Calendar of Events

magine this: You're living in pioneer times, and it's the Fourth of July.

You’ll be celebrating the day with an explosion of sound that pioneers heard thunder through the hills when they celebrated Independence Day. Folks as far as 15 miles away have reported hearing our Anvil Shoot, and certainly everyone gathered for the excitement feels the earth shake under their feet.

Anvil shooting used to be a fairly common way that rural folks celebrated special events--they "shot the anvil" to celebrate the nation’s Independence, Christmas, and even Davy Crockett’s election to the U.S. Congress. A few years ago, two men, each more than 100 years old, watched the Museum’s anvil shoot and recalled this tradition from their early boyhood. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., starting with the opening ceremony and anvil shoot. A replica of the Liberty Bell is rung precisely at 2 p.m. in conjunction with the National Bell Ringing Ceremony. The Sons of the Revolution will raise the Liberty Pole, commemorating the colonial spirit that protested British rule. Special July 4th activities are free with regular admission. Museum members are admitted free with membership card; plenty of free parking is available.

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, TN 37716 (16 miles north of Knoxville at I-75, exit 122, then one mile east). Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

At World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. Stay tuned for more info!
http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/events/4th/default.asp

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra returns to the World’s Fair Park for the 26th Annual Pilot Free Independence Day Concert complete with popular patriotic tunes, classical favorites and a fireworks finale! The performance, conducted by KSO Music Director Lucas Richman, will be on the South Lawn of the World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. This event is part of the City of Knoxville’s Festival on the Fourth.
Music for the evening will include The Star Spangled Banner, music from John Williams’ Star Wars and The Patriot, Gershwin In Concert, the traditional Salute to the Armed Forces, Rocky Top, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and more. The concert will conclude with Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever and a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display. Both the concert and fireworks display will be broadcast live on WBIR-TV Channel 10. The KSO is proud to team with Pilot Corporation, the City of Knoxville, WBIR-TV and the News Sentinel for Festival on the Fourth bringing to the Knoxville community an entire afternoon and evening of family festivities. Activities begin at 2 p.m. and include food vendors, craft booths, bands and activities for children. For more information regarding the KSO, or the Independence Day Concert, please call 865-291-3310; www.knoxvillesymphony.com

WDVX is a proud sponsor of the City of Knoxville's Festival on the Fourth at the World Fairs Park on July 4th featuring The Black Lillies and the Brother John Myers Band and more! The WDVX stage starts at 3:00p.m and goes until the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra starts from the south stage at 8:00p.m., with music and fireworks. Children's activities, exhibits, plus food & drinks will be available throughout the day. ''Festival on the Fourth'' is a free event.

Appalachian Arts Craft Center: 2716 Andersonville Highway, Clinton, TN. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM; Sunday 1-5PM. For information: 865-494-9854, www.appalachianarts.net

Photographer, visual artist and independent curator Alan Finch will be at Bliss Home (29 Market Sq) from 5-9pm on Friday, July 2 to meet and talk about his work. His current digital photography focuses on the abstract in nature, and was recently included in ArtScapes at the KMA, Arts in the Airport, and Through the Lens at the Oak Ridge Art Center.

bliss home 29 market sq, knoxville, tn 37902
865.558.5677, www.shopinbliss.com

205 East Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915. Regular tour schedule: Monday - Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (April - December); Monday -Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (January - March). Information: 865-525-6514, www.jameswhitesfort.org, jameswhitefort@aol.com

August 2nd, marks author, James Baldwin's 86th Birthday. Knoxville-based artist, Gary Elgin is celebrating by donating his recent work: "James Baldwin, Always Welcome At The Table" to the Burlington Branch of the Knoxville Library system located at 4614 Asheville Highway. Elgin, who's work "Keegan Eating Biscuits" was recently featured as a finalist in the 1st Annual International Biscuit Festival art competion, is a new and fresh face on Knoxville's established art scene. The Burlington Branch Library will host Elgin's new exhibit "Familiar Faces: Old & New" in their media room/gallery. On Tuesday, August 10th at 12 noon, a special reception for the unique portrait exhibit will take place. The celebration will include readings from Baldwin's work, as well as a formal presentation of Elgin's Baldwin portrait to the Library. The Library hopes that this donation may be the start of a growing permanent collection by local artists. The "Familiar Faces" exhibit includes 12 works, from 1989 to the present, and includes a number of Knoxville's "familiar faces" as well as a few of celebrities, such as television's Queen of Comedy, Lucille Ball and comedian, Ed Wynn, but it will be Baldwin's portrait that will take center stage on Tuesday August 10th. The exhibit event is open to the public and free of charge. There will be refreshments as well as a birthday cake to help celebrate "Jimmy's" special day. For library/exhibit hours or information on this or other library events, please contact the Burlington Branch Library at (865) 525-5431. Gary Elgin can be contacted at (865) 803-9756.

The Clayton Center for the Arts on the Maryville College campus presents “Bain Butcher: Recent Paintings” through July 31. The exhibition in the Blackberry Farm Gallery in the Clayton Center’s Recital Hall building features oil paintings by Knoxville artist Bain Butcher. A reception will be held July 30 from 6-8 p.m., in conjunction with Maryville’s Last Friday Art Walk. “I explore conflicting notions of truth and reality,” said Butcher, a conceptual figurative artist who exhibits nationally and maintains a studio in Knoxville. Born in Kingsport, Butcher received his MFA in painting in 2006 from the New York Academy of Art, where he studied with leading contemporary figurative painters. Prior to that, he studied at Davidson College, the Pacific Northwest College of Art and the University of Cincinnati, where he received his MD degree. Butcher has received numerous awards and was recently named a semi-finalist in the 2009 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. He also teaches continuing education courses at the University of Tennessee, as well as private courses in his Knoxville studio.

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Tickets are available at the Clayton Center Box Office M-F 10AM-6PM or by phone or online: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Featuring Terri Adkinson, George Allen, Bruce Busey, Julie Carroll, Dawn Hawkins, Tom McDaniel, David Pease, Lisa Wade, Christopher Yeatts, Miranda Yeatts, Terrie Boruff Yeatts

Regas Restaurant and The Gathering Place, 318 N. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37917. For information: 865-637-3427, www.regassquare.com

“Journey Stories of Tennessee” is an event made possible by the joint efforts of James-Ben: Studio & Gallery Art Center, the Nathanael Greene Museum, and Niswonger Performing Arts Center. “Journey Stories of Tennessee” is a multimedia performance and art exhibition featuring the works of Tennessee artists and artisans, poets, songwriters and musicians presented by James-Ben: Studio & Gallery Art Center at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tennessee. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday, June 29th through August 7th from 9:30 until 5:00. The Exhibition is an adjunct event of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit "Journey Stories" making its Tennessee premiere at the Nathanael Greene Museum. The concept of both exhibits is to celebrate the restless soul of America and its fiercely independent citizens, pioneers, and settlers. The traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian sets a wonderful stage for this idea while telling of the national journeys that have shaped our country. “Journey Stories of Tennessee” presents a sharper focus on Tennessee and its people, past and present. Our state is in itself a place of movement from east to west and is still referred to as “the first frontier”. Its unique shape and geography have made it a crossroads from our country’s beginning, a major player in its “second Revolution” during the Civil War, and a contemporary haven for modern-day immigrants seeking to uncover roots or plant them in the Volunteer State. Ultimately the most appropriate description of the exhibit is of a multi-media event because it brings together not only painting and sculpture but poetry and performance art as well. The artists participating encompass Tennessee’s traditional three grand divisions, West, Middle, and East. From Terri Asbury come two intricate corn shuck sculptures, including a haunting tableau of The Trail of Tears. The late Lynn Olka will be represented by her story portraits of Davy Crockett and Andrew Johnson. Paintings are also the chosen medium of Steven Cline, Marie Merritt, and Medha Karandikar, who also is presenting a book merging drawings by her son and her own paintings. Caroline Blanks titled one of her “Journey Stories” paintings “Marianne”, from a doll dressed for travel handed down from her great grandmother shown sitting in an antique chair from Caroline’s great, great grandmother. In addition to one of her pyrographs, Michelle Howe is showing her painting “The Pour”, depicting her father’s 40 years work with U.S. Steel handling molten metal. Uniquely captured moments in photographs will be offered by Amanda Asbury, the celebrated Sam Bass, and local legend Bob Hurley. From mother and son Mary and Martin Brownlow, paintings on loan from the Nathanael Greene Museum as well as Martin’s study of a family wedding held on the grounds of the Andrew Johnson Homestead. For further information on the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit “Journey Stories” and a full list of adjunct events by 21 Greene County civic organizations visit the website calendar at www.nathanaelgreenemuseum.com. Historic Morgan Square, 129 North Main Street, Greeneville, TN 37743. Info: (423) 787-0195

Art Market Gallery of Knoxville will spotlight the work of the following member artists: paintings by Sandra Abraham and Four for Fiber, a group exhibit featuring the works of Pat Delashmit, Elaine Fronczek, Harriet Howell and Carol Pritcher. The gallery will host a First Friday Reception for the Featured Artists on July 2 from 5:30-9 p.m. with light refreshments and live music performed by Wes Lunsford, playing jazz and blues.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11AM-6PM; Sunday 1-5PM. For information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net