Calendar of Events

Reception: Nov. 13, 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

Adapted from the novel by Roald Dahl

November 13-29 (no performance November 26)

Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sundays at 3 PM

865-599-5284; www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com

Free and open to the public. Opening reception Friday, November 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.; artists' talk at 7 P.M.
Harlan Hambright Photographs: "An Odd World Observed" and Fran Thie: "Poetry and Pastels". Knoxville native and UT Architecture graduate Harlan Hambright parleyed his passion for architecture and photography into a diversified career as an architectural photographer spanning over 30 years. As a boy he was taught by his father to carefully observe the world around him. It is this ability to observe and photograph the sometimes obscure man-made objects that defines his work. He chooses "to document the weird artifacts and occurrences that I find when I'm just looking around." From her life as a high school teacher to a CPA Fran has brought a wealth of experience and influences to her current work as a visual artist. Fran is both self-taught and educated in painting classes and workshops led by nationally prominent artists. She has painted in pastels and watermedia for more than a decade and regularly exhibits in juried exhibitions across the Southeast, with several awards to her credit. She is active in the Knoxville arts community, and has served as president of Tennessee Artists Association and the Knoxville Watercolor Society. Currently, her work can be seen at the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville on Gay Street. Fran's love of creative writing and literature have left their mark on her lyrical view of the world, with impressionistic and expressive interpretations of nature in both landscape and abstract paintings. By means of intuitive use of color and texture, she strives to transform an ordinary scene into a special place where both drama and serenity can co-exist. Her works, whether representational or abstract, always have their foundation in the world of nature. 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5, Sunday, 9-1. For information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

The Farragut Folklife Museum will host the "Charles Dickens and Royal Doulton Exhibit," on loan from Bob Leonard, former Farragut mayor and long-time Folklife Museum committee member. This special holiday exhibit will showcase more than 200 pieces of Royal Doulton Dickensware and Royal Doulton Dickens characters. In conjunction with this exhibit, the Museum will host book signings and a special presentation on Monday, Nov. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Farragut Town Hall. At 6 p.m., the following authors will be available to sign their books: Donald J. Dickenson, "Birds Eye View"; Doris Woods Owens, "Concord-Farragut"; Charles Reeves, "Battle of Campbell Station"; Malcolm Shell, "From Frontier Fort to Town Hall"; and Mark Taylor, "The Frog House." Available for purchase in the Folklife Museum Gift Shop, these books are a valuable gift idea for local history buffs. At 7 p.m., Leonard will discuss his Royal Doulton collection and the effect Charles Dickens and his novels had on the people of England and around the world. Light refreshments will also be served. 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: 865-966-7057, www.townoffarragut.org

The WordPlayers and Erin Stage Co. collaborate to bring this classic story to Knoxville. It is the story of Annie Sullivan and her student, blind and deaf Helen Keller. The Miracle Worker dramatizes the volatile relationship between the lonely teacher and her charge. Helen, trapped in her secret world, is violent, spoiled, almost sub-human, and treated by her family as such. Only Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from the dark, tortured silence. (recommended for ages 10+) November 6, 12, 13 at 7:30 pm and November 14 at 2:00 pm at The WordPlayers Theatre at MCM, 1540 Robinson Rd. in Knoxville; and November 21 and 27 at 7:30 pm and November 22 & 28 @ 2:00 pm at Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd. in Knoxville. Tickets are $12 Adults, $10 Seniors/Students, $8 Groups of 10 or more, Thursdays are "Pay What You Can" nights, Signed Performance TBA. Information: 865-539-2490, www.wordplayers.org

Featuring two member artists: Kathy Holland, painter and Jen Hamilton, wire sculpture. The Gallery will host a First Friday Reception for the Featured Artists on Friday, November 6 with music by 'Webford Brown & the Town'. The Gallery is now selling 'artist made' Christmas Ornaments to benefit the Community School of the Arts in Knoxville. The Art Market Gallery is located at 422 S. Gay St. Holiday Gallery Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11am – 6 PM & Sunday 1 – 5pm. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net

Interested in the links between art, science, and technology through the ages, New York artist Devorah Sperber deconstructs familiar images to address the way the brain processes visual information versus the way we think we see. "As a visual artist," she says, "I cannot think of a topic more stimulating and yet so basic than the act of seeing—how the human brain makes sense of the visual world." Using ordinary spools of thread, Sperber creates pixilated, inverted images of masterpieces, which appear as colorful abstractions to the naked eye. When viewed with optical devices, however, the works becomes immediately recognizable as the famous paintings. The thread spools works are hung upside down in reference to the fact that the lens of the eye projects an inverted image of the world onto the retina, which is corrected by the brain. A clear acrylic sphere, positioned in front of each work, functions like the human eye and brain, not only inverting but also focusing the image so that it appears as a sharp, faithful, right-side-up reproduction of the famous painting. 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

Knoxville artist Russell Briscoe's paintings reflect the work of a historian, as well as an artist, and cover some 190 years of the region's past. Subjects include "Clinch and Gay, 1896," "Christmas Morning," "First Train in Knoxville, 1855," and "The 1897 Gay Street Fire." Information: 865-215-8830, www.east-tennessee-history.org

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg will present "Women in Wood," an exhibition to bring light to the exceptional quality of work being created by women artists working in the medium of wood - both woodturning and constructed wood. The public is invited to the opening reception in the main gallery and lecture presented by nationally renowned studio wood sculptor Betty Scarpino on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6:00 pm. The exhibition runs October 16-January 2, 2010. The guest lecturer Betty Scarpino will also be teaching a weekend master class that weekend at the school. She has a background in industrial arts, sculpture, and design, all of which she teaches and writes about. Her work is represented in many public and private collections including The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Mobile Museum of Art. Her work was included in the recent book, New Masters of Woodturning: Expanding the Boundaries of Wood Art. She is currently the editor of American Woodturner, journal of the American Association of Woodturners. For more information: 865-436-5860 or www.arrowmont.org

Sale will feature framed prints, oils, photographs, and artwork with a nature and wildlife theme. Do your holiday shopping early! Ijams members receive 25% discount. Sale runs October 3-November 30. 865-577-4717

"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.