Calendar of Events

“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

Discover Life In America: All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory captivating illustrations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's ecosystems (plants, animals and micro-organisms) AMSE Lobby

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM; Sunday 1-5PM. For information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org

Collecting shells has been a pastime of many, young and old, for centuries. It is only when collecting becomes a passion rather than a pastime that the finest examples are sought, and the subject is researched in detail. Such is the case with this collection, one of the country's finest, assembled by local physician Dr. Peter Stimpson. Focusing on six families of marine gastropods - cowries, cones, conchs, harps, volutes, and olives - the collection includes over 1,000 species listed in the "Registry of World Record Size Shells". Dr. Stimpson has made a portion of his collection available for public enjoyment in this exhibition.

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

20 award winning photomicrographs. Dynamic images at the intersection of science and art show the beauty and complexity of life as seen through a light microscope. AMSE Lobby

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM; Sunday 1-5PM. For information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org

Animal Encounter Village invites guests to make some close personal friends on their next visit to the zoo. The zoo's newest addition features daily animal shows and the chance to come face-to-face with some of the zoo's friendly animal ambassadors.

Elephant Excursions: 11:00 AM Wed
Tortoise Time: 11:00 AM Sat
Penguin Party: 1:00 PM Sat
Giraffe Gathering: 2:30 PM Sat & Sun

10 person limit for each session, $20/person (does not include admission). Knoxville Zoo, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. For information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

In the Sandra J. Blain Galleries. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. For information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

The Market Square Farmers' Market is located in historic Market Square, the site of Knoxville's original Market House. Every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the season the Square is filled with local farmers, gardeners, bakers, and artisans, as well as performers and musicians. The MSFM is producer-only, meaning that everything at the market is grown or made right here in East Tennessee. Runs from May 1 - November 20, 2010, every Wednesday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Local produce, live plants, baked goods, herbs, free range meat, artisan crafts, & more!

Chef Challenges from 10:00-noon on May 8, June 12, July 10 (noon-2:00), August 8, September 11, October 9, and November 12.
Market Square District Association, Market Square | PO Box 2263, Knoxville, TN 37901. Information: 865-405-3135. knoxvillemarketsquare@gmail.com, www.knoxvillemarketsquare.com or www.marketsquarefarmersmarket.org

Featuring a broad selection of works - paintings, photographs, drawings, and video - by artists whose chief inspiration stems from the surrounding landscape, whether rural or urban, perceived or imagined. The exhibition examines the many ways artists reference the external environment in constructing scenes marked by instability, ambiguity, deception, or fragmentation. Includes works by Jim Campbell, Patty Chang, Herb Creecy, Robert Van Deventer, Tomory Dodge, Chuck Forsman, Natasha Kissell, Alison Moritsugu, Brian Novatny, Hiraki Sawa, Darren Waterston, Roger Weik, and Charlotta Westergren.

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

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.

Providing visitors with a fascinating glimpse into aspects of Appalachian culture that are fading from the scene, among them some that were infrequently practiced but that nevertheless came to be associated in the public consciousness with the region. With camera and recorder in hand, photographer Don Dudenbostel and field recordist Tom Jester documented places, practices, and personalities, such as churches where they “take up the serpent,” moonshining, Mennonite communities where life is lived much as in the mid-1800s, religious symbols, and the less savory aspects of cockfighting and KKK meetings. Also included are roadway scenes, such as tourist courts, ferries, filling stations, peanut stands, and grocery stores. The exhibit also examines the concept and stereotypes people often have of Appalachia by placing the featured subjects within the larger historical context. Among the several items featured are a game cock transport box, male and female serpent-handling dolls and folk-art by the Reverend Jimmy Morrow, the hat of Popcorn and a half-gallon jar of moonshine autographed by him, wood-carved crafts, a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe c. 1920, a tent revival sign, and more. A catalog and CD of recordings featured in the exhibition is available for $10 in the Museum Shop. Both the exhibition and catalog are made possible through a grant from the Gene and Florence Monday Foundation.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM; Saturday: 10AM-4PM; Sunday: 1-5PM. For information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.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