Calendar of Events

Here in our quiet corner of Northeast Tennessee, we have compelling reasons to celebrate Black History Month. The exhibit, including 4 works from The Nathanael Greene Museum, will grace the lobby of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, adjacent to Greeneville High School. The exhibit features thirty pieces by eighteen Tennessee artists and is open to the public in the lobby of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, with additional evening viewing when there are performances in the auditorium. Portraits were a favorite approach among the contributing artists, many of whom have been featured in this column. Michele Howe focused on Lena B. Lee, founder of the Negro Women's Civic Club, William “Uncle Bill” Johnson, the youngest of Andrew Johnson's former slaves who died in Knoxville in 1943, and Arthur Hill, WWI veteran and founder/commander of the American Legion Col. Young Post 188. Mother and daughter team Terri and Amanda Asbury created a joint project in multimedia sculpture and photographs of the monument to Zachariah Bennett in Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery. The title of their collaboration, “From Slavery to Prosperity” was inspired by the imposing monument over Bennett's grave, which bears the inscription “He was a well-to-do colored man”. Quilting artists Jody Palm and Regina Conner display pieces that celebrate the historic connection between quilts and the Underground Railroad. Quilt patterns of the period sometimes contained visual clues for those planning a bid for freedom. Painter Marie Merritt has produced an evocative image of a slave girl at her daily work as well as a breathtaking portrait of a young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. . Popular dollmaker Jane Hughes has paid tribute to the 'second' Johnson family with whimsical “Raggedy Dolly” and “Raggedy Sam” inspired by Andrew Johnson's slaves, freed in 1863. The Nathanael Greene Museum has loaned paintings by Greeneville's historian and archivist of the African American community, Mary Brownlow, as well as her son Martin Brownlow, and 2 paintings by Patty Sarden.

129 North Main Street, Greeneville, TN 37743. Hours: 9:30 to 5PM, Monday through Friday. Info: (423) 787-0195, www.james-ben.com

The public is invited to a reception which will take place on Sunday, January 31, from 2 PM to 4 PM with light refreshments. Established in 1963, The Knoxville Watercolor Society has over 50 members, most of whom who will exhibit one of their finest paintings at this show. Most of the work will be for sale. Additional info: 865-482-5181.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM; Friday, 10AM-8PM; Sunday, 1-5PM. For information: 865-934-2036, www.knoxart.org

China is viewed by most in the Western world as a homogeneous country with a single culture. Its land mass is similar to that of the United States, but it is inhabited by 1.3 billion people, making it the most populous country in the world. This population is composed of more than 56 official ethnic groups, each with its own customs, traditions, language, foods, and in some cases, religious beliefs.

In the many centuries of China’s history, numerous ethnic groups have ruled, and each has made contributions to the art and culture of what we have come to view today as “Chinese.” In this exhibition, the museum presents a brief glimpse into China’s history, with 80 examples of art from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.) to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 A.D.) and several contemporary works. Panels introducing each of the dynasties provide historical, geographical, and economic background.

1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Mon - Sat: 9:00A to 5:00P, Sun: 1:00P to 5:00P. Information: 865-974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

Visual artist Anne Wilson has been at the forefront of artwork connecting conceptualism and handiwork, activism and aesthetics, investigating new possibilities for what has been called "relational aesthetics." Discussion with the artist on January 23.

Wilson's practice extends the relational in terms of labor, collaboration, and identity construction, blending pedagogy with aesthetic production. Her work has been exhibited extensively including exhibitions at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan; the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; and as part of the 2002 Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Anne Wilson: Wind/Rewind/Weave is an exhibition organized by the Knoxville Museum of Art, installed by Wilson to investigate the crisis of production and skill based textile labor. Included is Rewinds, a new work created entirely in glass; video documentation of Wind-Up: Walking the Warp, a 2008 performance in Chicago; and a large site-specific project, Local Industry, that takes the form of an active weaving/winding factory set up in the museum space. Run over the course of several months, this project will involve the Knoxville community in the collaborative production of a unique bolt of cloth. http://www.annewilsonartist.com

Free admission. Hours: Tues-Thurs 10-5; Fri 10-8; Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5. 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org, info@knoxart.org

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

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

OPENING RECEPTION on Wednesday, January 13th, 7-9PM
The presence of acclaimed artists — who have lived and worked in major cultural centers across the country and internationally — enhances the educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University of Tennessee School of Art. With daily contact over the course of a full semester, resident artists develop a unique relationship withthe student body which complements the creative stimulation offered by guest lecturers and the School of Art’s faculty. Representing diverse ethnic, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds, these resident artists introduce another layer of candor and a fresh artistic standard for the students who, though early in their formal art studies, are beginning to develop their own perceptions, skills, and theories in connection with the making of art. Although the resident artists present a slide lecture during their stay, it is the direct access to their works of art that is highly anticipated and valued by both the students and the faculty. Therefore, the Ewing Gallery has sponsored group exhibitions of these artists since the inception of the Artist In Residence Program in 1982. Currently held every two years, this exhibition provides a continuing dialogue between artist-teacher and student. The Artist In Residence Biennial also offers our general university and regional community an opportunity to experience a provocative and often challenging exhibition of contemporary art. This year, the Ewing Gallery is pleased to host the work of its past four esteemed resident artists: Melissa Gordon (resident, Spring 2010), Tom McGrath (resident, Fall 2009), Giles Lyon (resident, Spring 2009), and Jackie Gendel (resident, Fall 2008).

GALLERY HOURS: Mon & Thurs: 10AM - 8PM, Tues-Wed-Fri: 10AM-5PM, Sun: 1PM-4PM. 1715 Volunteer Boulevard | Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

Lessons begin at 7:00 followed by dancing at 8:00. Mondays at Church Street United Methodist Church (900 Henley St); Wednesdays at the Laurel Theater (16th Street and Laurel Avenue). All lessons and dances are FREE. No partner required.
Information: www.swingknoxville.org

2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday 9-8, Friday, 8-4:30. For information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org.
Lisa Line - www.lisadline.com; Richard Pratt - www.richardprattonview.com

Includes artists Eric Arensbak (wood), Ian Arensback (wood), Bob Bolinger (photography), Tammy Bullman (ceramics), John Fancher (mixed media), Peggy Haupt (mixed media), Mary Louise Hunt (drawing), Susie Nugent (mixed media), Doreen Prakshot (fiber), and Nelson Ziegler (painting). Opening reception Friday, January 8, 6:00-8:00 PM. 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Info: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

A new show performed by an award winning troupe new to the Smoky Mountain Palace. The cast offers the traditional Chinese cultural acrobatics but in a very fast paced, and at times breath taking, manner. The costumes are absolutely gorgeous; the music selected not only is appropriate for the acts but actually enhances them, and the skill of the acrobats is extraordinary. There are traditional acts such as the Chinese Yo-yo, and these ladies not only show off their skills but their stunning costumes as well. The men hoop divers take it to the extreme by diving through hoops that are in motion. A simple schoolyard seesaw, or springboard, is the vehicle that catapults a young lady from the board to the shoulders of another acrobat three people high in the air. A new act that is rarely performed outside of China is the Face Off or Mask Changing. It is a form of Chinese expressionist theater that is documented to be at least 300 years old and is impossible for the audience to explain after seeing it. The face mask on the beautiful young lady changes from one mask to another, without being touched, in the blink of an eye. To the absolute joy of everyone who has seen them, The Jungjo Drums all girl ensemble is back after spending last year preparing for, and participating in, the Beijing Summer Olympics. After two extremely successful seasons of Chinese acrobats, the third version has been highly anticipated and has proven to be exciting and entertaining beyond expectations. It again reinforces the opinion that the Smoky Mountain Palace’s Cirque de Chine is the best theatrical production west of New York and east of Las Vegas.

Cirque de Chine, 179 Collier Dr, Sevierville, TN 37862. For information: 865-429-1601, www.smokymountainpalace.com