Calendar of Events

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

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 objects featured in this exhibit, ones seen publicly for the first time, are drawn from a private collection developed over the past 30 years by an adventuresome couple from Ten­nes­see. What started as a simple memento of the Southwest—a pair of small kachina dolls purchased in Santa Fe, New Mexico—eventually led to a remarkably rich and diverse collection of items produced by Indian peoples throughout all culture areas of Native North America. With each new specimen, the couple wanted to learn more about not only the object itself but also the cultural context within which it was made and used. Each new item added momentum to the couple's quest to expand and diversify their holdings. They were increasingly drawn to the scholarly literature on Indian art; they visited museums and Indian reservations across the United States and Canada; and they initiated contact with well-known dealers from coast to coast. They also began tailoring their vacations to match their collecting interests concerning the work of particular Indian artists, artifact types, and culture areas. All of this activity was fueled by the desire to broaden their understanding of the material culture of Native Americans. Their history of collecting can best be characterized as a journey of discovery, one they hope the viewer will share while touring this exhibit. The beautifully crafted pieces represent only a fraction of the holdings contained in this remarkable private collection. Information: 1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996. 865-974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

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

The last Wednesday of every month, this live radio show features music from the Appalachian foothills to the Mississippi delta and beyond, by nationally recognized artists as well as up-and-coming artists who reflect our region's varied artistic culture. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, featuring a house band led by Dave Nichols, and broadcast live on WDVX and WDVX.com. Tickets are $10 advance, $15 night of the show, available at the Tennessee Theatre box office, the online gift shop at TennesseeTheatre.com and at the WDVX Blue Plate Special concerts weekdays at noon at the Knoxville Visitors Center.

803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For more information, please visit the Web site or call (865) 522-0832.

These sessions are an informal meeting of artists, drawing and painting live models, under the tutelage of internationally known college level instructor Gifford Nicholaides.
- Life drawing practice sessions are held on Saturday mornings starting at 9:00 AM and running for two hours. Cost is $10, pay as you go.

The building is the former office of the Candoro Marble Company, located at 681 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, and resembles a small town post office. It is now owned by the South Knoxville Art and Heritage Center, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Community Room was used for drafting, therefore features a terrific bank of north facing windows. Constructed in 1922, and designed in the Beaux Arts style, the building features examples of carved ornamentation, columns, travertine interiors and polished marble.

More information: 865-573-0709