Calendar of Events

Open house and reception with the artist on February 5 from 6-8 PM. If you’ve visited the Performing Arts Studio lately, you’ve no doubt been drawn into “The Mind Mapping Project”, Zach’s exhibition of vibrant, intriguing mixed media paintings. We hope you’ll join us for a night of art appreciation! Knoxville Arts and Fine Crafts Center, 1127 Broadway Suite B, Knoxville, TN 37917. For information: 865-523-1401, www.cityofknoxville.org/recreation/arts

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition titled "Headlights and Streetlights", featuring recent works by Mike C. Berry and Bobbie Crews. Crews's classic automobile paintings explore the relationships between "man and machine", combining realism and abstraction in a way that melds the familiar with the unexpected; Berry's series of new pieces explore visual moods of the city and urban areas of modern life. "Headlights and Streetlights" will be displayed in The Balcony at the Emporium Center from February 5-26, 2010. An opening reception with live music by the Old City Buskers (www.oldcitybuskers.com) will take place as part of First Friday activities on February 5 from 5:00-9:00 PM.

Mike C. Berry earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has exhibited in group shows throughout Tennessee and Georgia during the last ten years. Working primarily in pastel and oil, Berry creates colorful and vibrant cityscapes and landscapes, often bending and twisting the perspective in his compositions. Berry's work is also used in Pilot Food Mart billboards across Knoxville and surrounding areas. The Dogwood Arts Festival awarded Berry's painting "Spring in the City" the 2007 Limited Edition Print, which sold out in a record-breaking 21 days. Currently, one of Berry's works is the cover art for Jack Neely's new book "Knoxville, This Obscure and Prismatic City". Also, his work appears on his blog "Postcards from Knoxville" (http://mikecberry.blogspot.com), which features new small paintings of Knoxville each day. Berry was voted the Best Visual Artist of East Tennessee by The Knoxville News Sentinel 2009 Readers Poll. He is the Gallery Manager for the University of Tennessee's Downtown Gallery in Knoxville and is an active member of the Arts & Culture Alliance. His work is on display at his studio located in the Emporium Center (Suite 111) and is open to the public every First Friday from 5:00-9:00 PM. For more information on Mike C. Berry, visit www.mikecberry.com.

Bobbie Crews is originally from Northwest Ohio but has called Knoxville home since 1990. Creating art all of her life, she took a break from painting to raise three boys and then started painting professionally in 1993. Although Crews was already painting for her livelihood, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art from the University of Tennessee, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2007. She is known for her work in murals, portraits, and design, and her work is included in private and corporate collections nationally and in Bermuda and Africa. Locally, Crews's work can be seen in the Howard Baker Federal Courthouse, the Knoxville Family Justice Center, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, the downtown Lyric Theatre in Loudon, Aubrey's Restaurants, and numerous other locations. Crews also teaches workshops, gives private instruction, does speaking engagements for and about art, and works as a courtroom sketch artist. She is an activist for women in the form of artwork for education and awareness of domestic violence. She has had solo shows in the town of Farragut, the Knoxville Family Justice Center, and the Howard Baker Federal Building. She is a member of the American Portrait Society and A1LabArts, an associate member of the American Watercolor Society and the Tennessee Watercolor Society, and she was inducted as a lifetime member of the Tennessee Artists Association. She is married to Clay Thurston, an accomplished nature and wildlife photographer, and they make their home in Fountain City. Her working studio is also in the Emporium Center (Suite 107). For more information on Bobbie Crews, visit www.bobbiecrews.com.

"Headlights and Streetlights" will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, February 6, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For information: 865-523-7543, www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present its first “New to Knoxville” exhibition featuring eight artists who are new to the Greater Knoxville area. The selected art includes watercolor, photography, sculpture, oil and acrylic paintings, mosaics, drawing, and mixed media and will be exhibited at the Emporium Center from February 5-26, 2010. A public reception will take place on Friday, February 5, from 5:00-9:00 PM as part of First Friday activities downtown and features live music by the Old City Buskers - www.oldcitybuskers.com.

The following artists will be featured:
+ Stephen Brayfield of Knoxville; watercolor - www.brayart.com
+ Bill Cook, Jr. of Knoxville; sculpture - www.billcookjr.com
+ Connie Gaertner of Knoxville; oil on canvas
+ Michael Hyneman of Knoxville; digital photography - www.michaelhyneman.com
+ Patsy Rodriguez of Sevierville; ceramic mosaics
+ Mary Ruden of Seymour; photography and drawing - http://picasaweb.google.com/knoxalliance/MaryRuden
+ Diana Scott-Auger of Greenback; acrylic paintings - http://www.artmarketgallery.net/members/scott-auger.html
+ Erika Smith of Knoxville; mixed media - www.facebook.com/pages/Erika-Smith-Fine-Art/139200442279

"New to Knoxville" is on display February 5-26, 2010 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, February 6, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. For information: 865-523-7543, www.knoxalliance.com.

Paintings, watercolors, prints and drawings by Bruce D. Busey will be on exhibit at Regas Restaurant during the month of February. The exhibit is a part of Knoxville's First Friday ArtWalk. Also on exhibit will be acrylic paintings by Asheville artist, Sharon Trammel, Professor of Fine Art at Asheville Buncombe Community College. Works inspired by performers, personalities and events of Asheville, North Carolina. Website: www.sharontrammel.com. For more information contact: B. D. Busey, 865-379-8263 or 865-548-4253.

Regas Restaurant, 318 N. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37917. For information: 865-522-6055, www.thechophouse.com

First Friday Opening, February 5, 5-8 p.m. The Trunk Show will highlight several collections by Philippa Roberts and includes over 75 individual pieces of jewelry. California designer Philippa Roberts' stunning collection of jewelry illustrates
her love for clean lines and soft colors. Born in South Africa to a jewelry making family, Philippa was naturally drawn to working with metals and stones. She graduated from Miami University in Ohio with a BFA in metal design and photography before moving to San Francisco in 1995. Her daily walks along the coast of the Pacific cean inspire much of her creativity. From the clean, blue stones in many of her pieces to the simple replication of a dragonfly on a necklace, her work stems from the nature around her. She also incorporates a feeling of the urban, with lines and patterns that imitate architecture and design seen around the city. Philippa integrates silver and gold with different colored stones, adding texture, shape and hue to her designs. She forms all the original pieces by carving in wax or fabricating in metal. Using silver as her main medium, Philippa creates necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings that can be worn formally or informally, with an appeal to all ages.

Hanson Fine Art & Craft Gallery, 5607 Kingston Pk, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-5:30PM; Saturday 10AM-5PM. For information: 865-584-6097, www.hansongallery.com

with Cynic, Devin Townsend, Scale the Summit

Inventive North Carolina metallers Between the Buried and Me tell an enigmantic story with their new album entitled The Great Misdirect. It introduces us to an elaborate cast of characters that are odd, unique, familiar and somewhat comforting. A group of outsiders trying to comprehend the strange worlds they all inhabit. The Great Misdirect is a truly enthralling adventure. The five stories that interlock within this fantastic tale is an inspiration to the creativeness that extreme metal is capable of and a testament to where Between the Buried and Me is taking the genre. It confirms that they are not only a group of skilled musicians and gifted performers, but also fantastic story-tellers that have an endless wealth of imagination and interest in furthering the realms of hard rock and heavy metal. Disconnect yourself from what you have perceived as logic and reality, close your eyes and join Between the Buried and Me in this walk through The Great Misdirect.
Tickets online or via 865-656-4444.
803 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com

Music from Old Louisiana: Led by fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt, L’Esprit Créole specializes in the music of the French speaking enclaves of the Ozarks and midwest. Dennis studied with Old Mines, Missouri fiddlers Roy and Pete Boyer and Charlie Pashia and is considered a leading interpreter of the old style that evolved from the music brought to the area by early 18th-century French settlers. Dennis has previously played at the Laurel with Morris Ardoin and with Paul Gregoire and Roux du Bayou. 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.

1538 Laurel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-522-5851, www.KnoxTIX.com

Once a month, Knoxville's pedestrian-friendly streets transform into a block party during FIRST FRIDAY. Each celebration, enjoy receptions at your favorite art galleries, live music by local musicians, and more! FIRST FRIDAY is a stage for local galleries and Knoxville's vital downtown cultural scene. It's a place to meet friends new and old! From the shops and galleries on Gay Street (The Emporium Center, Art Market Gallery and more) to Market Square (Bliss, World Grotto and others) to the spaces in the Old City (Old City Java, A1ArtSpace, and more) and in Old North Knox (Fluorescent Gallery), there's something for everyone! You can always expect a diverse crowd, cool local art, live music, and plenty of surprises! Information: http://knoxvillefirstfriday.com/wp

At Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN. Noted Appalachian poet Frank X. Walker and lecturer/scholar Dr. Katie Hoffman will be speaking in the Humanities Theatre. The event is called Appalachia: A Diverse Population with International Roots. Admission is free, and a reception and book signing will follow.

627 N Central St, Knoxville TN. Information: 865.386.8848

This Friday night, we are inviting you to join us for an evening of fun and artistic exploration with the band RadioHarvest and photographer Krysty Jones. Come check out Krysty's unique presentation of photography while chilling out with Scott the bartender and jamming to the sounds of the returning band!

URBhana, 115 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information: 865-951-5424, www.urbhana.com

Recent topics of conversation among local artists have included the shaky economy, current work, upcoming exhibits and opportunities, and finding out what each other’s Porn Star name is. A1LabArts and Fireproof Productions will present an exhibition “Alter ego: self portrait as your porn star name” in the Pegboard Gallery at Fireproof Storage building, 201 Randolph Street, east of Old City. A1 board members Sara Blair and Denise Sanabria came up with this idea based on a funny game they played long ago. “People play to figure out what their porn star name would be”, Blair explained, “so to get these funny names you take the name of your first pet and then you add either your mother’s maiden name or the street you grew up on.” The results, are hilarious. From Red Penix to Cookie Savage, A1LabArts has gathered a group or artists possessing Porn Star names and had them produce self-portraits based on these fantasy alter-egos. The self-portraits, from hokey to crude, can be viewed during the exhibition. A1LabArts: 865-335-2670, www.a1labarts.org