Calendar of Events

Now on display at Farragut Town Hall, Farragut Arts Council member Pam Ziegler is showcasing her collection of "Woodland Creature and Dogwood Blossom Pottery" by Douglas James Ferguson. Founder of Pigeon Forge Pottery (which closed in 2000), Ferguson created internationally known handmade pottery for more than 50 years. In addition, Farragut resident Carlyle Urello has loaned her collection, "Butterflies of the World," by McCulloch.

For more information about this exhibit or to access a Featured Artist of the Month application, please contact Lauren Cox at lauren.cox@townoffarragut.org or 966-7057 or visit www.townoffarragut.org.

Thurs., Aug. 25 or Sat., Aug. 27, 10-11 a.m. Ages: 2- or 3-year-olds with adult partner. Join naturalist Sarah Brobst for fun learning activities all about the wonderful, wet world of water. Plus there will be an outdoor walk and a snack. Free for members and $10 for non-members.

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). Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

The Knoxville Museum of Art hosts an exhibition of original Haitian art in the Community Gallery through September 4. Works in the exhibition will be sold at a silent benefit auction on Sunday, August 28 2-4pm. Must be present to bid. The sale will also include works done by local artists. The exhibition and sale are organized by God’s Planet for Haiti to benefit the Community Elementary School of Hatte-Cotin, Haiti. For questions regarding the artwork, or the upcoming silent auction, contact Jemps Maignan at 856.257.7680 or Jemps@GodsPlanet4Haiti.org. The KMA Community Gallery is available to not-for-profit organizations.

1050 World’s Fair Park; open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 10 am–5 pm, and Sunday 1 pm-5 pm. Admission and parking are free. For more information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

By Agatha Christie - Directed by: Windie Wilson
Performances: Oct 14-30, 2011
Audition Times: Saturday, Aug 20, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Sunday, Aug 21, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Sunday, Aug 28, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Available Roles - 5 men and 3 women of varying ages
Please bring a headshot or recent photo, if possible. Resumes are helpful but not required. No prepared monologue is needed; auditions will be cold readings from the script.
Auditions will held at the theatre, 319 N. Gay Street [directions]. For more information, call 544-1999 or email info@theatreknoxville.com. www.theatreknoxville.com

We have the last laugh of summer! The Creative Arts Co-op is hosting its last murder mystery of the summer, and you're invited. 'Can You Really Be Photoshopped to Death?' will take the stage on August 20 & 27, 2011. The interactive evening is complete with an over-the-top comedy, wild clue hunt and interrogations, and delicious desserts. What more could a person want?!?
At the Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center, 426 Ruritan Road, Harriman (Roane County). Tickets are $20.00 and include show, dessert bar, and beverages. For more information or to make reservations, contact the Creative Arts Co-op at 865-765-1129, www.creativeartsco-op.com.

The UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to exhibit the work of our first year graduate students who are entering the UT School of Art Graduate program within their various disciplines. The exhibit showcases the outstanding talent and artistic visions of these new students, which includes painting, printmaking, graphic design and sculpture works.
The following artists will be exhibiting their work: Andrew Merriss, April Bachtel, Eric Cagley, Cierra Reppert, Daniel Ogletree, Hannah Skoonberg, Jennifer Scheuer, Jonathan Lisenby, Justin Clay, Tamra Hunt, and Victoria Buck

Please join us for an opening reception Friday August 19th, 6:00 – 9:00pm
The exhibition is free and open to the public.
UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. 865-673-0802. Gallery Hours: Wed – Fri 11 -6pm & Sat 10 – 3pm

Details TBA

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

Booder Barnes is the featured artist this month at Union Avenue Books. There will be a reception on Friday, August 5, at the bookstore 5-9pm. His work will be on display through the end of the month.

517 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. 865-951-2180

Bliss Home will feature Ryan Blair for August’s First Friday. A reception will be held at Bliss Home, 29 Market Square, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 5. Blair not only devotes his time to painting on his own, but also teaching. “When not in the studio, he teaches art full time to 650 local elementary students.” His inspiration comes from the imagery of Tennessee. Living in the foothills of East Tennessee provides some of the best shapes and colors to mirror in his work. He pulls from adventures such as exploring the local mountain sides, streams or paddling his canoe.

24 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: anne@shopinbliss.com, 865-216-1237, www.shopinbliss.com, www.ryanblairart.com

First Friday, August 5, 6:00-9:00 PM featuring local artist, Kelle Jolly
Images will be available for viewing all month.

Through social media, I invited friends to share stories of being "uprooted". These images and stories were full of emotions, like hurt and despair. But feelings of relief and gratefulness were also clear. I listened to these stories and allowed my mind to wrap itself around the feeling. And soon, the images grew from hands into shapes and forms of mesh and fabric. I decided to use wire mesh and plastic mesh because the loose ends resemble the wild roots of uprooted trees. Semi-transparent, wire mesh is the perfect canvas for weaving images. It gave me the option of adding to the surface by painting directly on it or adding materials by hand-sewing through it. A music composition was created with the stories that were left by voice mail. The recordings of the stories encourage the viewer to continually explore the feeling of being uprooted.

Kelle Jolly is an artist, actress, designer, educator and musician. She has created all of her life. "My earliest memories are of cutting up my baby clothes, to make doll clothes.", she says. Kelle enjoys using her hands to manipulate fabric, especially. In 2011, she was awarded the EMERGING ARTIST AWARD by the Dogwood Arts Festival for her line of wearable art "SUSHI DRESSES". Finding ways to combine her talents of designing, sewing and performing keep her motivated. Kelle says, "I want my memories to documented through the art I create."

URBhana, 115 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-951-5454, www.urbhana.com

The Art Market Gallery of Knoxville will offer two special exhibits in conjunction with this year’s East Tennessee History Fair, which will be presented by the East Tennessee Historical Society on August 20. “Who, What, Where in East Tennessee” is an interactive exhibit opening August 5 at the gallery. It will feature artworks in a variety of mediums, with each representing either a prominent person, event or place in East Tennessee. This exhibit invites visitors to guess who, what or where is portrayed in each of the artworks and to enter their guesses for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the gallery. The winner will be announced on Sunday, August 21.
A second exhibit, “Reflections of an American Tragedy,” a collection of Civil War paintings and limited-edition canvas giclees by award-winning artist Marie Merritt, will be on display in the lobby of the Art Market Gallery. Marie has a deep fascination with history, especially the Civil War. She says of these paintings, “Although a controversial and tumultuous time in our nation’s history, those hardships and strife shaped much of who we are today: people of faith, character and strength. I seek to tell those stories with understanding and honor.”

The gallery will host an opening reception with light refreshments and live music for these exhibits on Friday, August 5, from 5:30-9:00pm. This reception will also mark the opening of the gallery’s August featured member-artists exhibits, paintings by Jay Hollopeter and jewelry by Kathy Seely.

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

Art Market Gallery of Knoxville is pleased to present an exhibit of recent works by Jay Hollopeter of Tazewell and Kathy Seely of Oliver Springs.

Jay Hollopeter, who holds a BA in Studio and Commercial Art from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, creates vividly colored, whimsical paintings that include three-dimensional elements. He says, “My paintings come from a long time passion for humor, color and simplicity. I strive for art that is approachable, humorous, slightly biting and subversive all at the same time.” In addition to paining, Jay is an accomplished graphic designer and illustrator.

Kathy Seely creates unique mixed-media jewelry and beaded sculpture. Using a range of materials, from metal pieces that she fabricates to stones, old buttons, vintage glass and tiny glass beads, she employs a multitude of beading and jewelry skills to craft her works. She says, “I seek to find new and unexpected ways to combine the beautiful, the mundane and the unusual into very wearable and very special pieces of jewelry that invoke a personal relationship between the object and the wearer.” Kathy has exhibited nationally and has works in many public and private collections and her art has been published in numerous books and magazines.

A First Friday Reception for the exhibit is planned for August 5 from 5:30-9 pm with complimentary refreshments and live music performed by Grayson Dagnan. 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