The annual Latino Arts Exhibition at the Knoxville Museum of Art honors Hispanic Heritage Month. Widen your horizons for free! 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 parking. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Based in Knoxville, A1LabArts is a nonprofit dedicated to multi-disciplinary and experimental exploration of contemporary art issues in all media. Opening reception September 11, 6:00-8:00 PM. 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Information: 865-335-2670, www.a1labarts.org

+ Field of Dreams (PG) on September 11
+ The Goonies (PG) on September 18
+ Kung Fu Panda (PG) on September 25
+ Casablanca (PG) on October 2
+ Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (G) on October 9
+ Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG 13) on October 16
Pull out your lawn chair or blanket and join the fun for Knoxville's favorite outdoor movies series every Friday night. For information, call 865-215-8750.

UT Photojournalism professor Robert Heller always has his camera with him when he travels. Heller's photographic exhibit, "City Light," examines the confluence of architecture, people and light, as found in cities such as San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Warsaw and elsewhere. Open to the public M-F 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, downtown Knoxville. 865-524-1223 or www.easttennesseefoundation.org

The Knoxville Museum of Art introduces Contemporary Focus, a new series that recognizes, supports, and documents the development of contemporary art in East Tennessee. Each year the KMA will feature several emerging artists who work in new and experimental ways. Contemporary Focus 2009 presents the work of three remarkable artists: Hunt Clark, Patricia Tinajero, and David Wolff. Hunt Clark studied art at the University of Tennessee with a focus in painting and sculpture. Clark is best known for his intricately curved, organic shapes that he carves out of large blocks of wood or constructs with large inflatable structures. Patricia Tinajero is an assistant professor in the department of sculpture at the University of Tennessee. Born in Quito, Ecuador, Tinajero often uses her work to raise questions about cultural identity and social practice. As part of Contemporary Focus, Tinajero has built a large sculpture in KMA's south garden. David Wolff, a 1991 graduate of the University of Tennessee, paints with a delicate and thoughtful touch. Deeply inspired by Renaissance and Medieval art, Wolff's abstract scenes become intensely realistic. Wolff runs the Fluorescent Gallery in downtown Knoxville which has become a backbone of Knoxville's downtown arts district. The opening reception at the KMA on Thursday, September 3, 2009, from 7-9pm is free and open to the public. 1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918. Open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am–5pm, Friday 10am–8pm, and Sunday 1pm–5pm. Admission and parking are free. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org