Calendar of Events

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will continue its Library Tour with string quartets traveling to local libraries during the month of February to read stories and play music for pre-school aged children as part of the orchestra’s Story Time Program. The theme for this season’s program is Happy Birthday KSO! The program will open with a reading of the KSO’s recently published book Better Than Cookies, As Good As Cake, written by KSO cellist Stacy Nickell Miller. The book introduces string instruments by telling the story of a young girl who receives a violin. She finds that the sound that her violin makes, both alone and as part of a string quartet, is better than cookies and as good as cake. The characters in the book, illustrated by Stephen Brown, are loosely based on members of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Pre-school children will then learn about the “treats” that animals eat in The Wide-Mouthed Frog, hear Dr. Seuss’s Happy Birthday To You! and join in wishing the KSO a happy 75th birthday! These performances will help to highlight the connections between music and literacy and introduce the string instruments to young audience members. All Story Time performances are FREE and open to the public.

February 3 11:00 AM Smart Toys and Books
February 8 11:00 AM South Knoxville Library
February 10 4:00 PM Farragut Library
February 11 10:30 AM Caryville Library
February 15 10:30 AM Murphy Library
February 16 10:30 AM Carter Library
February 17 10:20 AM Lawson McGhee Library

Information: 865-291-3310; www.knoxvillesymphony.com

A celebration of the human history, natural beauty, and cultural traditions of Townsend TN, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Discover the stories of people and the land. Enjoy special evening and supper programs of history, music, dance, and stories. Visit with descendants of the early settlers in the Smokies. Explore the wintertime beauty of the Park. Enjoy Mountain Craft and Mountain Music Showcases. Hike with Park Rangers, naturalists, and historians. Learn about Cades Cove and other special places in the Smokies.

Events take place in Townsend, Tennessee and nearby. For more information: Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134, www.smokymountainfestivals.org

Brantley Gilbert knows that tomorrow is no guarantee. Just over five years ago the talented singer/songwriter was ignoring his deepest ambition of becoming a country singer and was just going through the motions of everyday life. It wasn’t until a nearly-fatal car accident that Brantley opened his eyes, realized the importance of living each day to the fullest, and decided to pursue his love for music. Now he's developed a devoted following of believers who share his passion for life and music. Tour dates multiply throughout the South, and Brantley’s fan base continues to expand. We're sure that once you hear Mr. Gilbert's brand of rockin' country music you'll join the movement.

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com. For tickets: 865-684-1200, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

Fiction writer and playwright Pamela Schoenewaldt will discuss her new novel, When We Were Strangers, the story of a 19th century Italian woman who is forced to leave Italy and find work in the United States, at the meeting of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild. Pamela will speak about the crafting of When We Were Strangers, which included her ten years spent in Italy. When We Were Strangers is Schoenewaldt’s debut novel. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous literary publications in England, Italy, France and the United States. Her play, “Espresso con mia madre” (Espresso with my mother), was performed at Teatro Cilea in Naples, Italy.

KWG meets the first Thursday of each month at the Laurel Theater at the corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th Street (in Fort Sanders) at 7:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome, and a $1 donation is requested at the door. The building is handicapped accessible. For more information, contact Jeff Gordon, 865-330-3606, www.knoxvillewritersguild.org

Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (or by appointment)

Additional dates: March 2-5, April 6-9, May 4-7

Description: Free tours are provided for up to three Knox County students (with paying adult) during the first week of every month during the calendar school year.
Advance reservations required? YES
How to obtain admission: Visitors should contact the Mabry-Hazen House at 865-522-8661 or email mabryhazenhouse@gmail.com.
Contact: Calvin Chappelle, 865-522-8661, mabryhazenhouse@gmail.com
1711 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915 | www.mabryhazen.com

Fort Craig Elementary School

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

Photography by Paul Hassell

Red Line Gallery, 11519 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11AM-6PM. For information: 865-288-0277, www.redlinegallery.net

Art Market Gallery of Knoxville is pleased to present two special exhibits: jewelry by featured member artist Kristine Taylor and Reelin’ in Red, a special showing of Valentine and love themed artworks in various mediums by member artists. Ms. Taylor creates unique one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces of jewelry using a blend of polymer clay and traditional jewelry materials including stones, pearls, glass, metals and fibers. A First Friday Reception for these exhibits is planned for February 4th from 5:30-9 pm with complimentary refreshments and live music performed by Stacy Nickell Miller and Clark Miller.

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

Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Additional dates: March 1-5, April 5-9, May 3-7

Free tours are provided for up to three Knox County students ages 5-18 (per paying adult) during the first week of every month during the school year (except January). Tours are given at the top of every hour between 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Advance reservations required? NO
How to obtain admission: Visitors should stop by the Blount Mansion Visitor’s Center and see a staff member to purchase tickets. Must mention Penny Performances and provide proof of Knox County residency to receive $0.01 admission.
Contact: Ashleigh Oatts, 865-525-2375, educationcoordinator@blountmansion.org
200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37901 | www.blountmansion.org

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9AM-5PM; Saturday-Monday, 1-4PM. For information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

The show features never before exhibited drawings and photographic images of the Villa Ottolenghi project, from conception to construction.

PUBLIC LECTURE by Guido Pietropoli - "The Dancing Columns of the Villa Ottolenghi"
February 16 @ 5:30 PM
Rm. 109, McCarty Auditorium, Art + Architecture Building
A reception, open to the public, will commence immediately following the lecture, at 7PM, in the Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture.

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: M-F 10-5, Sun 1-4. For information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

Artworks of monumental physical scale are overwhelming. The diminutive viewer is confronted and consumed by the gigantic. Presented with the miniature, the viewers, no longer assigned to the passive role, can instead devour the work, taking it into their souls. The miniature invites the viewer into a personal and intimate relationship. With attention drawn to the significance of the seemingly insignificant, the momentousness of the miniscule is magnified, thus instilling monumental value.

This exhibition investigates the power of small-scale artists’ books to challenge their readers with grand, powerful, urgent, and poignant content. In addition to the work of current UT Assistant Professor of Printmaking, Althea Murphy-Price, as well as three UT school of art alums, MIMB includes books from 141 artists from the United States, Korea, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Spain, India, Pakistan, the UK, Canada, Mauritius, and Argentina. The miniature books range from complicated structures, poems, and humorous texts, to intricate drawings. Many of the books use unconventional materials and innovative bookmaking techniques; including relief printing, intaglio, lithography, silkscreen printing, and the newest digital processes.

To see images of individual books, visit the MIMB flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimborg/

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: M-F 10-5, Sun 1-4. For information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu