Calendar of Events

A popular Imagination Library book takes the stage!
Knox County Public Library is pleased to welcome Dollywood’s Imagination Playhouse featuring the Penguin Players as they delight audiences of all ages with a musical adaptation of Otis by Loren Long. The show is free and open to the public.

The show premieres at the 7th annual Children’s Festival of Reading on Saturday, May 21st, in downtown Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park. Joining the performers will be amazing authors, illustrators, storytellers, other stage productions, a mad science experiment area, a bouncy house and even a hayride—and over 12,000 people expected to kick off a summer of literary fun! It’s the perfect way to kick off summer reading at the Library. From there, the show hits the road, visiting nearly every corner of Knox County.

Touring Schedule:
Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. at World's Fair Park Amphitheatre
Monday, May 23, 3:00 p.m. at Howard Pinkston Branch Library
Tuesday, May 24, 10:30 a.m. at Murphy Branch Library
Wednesday, May 25, 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Bluff Branch Library
Wednesday, May 25, 3:30 p.m. at North Knoxville Branch Library
Thursday, May 26, 3:00 p.m. at Norwood Branch Library
Friday, May 27, 10:30 a.m. at Powell Branch Library
Saturday, May 28, 11:00 a.m. at Lawson McGhee Library
Saturday, May 28, 3:30 p.m. at Burlington Branch Library
Tuesday, May 31, 3:00 p.m. at Carter Branch Library
Wednesday, June 1, 11:00 a.m. at Karns Branch Library
Wednesday, June 1, 4:00 p.m. at Farragut Branch Library
Thursday, June 2, 11:00 a.m. at Bearden Branch Library
Thursday, June 2, 3:30 p.m. at Halls Branch Library
Friday, June 3, 10:30 at Fountain City Branch Library
Saturday, June 4, 3:00 p.m. at Sequoyah Branch Library

Knox County Public Library: http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/10111_Features_and_Events

http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/10111_Features_and_Events

Learn how to capture a perfect garden photograph while enjoying an early morning walk through the gardens. A member of our staff will lead an hour-long walk focusing on the best lighting and garden location during that particular walk. This event is a unique opportunity to have time with fellow photographers and garden lovers while having some serious photography time in the garden. Photography walks will be held every third Friday: May 20, June 17, July 15 and August 19. Walks begin at 7:30 a.m. and depart from the Friendship Plaza at the entrance to the Gardens.

We are excited to have a variety of monthly walks. Walks are rain or shine, and will be cancelled only in the event of dangerous lightening. All walks are FREE and meet at the entrance to the Gardens. (Advance registration appreciated, but not required.)

Featuring nineteenth century Tennessee-made earthenware and stoneware
Tennessee Turned: Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee 1800-1900 is a major exhibition of nineteenth-century pots made in East Tennessee. This once-in-a-lifetime grouping of more than 200 distinctive regional pieces will make for an unforgettable exploration of this chapter of Tennessee history.
“This pottery, of which we are justifiably proud, provides a unique link in the continuum of the American potting tradition as it spread across the United States.”

The exhibit will explore all aspects of nineteenth-century pottery production in East Tennessee, as well as featuring comparative examples from other parts of the state. Visitors will learn how to “read” a pot, how a pot was made in the nineteenth-century, the difference between earthenware and stoneware, and the importance of pottery for households.

On Friday, June 3, ETHS will host the Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival at the History Center for an opening reception, pottery demonstrations, and a viewing of the Tennessee Turned exhibit. Two special “Pottery Day” events to be held June 25 and September 17 will invite the public to bring in pottery objects they may have in their families for possible identification and to be documented photographically for historical purposes.

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

Opening Reception: May 14, 7—9 PM, with a gallery talk at 6:30.

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

An exhibition of artworks by current workshop instructors that represents their most recent explorations or relates directly to the class they are currently teaching. The Instructor Exhibition augments classroom and studio experiences by providing examples of contemporary work by national and international visual artists. 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

Features the artwork of TVUUC members' and friends. Free and open to the public

This annual exhibition is a celebration of the many talented artists in the TVUUC community, whether enthusiastic beginners, "Sunday painters," or competent professionals. Many works will be for sale.

Exhibit will be on display at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Art Gallery hours: Information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

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

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.