Calendar of Events

The Knox County Library is once again hosting their popular outdoor movie series Movies on Market Square. All movies are family friendly offerings, rated PG-13 or less. The series will run for six Friday nights, and the movies begin at dusk (around 8:30 p.m.).

September 10: Iron Man (PG-13) featuring cupcakes from Magpies
September 17: Charlotte's Web (G) presented by Comcast
September 24: Cats and Dogs (PG) a fido-friendly film presented by PetSafe
October 1: Pretty in Pink (PG-13) Breast Cancer Awareness
October 8: The Spy Next Door (PG)
October 15: Hitchcock's North by Northwest (not rated)

http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/22507_Movies_on_Market_Square

In this brilliant and powerful drama, Sister Aloysius, a Bronz school principal, takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with a student. A gripping story of suspicion that is less about scandal than about fascinatingly nuanced questions of moral certainty. Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play. Suitable for mature teens and older.

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway in Historic Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. For information and tickets: 865-482-9999, www.orplayhouse.com

by Jones, Hope & Wooten. Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. The action in this rollicking Southern comedy takes place in SPA-DEE-DAH!, the abandoned church-turned day spa where this group of friends gathers every Friday afternoon. After the loss of a dear friend, the women realize time is precious and if they're going to change their lives and achieve their dreams they have to get on it now! But Sugar Lee, their high-spirited, determined leader, has her hands full keeping the women motivated. Carlene's given up on romance, having buried three husbands. Nita's a nervous wreck from running interference between her problematic son and his probation officer. Mavis' marriage is so stagnant she's wondering how she can fake her own death to get out of it. And sweet, simple Crystal entertains them all, singing Christmas carols with her own, hilarious lyrics.

The comic tension mounts when a sexy, ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, a marriage proposal comes from an unlikely suitor and Sugar Lee's arch rival vows she'll stop at nothing to steal the spa away from her. By the time the women rally together to overcome these obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you've got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout "Hallelujah!"

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 N. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday; $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday. For information: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com. For tickets: 865-523-7521, www.KnoxTIX.com

More details to come!

The Tennessee Valley Fair we know today was born in 1916; however, we can trace its origins back to the earliest years of this century. It began as an idea in the minds of a group of progressive and in some way idealistic Knoxvillians. These men dreamed of making their city the shinning centerpieces of a prosperous and modernized Appalachian. Lead by the regions most enterprising citizens - businessmen, publishers, educators, and others, they conceived the idea of bringing to their city a great exposition, which would serve as a showcase for Knoxville and all of southern Appalachia, drawing national attention to the city's promising start in commerce and industry and to the region's bountiful (but as yet undeveloped) natural and human resources. Thus was born the Appalachian Exposition of 1910. A great deal remains unchanged; however the Midway today offers much of the same of thrills and oddities as it did ninety years earlier, and the Fair's nightly fireworks seem never to lose their appeal to Fair-goers of all ages. Most importantly, whatever the effects of social, economic, and technological change in the world around it, the Fair remains for all East Tennesseans a place to learn, to compete, to have fun, and most of all to build memories.

Tennessee Valley Fair: 865-215-1471, www.tnvalleyfair.org

On the second Friday of each month. All ages and experience levels are welcome to participate in this fun, family event. Kids love the Raku process. Or it could be a great "date night" event. Plus, you will be taking home a beautiful piece of art to decorate your home that you helped create! We offer three options for participation:
+ Pick One: The $30 fee includes: your choice of 1 bisque piece, use of our studio raku glazes and participation in the firing.
+ Make One*: The $30 fee includes: 5 lbs of Raku Clay, bisque firing of your piece, use of studio raku glazes, and participation in the firing. (*The 'Make One' option requires that your piece be in our hands, ready to bisque no later than Tuesday the week of the firing. Please contact us for more information regarding this option.)
+ Bring One: The $20 fee includes: Use of studio raku glazes and participation in the firing. (Bring your own bisque piece.)

Mighty Mud, 2444 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11-6PM. For information: 865-595-1900, www.mightymudclay.com

Così fan tutte, W.A. Mozart
Live HD Opera from the Royal Opera House, London

At Carmike Wynnsong 16 Theatres, 200 North Peters Rd, Knoxville, 37923. Information: 865-691-0948, www.operaincinema.com

On March 6, 1938, Jim Tanner banded and took the only photographs ever taken of a young ivory-billed woodpecker. Until recently, only six of these black and white images had ever been published. Last summer, Nancy Tanner, Jim’s widow, discovered more photos of the bird later named Sonny Boy. Her discovery led to an article in this month’s Smithsonian magazine. Join writer Stephen Lyn Bales and Nancy Webb as they relive that moment in time and show all the photos taken by Jim on that fateful day. Free to members, $5 for non-members. Sheila will have copies of the Smithsonian article for sale in the Gift Shop. To register call 577-4717, ext. 10.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Visitor Center: Monday: by appointment only for tour groups and school trips; Tuesday-Saturday: 9AM-5PM; Sunday: 1-5PM (March 1 - November 30). For information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

During the month of September the UTK School of Art is pleased to welcome four printmaking students from Poland as guest artists. Visiting are Monika Łukowska and Ms. Małgorzata Sprawka from the Academy of Fine Art in Wroclaw as well as Sylvester Piasecki and Damian Siuzdak from the University of the Arts in Poznan. During the month they will work in our printmaking studios in the Art and Architecture Building. Their visit is supported by the Marek Maria Pienkowski Foundation and the Betsy Worden Printmaking Endowment.

On Friday September 10th Gallery 1010 at 113 South Gay Street will hold a public reception for “Polished” an exhibition of works by these artists. The reception will take place from 6-9pm, and is free and open to the public. For more information contact the UTK School of Art at 974-3407.

Gallery 1010, 113 S. Gay Street. Hours: Thursday-Saturday 12-4PM; opening receptions Friday 6-9PM. For information: http://sunsite.utk.edu/gallery1010

More than a decade following the joint production of Hamlet, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Clarence Brown Theatre will join forces once again to present Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus at the Clarence Brown Theatre! Astounded by Mozart’s beautiful music, yet consumed by envy and insecurity, court composer Salieri sets out to destroy the prodigy’s life and career. In a rare and exciting collaboration between the CBT and the KSO, in association with Schaad Companies, this production will be directed by Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean and will feature the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Lucas Richman. “What a wonderful collaboration! The musicianship of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the theatricality of the Clarence Brown Theatre bring to life a great play about music and theatre. It will be a thrilling celebration of the KSO's anniversary, with the CBT, for the entire Knoxville community,” says CBT Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean. Tickets for this joint production will be available as an add-on to KSO and CBT subscriptions for a special subscriber price of $45 for Opening Night and weekend shows and $35 for weeknight shows. Show dates and times are September 8-10, 14-17 and 19 at 7:30 PM and September 12 and 19 at 2:00 PM. 2010-2011 KSO and CBT subscribers can purchase tickets by calling 865-291-3310 (KSO Box Office) or 865-974-5161 (CBT Box Office). Additional information and tickets: www.knoxvillesymphony.com or www.clarencebrowntheatre.com

“Homecoming”, Marie Merritt’s one woman show, opens to the public in the lobby and mezzanine of Niswonger Performing Arts Center. The exhibit is a celebration of the vibrant work of Marie Merritt in a masterful combination of transparent and opaque oil paints. She is a native of Greene County and draws inspiration from East Tennessee history and that of southern Appalachia, translating their beauty, people, and places into stories told on canvas. Her own memories of her childhood in this county provided the motivation for her to take up painting as an adult. “Marie’s paintings are wonderful oils in a very representational genre with tiny traces of romanticism” says James-Ben Stockton, director of Greeneville’s regional art center. “Her work was so well received at the Capitol Theater last year during the “Civil War Views” exhibit that I’m having a preview event in the gallery from September 1-4.” This preview exhibit of Civil War inspired art
will take place at James-Ben: Studio and Gallery Art Center and include Marie’s open-stock prints and note cards and two original paintings of John Hunt Morgan. The “Thunderbolt of the Confederacy” is also portrayed through cold-cast bronze sculptures from Dell Hughes. Civil War inspired images including portraits of Stonewall Jackson and Nathan Bedford Forrest will also be on hand. Barbara Bible “Jake” Carter’s evocative watercolors depicting Civil War scenes will be included, along with prints from Lynne Olka and Kenneth Hinkle. “Visitors should take special interest in Suzanne Saltzman’s detailed and panoramic action photos of Civil War reenactments,” says Stockton.

September 7, “Homecoming” will open at Niswonger Performing Arts Center. A Meet the Artist event will take place Sunday, September 19th from 12:30 to 3 PM.

James-Ben: Studio & Gallery Art Center, 129 North Main Street, Historic Morgan Square, Greeneville, TN 37743. Information: 423-787-0195, www.james-ben.com

Mary Ruden (photography) will be featured long side Kitty Siegel (jewelry). Mary Ruden's work focuses on exotic butterflies from all over the world.
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/photographers/?inc=details&id=123633

Unarmed Merchants, 129 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12-7PM. Information: 865-549-5769, www.unarmedmerchants.com

SEPTEMBER 3-28
A collection of works by local artists:
Michael Underwood, award-winning director, cinematographer and President of Knoxville-based Tantrum Pictures, creates alluring and unconventional fine art photographs which transport, inspire and elevate the viewer. "My goal," says Michael, "is to produce distinctive, memorable, and engaging work--work that isn't afraid to ruffle reality..."

Knoxville painter Kathie Odom's art reflects her life. She leaves the anatomy of her work exposed. In her use of washes and oils, light diffuses and textures emerge, creating interest in her landscapes and quiet scenes. Kathie's compositions are places where the possibility of life exists. Barn. Nest. Field. Dwelling. Bud.
Shed. The vision of Home.

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