Calendar of Events

The UTK Creative Writing Program, Writers in the Library, Ready for the World, and the Haines-Morris Foundation invite you to our 2011-2012 Series of Readings and Performances, Free and Open to the Public. All events will take place at 7:00 PM in the Hodges Library Auditorium on the UT campus (unless otherwise noted).

Vive la poésie! French-Flavored Poetry Fest with J. Bradford Anderson, Darren Jackson, Rose Becallo Raney, and Marilyn Kallet

J. Bradford Anderson studied at the Sorbonne, received his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University. He translated Alexander von Humboldt’s Political Essay on the Island of Cuba, University of Chicago Press, 2011. His translations of Chantal Bizzini’s poetry have appeared in Two Lines: A Journal of Translation. He is currently translating the poems of Georges Schehadé, the Franco-Lebanese writer.

Darren Jackson is the editor of Grist: The Journal for Writers, and a doctoral student in poetry at the University of Tennessee. His poetry has appeared in Smartish Pace, Iron Horse, and Terrain, among others. His essay on translating Michaux’s La vie dans les plis was published by Public Republic. He is currently co-translating Chantal Bizzini’s poetry, has participated in the VCCA France poetry workshop in Auvillar, and in the Prague Summer Seminars.

Marilyn Kallet is the director of the creative writing program, and the author of 15 books, including Packing Light: New and Selected Poems. Her Ph.D. is in Comparative Literature from Rutgers; she studied at the Sorbonne, and her translations from the French include The Big Game by Benjamin Péret, and Last Love Poems of Paul Eluard, from Black Widow Press. She teaches the poetry workshop “O Taste and See” for VCCA France in Auvillar.

Rose Becallo Raney is a science and technical writer who has won the Tennessee Writers Alliance prize in poetry. She received her M.A. in creative writing/poetry at the University of Tennessee, and participated in Dr. Kallet’s poetry workshop in Auvillar, France.

Information: http://web.utk.edu/~english/grad/creative/creative.shtml, mkallet@utk.edu

Marilyn Kallet reads from "The Big Game," her translation of French poet Benjamin Peret's "Le grand jeu."
An evening of French-flavored poetry with Marilyn Kallet, Darren Jackson, J. Bradford and Rose BeCallo Ranewy

Marilyn Kallet's lifelong commitment to poetry has led her across both the United States and Europe. The director of the University of Tennessee's creative writing program has performed for and taught thousands of prospective and practicing poets with a charisma borne entirely of her love for the art.

Kallet is fluent in French, and the French poets of the late-19th and early-to-middle 20th centuries occupy a special place in her understanding of the spirit of poetry. She often discusses the work of the legendary Arthur Rimbaud in her classes, and she has translated Paul Eluard's "Last Love Poems." She remains intensely curious about the gems — both hidden and revealed — of French poetry, and particularly French Surrealism.

Hodges Library Auditorium, University of Tennessee. Free admission.

“Down Home Blues starring saxophonist Rocky Wynder” @ The Square Room in Market Square

The concert features the soulful sounds of “Down Home Blues”. The performance will highlight several important compositions including “Ain’t Lookin’ at You”, “Easy Talk”, “Grand Stand”, “I’ll Close My Eyes”, “Just Friends”, and “On Green Dolphin Street”.

The concert will also feature Hammond B-3 organist Chico Crawford. Musicians Vance Thompson, Harold Nagee, and Keith Brown will also be performing with Rocky Wynder for this special treat of music!

Tenor saxophonist Edwin “Rocky” Wynder is a legend in the Knoxville jazz scene. After touring with notable groups, enduring challenges on the road, and meeting legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker, Wynder was stranded in Knoxville in 1950 when his touring manager left town, stealing the ensemble’s pay. Wynder decided to stay in Knoxville. In 2009, after years of sharing the music, Wynder released his debut album Edwin and Catherine. In 2010, he was featured on the title track “Tenors and Satin” composed by Donald Brown found on The Knoxville Jazz Session 5th Anniversary Limited Edition album. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear one of Knoxville ’s legends of jazz!

Ensure that you get a seat. Purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets are available now at Cafe 4, or online at: http://www.knoxjazz.org/jazzlunch.html

Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: 865-573-3226, www.knoxjazz.org

Brent Thompson on "Homegrown Series" live radio broadcast and hangout.
Wednesday, October 5 at 7:00pm
Location: Preservation Pub Speakeasy

Elaine Barnes, Lauren Karnitz and Annamaria Gundlach will present their works October 3 through October 28 at the Denso Gallery at the Clayton Center for the Arts. There will be a reception during Last Friday Artwalk 6-8 pm, Friday, October 28, 2011.

Elaine Barnes has a BA from University of Florida and MA from University of Central Florida. She lives in a beautiful, rural setting in East Tennessee, where the natural beauty that surrounds her inspires and influences her artwork in both clay and glass. Her education continues through classes by local artists, as well as national and international workshops with renowned artists. She has won awards in juried shows and her work is exhibited in several galleries in Tennessee.

Lauren Karnitz earned a B.A. in English Education and Russian Literature from New York University in 1992, taught English in New York City, then accepted a job in Seattle. In 2001 she returned to academia to pursue her first love, painting. In 2004, while completing her Fine Arts degree at University of Tennessee, Lauren opened Three Flights Up Gallery in downtown Knoxville, where she was founding partner and curator through 2009. Lauren remains active in Knoxville's art community, while exhibiting her own work and raising two boys. Her work is in private collections around the country.

Annamaria Gundlach creates pieces that are on-of-a-kind, hand-sculpted forms with figurative overtones. Many are large, slab-constructed or sculpted. Gundlach uses numerous coats of oxides, engobes and paints to get her patinas and finishes. Her figurative pieces reflect her Italian/Greek heritage and love of myths and nature. She has received numerous grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission to study sculpture in the United States and Italy and exhibits her work in fine arts exhibitions, museums and galleries.

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

In observance of the Civil War’s 150th anniversary, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is hosting an exhibition from the Tennessee State Museum, Common People in Uncommon Times: The Civil War in Tennessee. The exhibition focuses on how the war affected the lives of Tennesseans through personal stories of participants whose sagas illustrate a land divided.

The narrative of personal struggle and endurance during the Civil War is presented on 10 graphic panels taken from the State Museum’s collection of photographs and artifacts from the era, as well as from other collections across the state. Each panel portrays a different theme: Confederate leaders, Union leaders, African-Americans, civilian home front, common soldiers, war on the water, reconstruction and commemoration.

Admission to the special exhibition is included in the museum admission price, and free for Heritage Center members. For current hours and admission rates, visit www.gsmheritagecenter.org

At the Palace Theatre, 72 South Main Street in Crossville.

www.isiksonmez.com

Isik Sonmez, whose oil paintings are done with a palette knife, is exhibiting at the Palace Theatre in Crossville during the month of October.

Born in Turkey of a noted military family, he went to Military High School and became a soldier in the Turkish Army and became an apprentice to Professor Dr. Gulbin Yalim and began his study of abstract art. Later he was mentored for a year under the instruction of Nesin Us, a well known abstract artist.
He has been accepted and won prizes in prestigious exhibits both in Turkey and the U.S. In Tennessee, this includes the Oak Ridge Art Center Open Show and 1st in the landscape category in the Art Guild’s juried show.

Sonmez described his work as his own versatile blend of impressionism and surrealism. The exhibit theme at the Palace consists of horses, clients at a café, and Turkish peasants, great fields, storm clouds, and a piece that comments on both joy and pain.

The Palace Theater, 113 West Broadway, Maryville TN 37801. Information: 865-983-3330, www.palacetheater.com

Photographer Molly Harrell is exhibiting her photography series "The Nudes" at URBhana. This recent collection of nudes, photographed over a period of several months, will be on display throughout the month of October.

A graduate of The University of Tennessee 1986, and The Art Institute of Atlanta 2002, Molly currently resides in Columbia, SC, as a commercial photographer specializing in portraits. Her fascination with the beauty of the human body has led to a continued love of photographing people in the nude.

For this show, Molly works primarily with black and white images. A mix of framed works, images printed on canvas, and mixed media will be featured.

String quartets from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will travel to local libraries during the months of September and October to read stories and play music for pre-school aged children as part of the orchestra’s Story Time Program: Music Is All Around Us. Musicians will read books that explore music that children may hear throughout their day from breakfast to bath time. Violet’s Music tells the story of a born musician who searches to find a band of friends to play along. Fiddle-I-Fee, based on Aaron Copland’s I Bought Me a Cat, will explore in song items that may be purchased on a daily trip to the store. These performances will help to highlight the connections between music and literacy and introduce string instruments to young audience members as well as prepare children for the KSO’s Family Concert on Sunday, October 9 featuring the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and animated character Picardy Penguin.

KSO Library Story Times are made possible by support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, Knox County , the City of Knoxville and Aqua-Chem. All Story Time performances are FREE and open to the public.

September 27 10:30 AM Murphy Library

September 28 11:00 AM Karns Library

September 29 11:00 AM Smart Toys and Books

September 29 4:00 PM Farragut Library

September 30 10:15 AM Fountain City Library

October 4 10:30 AM Sequoyah Library

October 5 10:15 AM Bearden Library

October 7 4:00 PM Cedar Bluff Library

The Oak Ridge Art Center announces their annual juried, mixed media exhibition. The exhibition is intended to showcase exceptional work produced throughout our region.

The opening reception is September 17 at 7 PM. A gallery talk will precede the opening at 6:30. Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9AM-5PM; Saturday-Monday, 1-4PM. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

Traveling Exhibition: "Common People in Uncommon Times: The Civil War Experience in Tennessee"

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Townsend, TN 37882.
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday
Closed on Sunday
For Information: 865-448-0044, www.gsmheritagecenter.org