Calendar of Events

First Friday Opening reception December 4, 5-9pm; Closing Reception, January 8, 5-9pm. Curator Timothy Massey will give a gallery talk on December 4th & January 8th at 7 & 8 pm.
Gallery Hours: Wed –Fri 11-6pm & Sat 10-3pm
The Gallery will be closed Dec 24-26 & Jan 1
Much of the development for an artwork happens well before the brush meets canvas, the hand meets clay, or the finger meets camera, etc. These preliminary inspirations and concepts go mostly unnoticed and unappreciated. This exhibit brings to light the methods artists employ to inform themselves of the possibilities for their as yet unrealized works. Artists providing access to their journals include Fred Burton, Memphis, TN; Joseph Delaney, New York City; Gage Opdenbrouw, San Francisco, CA; Susan Kemenyffy, McKean, PA; and John Copeland, Brooklyn, NY. This exhibit was curated by Timothy Massey, Director of the Tower Fine Arts Gallery at SUNY Brockport. He is also a native of Knoxville and a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

December 4-6 & 11-13 at 409 S. Gay St. (between Yee-Haw & Downtown Wine & Spirits) Hours: Friday: 12-9, Saturday: 10-9, Sunday: 1 - 5.

Featuring locally crafted housewares, apparel, & accessories, recycled stationery, cork trivets, belt buckles, hubcap art, & tire planters; pottery, apparel, jewelry, candles, soap, art, & more. Open House Friday, Dec. 4th, 5 - 9pm. Evening entertainment by Nathan Moses begins at 6:30pm. Amazing treats from Magpies, Luxe Catering & the Flower Pot. www.DuchessCraft.etsy.com for more info

Downtown's most exquisite and affordable holiday shopping event with one of a kind selection of handcrafted gifts and live performances. Free lunch on Friday with a $10 Extravaganza purchase.

Friday, December 4, 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM and Saturday, December 5, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Information: 865-523-7543, www.knoxalliance.com

This year we are teaming up with 8 Shooters Studio, who will be hosting a holiday art show the night before (First Friday December 4th) at their location on Central Ave. We hope that you can join us for two days of holiday art, fun, shopping and entertainment! Holiday fun includes: lots of new artwork for sale by gallery, studio and guest artists, Holiday Portraits by 8 Shooters Studio, a Kid's Christmas Ornament Workshop from 11-1, yummy refreshments, live music, doorprizes, and free gift wrap for gallery purchases. Its a great way to beat the holiday mall madness and instead shop for affordable locally crafted art. Saturday, December 5, 10-6. Information: 865-595-1900, www.mightymudclay.com

A1LabArts is going to host an art sale "10" in the Fireproof Storage building at 201 Randolph St., east of the Old City. John Fairstein short films will kick off the event. The name of the sale "10" is for the idea that each artist will have 10 reproductions for purchase. The art sale will presents a variety of media, ranging from handmade items, photos, to sound art, all made by the local artists. This one-night only sale will be held along with a mini film festival featuring John Fairstein's short films-a Sink and a Wink, Get Up!, Farmbook 2, etc.

Established in 1995 by a group of local artists, A1LabArts is dedicated to multi-disciplinary and experimental exploration of contemporary art issues in all media. Information: Rachel Jue Rui, 865-773-9627, juerachel @ gmail.com, www.a1labarts.org

Grace Notes Flute Choir will present a Christmas Benefit Concert for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Blount County. The concert will feature a wide variety of traditional Christmas favorites performed by the 10 piece flute choir with chimes and percussion in accompaniment. Special guests include an appearance by retired US Marine Band flutist Gail Bowlin with Celtic Harpist Charles Nix. Tickets are available for a minimum donation of $10 and can be purchased at Murlin's Music World, from any of the choir members (call Kris Peterson at 681-6363) or by calling the Palace Theater at 865-982-3808. www.gracenotesflutechoir.org

1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Grammy-nominated recording artist Jim Brickman never stops working, even after he takes his final bow at a concert. After 15 successful years in the music business, Jim's career continues to take on new directions and grow. This Christmas season, Brickman is creating a Beautiful World for audiences seeking an escape from the hectic demands of the holiday season. In a very special concert, Jim and guests present an evening of dazzling solo piano, vibrant vocals plus warmth and humor. Jim weaves together new and old traditional holiday favorites, all the hits and songs from Beautiful World, his highly anticipated CD/ DVD released on September 15. Information: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

Join the District for late evening art, fashion, design, and cuisine! October 2, November 6, and December 4. www.thedistrictinbearden.com

Marches down Gay Street and the Old City in downtown Knoxville featuring marching bands, floats and decorated vehicles.

The Ardoin family have recorded Creole dance music for four generations, representing the whole path from the old country dance music to modern zydeco. The legendary figure Amede Ardoin, whose first cousin Alfonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin was Morris Ardoin's father, formed a partnership with Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee, whose 1930 recordings are revered by Cajun and zydeco musicians alike as pioneering in their use of Delta blues motifs, but also document the oldest Creole music styles on sound recording. "Bois Sec" led the Ardoin Family band with his sons Morris, Lawrence "Black" and Gustav "Bud" until Gustav's death in 1974. The Morris Ardoin Band offers a rare opportunity to hear styles of Creole music nearly lost among living musicians but seminal to Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop music that thrives in South Louisiana and beyond today. The Knoxville Cajun Dance Association will offer dance lessons downstairs at the Laurel from 6:45 to 7:45 for an extra $3 at the door. The Laurel Theater is located on the corner of 16th and Laurel Avenue in the historic Fort Sanders neighborhood of Knoxville near the UT campus. For additional information call (865) 522-5851 or email concerts @ jubileearts.org.

The public is invited to an opening reception for a special display of art by students from the Knox County school art programs. The Bijou Gallery on the second floor of the Bijou Theatre has been totally renovated to provide an excellent venue for local artists. For additional information, contact Mike Combs at mcombs@utk.edu.