Calendar of Events

A first for Knoxville! A beautiful floral tapestry featuring a representation of dogwood blooms will be installed in Krutch Park. This 20 foot by 40 foot “carpet” will be a preview of a much larger tapestry of flowers, which will be on display at the Knoxville Botanical Garden in October of this year. The dogwoods featured in the design are representative of both our region’s spring blossoms and the Sweetwater Red Dogwood, which was discovered by the Howell family- original owners of the land in which Knoxville Botanical Garden resides. At the Krutch Park Extension. Information: 865-637-4661, www.dogwoodarts.com.

Opening night, April 16. Written by Dale Wasserman; Music by Mitch Leigh; Lyrics by Joe Darion. to dream the impossible dream. . . Journey with Cervantes’ knight errant as he rides in a hopeful quest for love and valor amid trying times.

1714 Andy Holt Avenue on the UT Campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.org

Daniel Maw, Erin Mullenex

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Monday & Thursday: 10AM-8PM; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 10AM-5PM; and Sunday: 1-4PM. For information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

By David Bottrell and Jessie Jones in the Sue E. Trotter Theater at The Arts Center in downtown Athens. The play is sponsored by Dick & Sylvia Pelley, G. David Brown & Jan Burleson, Art & Ellen Kimball, and Kathryn Hunter & The Wildman. In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and sometimes hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral, the Turpin’s other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion: first-born Ray-Bud drinks himself silly as the funeral bills mount; Junior, the younger son is juggling financial ruin, monster kids, and his own infidelity; their spinster sister Delightful, copes with death as she does with life, by devouring junk food; and the neighbors add more than two cents. Amidst the chaos, the Turpins turn for comfort to friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who just manage to pull together and help each other through their hours of need, and finally, the funeral. Dearly Departed is directed by G. David Brown. The cast includes Bob Roseberry, Jan Burleson, Beth Harris, Sarah Maynard, Art Kimball, Karen Siklosi, Colby Dempsey, Jason Carusillo, Amanda Haun, Autumn Lowry, Sarah Philpott, Jeanne Williams, Grady Williams, and Steve Walker. Tickets for the opening night dinner theater on April 15 are $25 by reservation only. Doors open at 6:00 PM with a cash bar, dinner at 6:30 PM and show at 7:30 PM. Tickets for all other performances are $10 for adults, $8 for student. Showtime is 7:30 PM on April 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24. One matinee is offered at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 18. Thursday, April 22nd is “Student Night” when students are admitted for $5.00. Groups of 10 or more receive the student price at any performance besides dinner theater. Tickets are available by phone at 423-745-8781, online at www.athensartscouncil.org, or at The Arts Center, 320 North White St., Athens, Tennessee.

Reception April 9, 6:30-8:30 PM
213 Hotel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityart.com

The Fountain City Art Guild will be having its annual Spring Show at the Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Avenue in the heart of Fountain City. The Center is located in the old library building next to Fountain City Park just off of Broadway and is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 to 1 p.m. The show will run from April 9 until May 7 with reception and awards on Friday, April 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and light drinks will be served and musical entertainment will be provided by guitarist David Williams. Awards, including Best of Show, First, Second and Third places along with three Honorable Mentions, will be presented at 7:00 p.m. Also appearing in conjunction with the guild Show is artwork by students from Central High, Gresham Middle and Fountain City, Sterchi, Shannondale and Inskip Elementary schools. The public is encouraged to attend this free event.

The Fountain City Art Guild is celebrating its 26th year and currently has over 40 members, most of whom will be represented in this show. It is held in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Festival “Studio Tours” and will be open on April 25 and 26 for viewing and demonstrations by many of our artists. The Fountain City Art Guild web site is www.fountaincityartguild.com and the web site for the Fountain City Art Center is www.fountaincityart.net

Featuring Parisian paintings
Opening Reception with the artist, Friday April 9 from 6-9:00pm
The French Market, 530 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For more information call 865-540-4372; www.thefrenchmarketknoxville.com. Open Mon-Wed 9am-4pm; Thu-Sat 9am-9pm.

An original production by Chris Grabenstein.
“Meet the Author” Reception at 5:30 on Opening Night

Shows: Fridays (4/9, 16 & 23) at 7 PM - Saturdays (4/ 10, 17 & 24) at 3 PM & 7 PM - Sundays (4/ 11 & 18) at 3 PM - Thursdays (4/15 & 22) at 7 PM

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

Explore over 60 miles of trails, open gardens, camera sites and historic homes as you walk, bike ride, drive, or bus tour. Fountain City is the featured trail. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

Direct from a highly-acclaimed run on Broadway, the Tony-nominated Soul of Shaolin will premier at the Eastern Shanghai Theater in April. A Chinese martial arts spectacular, Soul of Shaolin features over 30 Chinese performers skilled in the art of Shaolin Kung Fu and tells the touching story of Hui Guang (pronounced “whey gwong”), an orphan boy who is discovered by the legendary monks of the Shaolin Temple and is raised among them. The show debuted at New York's Marquis Theatre in January 2009 as part of the China on Broadway series of productions. It received rave reviews from many American critics, with the New York Post describing the show as "a dazzling display of skill", while the Associated Press called it "astonishing and amazing".

In addition to a spectacular show, the Eastern Shanghai Theater will feature state-of-the-art sound and lighting and a spectacular 198-square foot LED backdrop. According to the show's executive producer, Lizhi Zhao: “The story of Shaolin is timeless and appeals to all audiences, young and old.” People coming to the Smoky Mountains this year may not want to miss limited engagement of Soul of Shaolin.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. each night with matinee shows Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. For ticket prices and bookings call 865-453-8888 or visit www.EasternShanghaiTheater.com.

Unarmed Merchants Art Gallery will be featuring encaustic paintings from local artist Neranza Noel Blount. This show will be up for the month of April starting Friday the 2nd. She is interested in patterns in nature including land and atmospheric weather patterns and how they relate to each other. She also collages with found objects and uses her pen & ink renderings and photography images that have been cut, torn, and then fused onto wooden surfaces and painted over with encaustic wax. She started painting in oils at an early age and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Tennessee. She has received top awards for her works of art nationally and internationally. Her use of the medium of encaustic came out of her father’s profession as a beekeeper. Her husband has also since become a beekeeper. With her art she wants to help build awareness of the importance of honeybees and how the existence of man depends upon them.

Unarmed Merchants, 129 S. Gay Street, Knoxville TN 37902. (865) 549-5769; http://unarmedmerchants.com

The Dogwood Arts Festival Limited Edition Print is synonymous with the annual springtime event and this exhibit showcases the artistry, variety, and beauty that this East Tennessee tradition has recorded. Signing by Dogwood Arts 50th Anniversary Commemorative Print Artist Heather Whiteside on Friday, April 2, 5-8 p.m.
Museum of East Tennessee History, 601 S. Gay Street. Opening Reception: Friday, April 2, 5-9 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m. Admission: Free. 865.215.8830, www.eastTNhistory.org