Calendar of Events

By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten on September 23–October 1, 2011 in the Sue E. Trotter Theater at The Arts Center in Athens. The five cast members are Pam Thigpen, Sarah Maynard, Karen Siklosi, Kay Simmons, and Melonie Carideo, who portray five Southern women over two acts at four points in their lives - from their mid forties to mid seventies. Their friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, and they have set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives. The Dixie Swim Club focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years. Sheree, the spunky team captain, desperately tries to maintain her organized and "perfect" life, and continues to be the group's leader. Dinah, the wisecracking overachiever, is a career dynamo. But her victories in the courtroom are in stark contrast to the frustrations of her personal life. Lexie, pampered and outspoken, is determined to hold on to her looks and youth as long as possible. She enjoys being married—over and over and over again. The self-deprecating and acerbic Vernadette, acutely aware of the dark cloud that hovers over her life, has decided to just give in and embrace the chaos. And sweet, eager-to-please Jeri Neal experiences a late entry into motherhood that takes them all by surprise. As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them. And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduring power of "teamwork," rally 'round their own with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction. The Dixie Swim Club is the story of these five unforgettable women—a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever.
The Dixie Swim Club opens with dinner theater on September 23rd – all seats $25.00 by reservation. Doors open at 6:00 PM with cash bar, dinner at 6:30, and show time at 7:30 PM. Other performances at 7:30 PM are September 24, 29, 30, and Oct. 1. There is one matinee on Sunday, September 25 at 2PM. Tickets for all performances are $12 for adults, $8 for students except for “BFF” NIGHT, Thursday, September 29, when best friends who purchase at least two tickets will be admitted for $10 each. Tickets are available by phone at (423)745-8781, at The Arts Center, 320 North White St., at www.athensartscouncil.org, and at the door as available. For more information, call The Arts Center at 745-8781.

The UT Knoxville School of Art is pleased to announce that that Krzysztof
Baginski and Anna Kosarevska, printmaking students from the Academy of Fine
Art, Wrocław (Poland) will present an exhibition of their work at Gallery
1010 from September 24-25, 2011. Baginski and Kosarevska are
artists-in-residence during the month of September as part of a linkage with
the Academy of Fine Art, Wrocław. Baginski works primarily in screenprint
while Kosarevska works mostly with intaglio techniques.

A reception will be held for the artists on Friday September 23 from 6-9 P.M. Gallery 1010 is open Thursday through Saturdays from noon to 4pm, and is located at 113
South Gay Street in Knoxville. Support for the exchange program has been
provided by The Marek Maria Pienkowski Foundation and the Betsy Worden
Printmaking Endowment. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the
public.

Bluegrass music, clogging, arts and crafts, sorghum molasses making and other Appalachian skills, artisan demonstrations, family activities, good food.

See: http://www.smokymountains.org/info/heritage.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)

A workshop with artist Brian Jobe in conjunction with Contemporary Focus 2011

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM; Friday, 10AM-8PM; Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Inviting guests to an after-hours event featuring the chance to purchase works of art created by the animals of the Zoo! Accompanied by wine and cheese to complete the stimulating evening of artistic display.

Knoxville Zoo, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

Renowned singer-songwriter and producer extraordinaire, M. Ward has been a fixture in the Portland folk scene where he’s been creating heart-wrenchingly beautiful songs in a city that lends itself to introspection and subtlety. He was also the Him in She & Him, the hugely popular collaboration with She – Zooey Deschanel. He released his most recent album, Hold Time in 2009 which Entertainment Weekly called “timeless, a musical wanderer’s dust, train-hopping tour through folk, blues, and country.”

Self-described “American rock ‘n’ roll band,” Dawes will be opening the show. The group represents everything pure and true about that fundamental delineation, four talented friends making music together, fueled by a shared belief in the power of their songs.Dawes will be opening the show and M. Ward will then perform solo with Dawes joining him onstage as his backing band.

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

Dawn of Destiny
$9 General Admission
$5 with Membership or student ID
Free for ages 17 and under

The Fall Series premiers with the Alive After Five debut of one of Knoxville’s most talented bands in the Soul-Jazz-R & B genres. They were a big hit at the Summer Soul Jam in World’s Fair Park this summer. The band includes Keith Brown on keyboards, Will Boyd on saxophones and flute, Glyn Loyd on bass, Richard Gallaher on guitar, Jeff Pegues on drums and percussion, and vocalist LaKeeta Booker will join them for this evening’s performance.

Food by F.A.T.S. BBQ

Ijams Nature Day Camp: First Day of Fall Day Camp: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Grades K-5) Welcome in autumn as we learn how plants and animals adapt to the changing season. $35 for members, $40 for non-members. To register, call 577-4717 ext. 130.

Ijams Public Program: Dig and Dine: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Join Ijams Nature Center as we celebrate the bounty of our organic garden! We'll spend some time tending the garden, and then we'll clean up and fix some dinner! Participants will have the opportunity to make their own pizzas on the grill, using sauces and vegetables from the garden. $10 for non-members, $7 for members. Leader: Peg Beute and Jen Roder. To register call 577-4717, ext. 110.

Knoxville Zoo becomes the wildest art gallery you've ever seen, featuring works by masters such as "Pigcasso", "Van Goghrilla", and "Vermeerkat". Art Gone Wild! is an after-hours art show featuring original pieces created by zoo animals.

Art Gone Wild! patrons can enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as they peruse inspired works available for purchase by some of the zoo's artists in residence. The offering includes paintings by black bears, chimpanzees (with special pieces by baby George), gorillas, elephants, African wild dogs, meerkats, beavers, otters, bobcats, lions, tigers, penguins, red river hogs, donkeys, baboons and snakes. Other unique items include one-of-a-kind tote bags and walking sticks.

All proceeds from Art Gone Wild! go to fund the zoo's enrichment program, which provides stimulating environments that enhance the well-being of the zoo's animals and encourage natural behaviors. Art Gone Wild! is for guests 21 years and older, and a photo ID will be required to enter the event. Tickets are $30 per person and are available online, by phone at (865) 637-5331, at the zoo's ticket window during business hours as well as the evening of the event. Zoo members receive a $5 discount.

Events and times are subject to change without notice. Please call (865) 637-5331 ext. 300 for more information.

Slam poet Black Atticus will perform on the 3rd floor terrace at the Knoxville Museum of Art during Alive After Five.

Also on the 3rd floor, enjoy tabled seating, a beer & wine bar, food available from The Viet Grill, a Free Tasting of "scrumpdiddlyumptious cupcakes" from SCRUMPS, and have your portrait drawn for Free by Debbie and/or Carrie Ellen Barnes (first come, first drawn).

Admission to the 3rd floor balcony and terrace is Free!

EVENTS IN THE ART CENTER (SEPT. 22 – 24)
10:00 AM-5:00 PM: 3-day art & decorative items sales; limited artists & craftsmen’ s booths inside for 3 days; fresh home-baked goods; “Silent Auction” premium items for bids until cut-off time at 3:00 PM on Sat., Sept. 24. Pick up and pay for Silent Auction items beginning at 3 PM.

MAIN EVENTS SCHEDULE OUTSIDE ON FOUNTAIN CITY ART CENTER GROUNDS (SEPT. 24 ONLY)
10:00 AM-4:30 PM: Art and Craft Booths and demonstrations, Art Activities Booths, live music, chili, hotdogs, fried apple pies, pop corn, etc.
ART ACTIVITY BOOTHS FOR ALL AGES
- Print making w/ Penny Berridge, Toni Nicholson, & Leslie Feulner
- Tie-dyed t-shitrs w/ Nancy Webb & Bobbie Messina
- Have your caricature sketched by “Rembrandt” Ken Clayton or “Renoir” Charles Williams
- Make a simple book w/ the Knoxville Book Arts Guild members
- Have your photo made as “Mona Lisa” or “Van Gogh’ by Holland Rowe
- Paint part of a huge canvas mural to be displayed at the Center w/ Kate McCullough & Jan Macfarlane
- Chilldren’s multiple art activities w/ Jan Bolus, Sharon Henderson, & Mary Hall
- Watercolor demonstrations and simple exercises to try w/ instructor Rob White
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Music, “Broadway Swing,” with Lynn Clapp, Margaret Seagraves, Wayne Goforth, Al Wood, Jack Cate, Jack Knight, Terry Rozell
12:30-1:30 PM: “Nostalgia,” Mary Prater, Ralph Alexander, Linda Martin, Gary Bean, & Alan Fisher, mix of folk and pop
2:00 - 3:00 PM: Clark Miller & Darrell Acuff, “old time” Appalachian music
3:30 - 4:30 PM: “Stump,” with Jessica Gregory, Missy McGinnis, Gina Roberts, Angel Jennings, rock & blues

The KSO will open the season with an All Beethoven program. The first half of the concert will feature his Coriolan Overture and Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor with Alon Goldstein. Following intermission the orchestra will perform Symphony No. 3, “Eroica.”

Performed at the Historic Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information and tickets: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com