Calendar of Events

Join us for a glass of bubbly as we toast the New Year and premier the oil paintings of Maryville artist, Chriss Hardy, on Saturday, January 16 from 1-3 p.m. Chriss is fascinated by people in their everyday, active lives and she captures many of these everyday moments on canvas. Included in this collection is a series of shoppers at the Farmer's Market in downtown Knoxville. Chriss loves a multicolor palette and inspires us with her insight.
5607 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri, 10-5:30 ~ Sat, 10-5. Information: 865-584-6097, www.hansongallery.com

Tennessee Stage Company presents the readings of three new plays at the Knox County Public Library. All readings are free to the public.

+ CUPID’S ITCH by Paul Leeper - Saturday, January 30, 3:00 pm, at Lawson McGee Library. Cupid’s Itch is a unique and off beat love story set in the world of women’s boxing! A shadowy world where things aren’t always what they seem and people aren’t always what you expect. What else might one expect from a Paul Leeper play?

+ THE GOOD SON by Craig Smith - Saturday, January 23, 3:00 pm, at Fountain City Library, and Saturday, January 30, 1:30 pm, at Lawson McGee Library. The Good Son is a crime caper telling the story of a crime that went wrong and the way it comes back to haunt the guilty and the innocent. But who is guilty and who is innocent?

+ THE LAST WAFFLE HOUSE IN AMERICA by Leslie Agron - Saturday, January 16, 3:00 pm, at Fountain City Library, and Sunday, January 31, 2:00 pm Lawson McGee Library. According to playwright Leslie Agron there are no Waffle House’s in California, so as you go west across America you come, literally, to the Last Waffle House somewhere in Arizona. This slice of life play takes place in and around the Last Waffle House in America.

For over ten years the Tennessee Stage Company has presented a New Play Festival including World Premiere performances as well as readings and staged readings of new, un-produced scripts. The playwright’s attend the readings and afterwards a discussion is held with the playwright, cast and audience on the script. For more information contact the Tennessee Stage Company: 865-546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com, tennesseestage@bellsouth.com

Comedian Brian Regan has spent more than 20 years becoming one of the world's funniest and most successful comics. Between return visits to numerous late-night talk shows, Regan has found time to perform all over the nation and release two critically acclaimed Comedy Central specials and DVDs: 2008's The Epitome of Hyperbole and 2007's Brian Regan Standing Up. Information: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

The Necks is comprised of Chris Abrahams piano, Tony Buck on drums, and Lloyd Swanton on bass. It might sound like a fairly straightforward jazz trio configuration, but this group is anything but typical. Featuring lengthy pieces which slowly unravel in a most mesmerizing fashion, and are frequently underpinned by an insistent deep groove. Not entirely avant-garde, nor minimalist, nor ambient, nor jazz, the music of The Necks is possibly unique in the world today. They were one of the stand-out concerts at Big Ears 2009. This quote pretty much sums it up: " A performance by The Necks is a kind of religious experience" - THE AUSTRALIAN
Tickets online or via 865-656-4444. 803 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com

Learn landscaping ideas for creating and improving native areas that benefit wildlife and reduce upkeep for the homeowner. Join green thumb, Peg Beute. The cost is free. To register, call 577-4717 ext. 10. www.ijams.org

In addition to a variety of events designed to celebration the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the MLK Commemorative Commission will provide special opportunities for Knox County school teachers as well as young students in the area. Knox County teachers may elect to participate in a special in-service training program to be held at the CDF Haley Farm in Clinton. The program, which will begin at 9:00AM and last until 1:00PM, will promote the principles and goals of the Knox County School Strategic Plan: Building on Strength – Excellence for All Students. Teachers who participate will receive four service-learning credit hours. For registration details, contact Dr. Rodney Russell at Knox County Schools russellr@k12tn.net.
Also on Saturday, January 16th, school-age children may participate in a Youth Symposium, also at the CDF Haley Farm. Students will depart from Vine Middle Magnet School at 8:00AM and will be given a tour of the facilities at the CDF Haley Farm and will participate in the Jack and Jill Oratorical Contest as well as other specially-designed training activities. Students should pre-register and provide permission slips. Those forms, as well as complete information and a detailed schedule: www.mlkknoxville.org, 865-673-8988.

First Friday Reception February 5, 5:00 - 9:00pm
The 10th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition continues a tradition begun by the University of Hawai‘i Department of Art. By invitation only, this exhibition is comprised of 81 sculptures by artists from 14 countries and includes “Meta Physical #4” by Knoxville artist Richard Jolley. The small format of the works in the exhibition, with the subsequent ease and economy of handling, provides exposure to a broad spectrum of contemporary sculpture. These triennial exhibitions were initiated as an attempt to incorporate a variety of multicultural traditions and a range of sculptural ideas, styles, and materials. As geographical borders are fractured and the global context dominates, the identity of the individual often becomes hybrid. Whether defined by the artist’s ethnicity or the location of production, all art is increasingly integrated into the fabric of contemporary society. Although the act of affirming cultural identity becomes more complex, these sculptures demonstrate the imaginative spirit and endless creativity of the individual artist.

Located at 106 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Gallery Hours: Wed – Fri 11-6 Sat 10-3. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown

Reception January 15, 6:30-8:30 PM
213 Hotel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityart.com

Directed by Jayne Morgan with musical direction by Vicki Masters. Cast: Dennis Bussell, Brandon Gibson, Bill Howard, Lisa Slagle, Chelsea Samples, Dana Wham, Annie Millett, Krisha Newport.
Performances are Thursday-Sunday at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday; $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday. For more information on the show: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

A co-production with Tanasi Girl Scouts Council, based on the novel by Kelly Weil. Here’s the complete performance schedule: Friday, January 15 at 7 PM; Saturday, January 16 at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sunday, January 17 at 3 PM; Thursday, January 21 at 7 PM; Friday, January 22 at 7 PM; Saturday, January 23 at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sunday, January 24 at 3 PM; Thursday, January 28 at 7 PM; Friday, January 29 at 7 PM; Saturday, January 30 at 1 PM and 5 PM.

Located at 800 Tyson Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-599-5284, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com, info@childrenstheatreknoxville.com.

Bill Brown leads the Poetry Workshop; Ed Francisco leads the Fiction Workshop during "January Jumpstart X" at the Magnuson Hotel in Sweetwater, TN. Jumpstart opens with an informal social hour on Friday evening. Concurrent workshops run from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM on Saturday and 8:30-11:30 AM on Sunday. For information: 865-671-6046, www.tmwi.org, theorrs @ usit.net.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission announces line-up of events for the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. The MLK Celebration programs are designed to increase awareness of Dr. King’s work and to bring all races in our community into closer harmony. For 2010, all celebration events relate to the theme of “Realizing His Dream Through Service: It Is Up To Us” and there are several new programs that underline that theme.

January 13: The kick-off event for the MLK Celebration will be the Interfaith Prayer Service at Mount Calvary Baptist Church at noon. Religious leaders from many different faiths will join in this very special worship service.

January 14: The Leadership Symposium is scheduled for the morning followed by the annual Leadership/Awards Luncheon at noon. The special guest speaker at this year’s luncheon is Dr. John Maguire, President Emeritus of Claremont Graduate University and life director of the King Center.

January 15: A community discussion by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance at 7:00PM.

January 16: YWCA Race Against Racism during the afternoon

January 16: School-age young people are invited to participate in the all-new Youth Symposium to be held at the Children’s Defense Fund Haley Farm. The morning sessions will focus on strengthening our community by helping our youth to be leaders for equity in the future. The half-day teacher in-service credit program provides special professional development sessions for local school teachers aimed at promoting the principles and goals of the Knox County School Strategic Plan.

January 17: The traditional “Night with the Arts” will feature original productions written exclusively for the MLK commemorative events. Beginning at 6:00PM, this very special production will be at the Colston Performing Arts Center on the campus of Knoxville College and is open to the public without charge.

January 18: Our community really comes together on the MLK holiday. The annual MLK Parade is one of the most exciting events of the celebration with hundreds of participants and – this year, former Mayor and former Ambassador to Poland Victor Ash will be the Grand Marshal. The parade will end at the Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church for the annual Memorial Tribute Service with Rev. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock as the keynote speaker. Dr. Warnock is currently the Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, spiritual home of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 18: The closing tribute to Dr. King and his work will be the Holiday Celebration Concert at 6:00PM in the Knoxville Civic Auditorium featuring the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the MLK Holiday Celebration Choir, and a variety of special guest performers.

Also new this year will be a month-long exhibit of MLK-related works of art on display at the Bijou Theatre Gallery. The gala opening of this meaningful exhibit will be from 5:00PM – 7:00PM on January 8th as part of the First Friday events.

With the exception of the luncheon on January 14, all MLK Celebration events are open to the public without charge. For additional information: www.mlkknoxville.org, or contact Michael Combs, mcombs@utk.edu.