Calendar of Events

Observe, investigate and experiment with fully functioning replicas of machines, structures and amusement park rides, when K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

Where does a Roller coaster car have the most Potential Energy and how is it converted to Kinetic Energy? This is just one of many questions that is answered in K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides, a special exhibition that captivates young visitors and provides them the opportunity to explore the science, math and technology behind hair-raising amusement park thrill rides.

There are 15 working thrill ride models, constructed solely from K'NEX rods and connectors, that combine the principles of geometry, physics, and mechanics. The realistic actions of the models bring scientific and engineering concepts to life for students, who can conduct simple experiments to explore physical forces such as potential and kinetic energy, and linear and rotational motion.

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

This renowned video by Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss earned a cult following since it premiered at international art festivals in 1987. The video documents the artists' use of fire and fireworks, blasts of air, gravity, and a variety of corrosive liquids to sustain a chain reaction of materials and events for 30 minutes. The imagery touches on themes common in the duo's work, such as order and chaos, humor, transformation, and illusion.

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: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Graduating seniors in the School of Art and the College of Architecture and Design are honored each year when selected by committee as the top students among their peers.

Exhibitors from the School of Art include Ben Dorger, Drew Dudak, Gary Trent Frazor, Ben Fredrick, Javan Grover, Nichole McMinn, Jessica Stewart, and Caitlin Zimmerman.

Exhibitors from the College of Architecture include Caitlin Turski, Allie Ross Mathison, Stephen Townsend, Omar Bakeer, Andrew Ruff, Brittany Dreher, Jonathan Sexton, and Brian Doherty.

Diedre Crawford will exhibit a project from the Interior Design program.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents its 2011 Members Show, the largest annual exhibition of local artists in the Greater Knoxville area. The fresh mix of two- and three-dimensional works created within the last two years encompasses a wide variety of media such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, fine craft, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, and more from local artists who are all members of the Arts & Culture Alliance. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display in the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville, and an opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on May 6 from 5:00-9:00 PM. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, May 7, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

This exhibition will give teachers an opportunity to showcase their own artistic talents. In addition to displaying their art, Dogwood Arts will be hosting a special awards ceremony awarding the top three exhibitors. The ceremony will take place on First Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the UT Gallery.

Opening Reception & Award Ceremony: Friday, May 6 from 5-9 pm
Free admission

UT Gallery, 106 South Gay Street
May 6 – 27. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present an exhibition of new works by local artists Richard Foster, Sara Martin, and Denise Retallack entitled “Vignettes”, opening in the Balcony of the Emporium Center. “Vignettes” showcases the work of these three artists whose common thread is architecture: Richard Foster and Sara Martin practice architecture, and Denise Retallack is a professional architectural photographer. The exhibition highlights creative work outside of their professional roles, and the collections stretch beyond the realm of buildings and structures to portray color, pattern, depth, light, and scale from the unique perspective of each artist.

“Vignettes” will be displayed in the Balcony at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on May 6 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, May 7, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of photographs by local artist Barry McManus entitled “First Friday Faces.” In this exhibition, McManus showcases more than 40 photographs of people who have attended First Fridays over the past year. Many of the photographs were taken in the Emporium.

“First Friday Faces” will be displayed on the north side of the Balcony at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, from May 6-27, 2011. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on May 6 from 5:00-9:00 PM with hors d’oeuvres. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, May 7, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

The Dogwood Arts Festival is proud to present ART SOURCE, the 2011 exhibition of recent works by Knox County Art Educators will be on display at the UT Downtown Gallery located at 106 S. Gay Street
865-673-0802
http://web.utk.edu/~downtown/

The Dogwood Arts Festival is proud to present ART SOURCE, the 2011 exhibition of recent works by Knox County Art Educators will be on display at the UT Downtown Gallery located at 106 S. Gay Street from May 6 through the 27th.

Every day, Knox County art teachers devote their time and energy to cultivating creativity and critical skills in their students. For more than a decade, the Knox County Art Educators Exhibition has given these same teachers an opportunity to nourish and showcase their own artistic talents. The exhibition has greatly increased awareness of the importance of art education in Knox County. This is the Downtown Gallery’s third year to host this exhibition, which includes, paintings, drawings, sculpture, printmaking, photography and video. Don’t miss the work of our art educators during the month of May.

This exhibition is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors: AT&T, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Jerry’s Artarama, The Alan Seneker Memorial Fund, Yee Haw Industies, Mighty Mud and Scrappin’ in the City.

For more information please call the gallery at 865-673-0802

Often listed as a favorite book by teens and pre-teens, Natalie Babbitt's time-bending novel about teenagers who learn the secrets of living forever becomes an unforgettable theatrical experience.

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

There will be a "Meet the Artists" reception on Friday evening from 7-9 PM featuring artworks, live music and refreshments. The show continues on Saturday from 10AM - 4PM and on Sunday from 8AM - 2PM. The exhibition will be held at the Community Church of Tellico Village, 130 Chota Center in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN.

Art Guild of Tellico Village: 865-274-6394, www.tellicoartguild.org

For the 28th consecutive year, Knoxville has been chosen as host city for the NSRA Street Rod Nationals South Plus. The 37th annual event will be held on May 6, 7, and 8, 2011, with all activities at Knoxville's Chilhowee Park and Expo Center.

The Street Rod Nationals South Plus is annually the largest automotive event in the region and will welcome all cars and trucks thirty years of age and older to join the fun. The combination car show, trade show, and crafts fair will not only feature over 3,000 beautifully painted and chromed rods, customs, muscle cars and specialty vehicles to view, but commercial exhibits, vintage parts swap meet, arts and crafts fair, kids make-n-take, live entertainment during the day and night time too, Sunday Worship Service, plus games, food, and total family fun. The Street Rod Nationals South Plus is a huge outdoor event with all entries at least 30 years old in manufacture.
For additional information on the National Street Rod Association please visit the official NSRA website at http://www.nsra-usa.com and click on the NSRA Street Rod Nationals South plus.

Bluegrass music, Young Pickers Talent Contest, arts and crafts, Appalachian skills, wildflower walks and garden tours, storytelling, BBQ and other good food.

See: http://www.smokymountains.org/info/spring_festival/springfestival.html
http://www.smokymountains.org, http://www.smokymountainfestivals.org or call Jeanie Hilten at the Visitors Center at 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834)