Calendar of Events

The 94th annual Tennessee Valley Fair is scheduled for September 6-15, 2013.

Tennessee Valley Fair
P.O. Box 6066
Knoxville, TN 37914
P: 865-215-1473

Website: http://www.tnvalleyfair.org

English teacher James Yoakley knows a thing or two about censorship. As journalism adviser for Lenoir City High School for six years, Yoakley juggled student expression with the public school's censoring of student publications. He will share his experiences at the next Knoxville Writers’ Guild meeting.

The event, which will be open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Laurel Theater, at the corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th Street in Fort Sanders. A $2 donation is requested at the door. The building is handicapped accessible. Additional parking is available at Redeemer Church of Knoxville, 1642 Highland Ave.

Last May, Yoakley was removed from his position as LCHS English department chair and journalism adviser after the release of the 2011-12 LCHS yearbook. The yearbook’s theme was “In My Element” and included a profile of a gay student written by a student on the yearbook staff. The controversy received national attention after Van Shaver, a Loudon County school board member, called for Yoakley’s termination.

Yoakley, who was transferred to Lenoir City Middle School by Lenoir City superintendent, Wayne Miller, following the controversy, will talk about this and other incidents at the meeting.

“I will be speaking about my experiences this year with high school journalism and censorship,” he said.

LCHS and the journalism department also made national news in February, when an editorial entitled, “No Rights: The Life of an Atheist,” written by the school newspaper’s student editor, Krystal Myers, was censored by school administrators.

Yoakley taught at LCHS for 11 years, serving five years as department chair. The yearbooks he advised have received numerous recognitions from both the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. In 2010, he presented at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention.

Additional information about the Knoxville Writers’ Guild and its events can be found at www.knoxvillewritersguild.org.

September 6, 2012: Fred Hagstrom -- Fred Hagstrom is the Rae Schupack Nathan Professor of Art at Carleton College where he has taught since 1984. He received his M.F.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has studied with S.W. Hayter at the Atelier France. Hagstrom's prints and hand-printed books are in numerous public collections, including the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Stanford University, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the Spencer Museum of Art, the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Southern California. At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, he will present material from two recent books on war and society. Co-spo nsors:  The Center for the Study of War and Society and The Haines-Morris Endowment

September 27, 2012: Barbara MacAdam
October 4, 2012: Mary Reid Kelley
October 25, 2012: Jeffrey Valance
January 31, 2013: Chad Curtis
February 28, 2013: William Lamson
March 14, 2013: Katy Siegel

UT Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture - A+A Bldg. 1715 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996.
ph: 865.974.3200 - email: ewing@utk.edu - web: www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

The Cultural Attractions Committee is proud to present our first show of the 2012-2013 season, N*W*C!

N*W*C is a unique theater act that combines comedy, hip hop, and music to produce a light-hearted atmosphere in which to address the very touchy subject of racism in today's society. N*W*C, produced by Speak Theater Arts, strives to present "dangerously compelling works" in order to initiate mature conversation and dialogue with its audience members about racial stereotypes and negative slurs that exist even today. Rafael Agustin, Jackson McQueen, and Dionysio Basco comprise the trio of talented men that tackles the beast of cultural identity by poking fun at the stereotypes associated with their respective ethnic and cultural backgrounds. As a warning, this show does contain strong language that may be offensive to some viewers because the actors do use these racially charged words throughout the program. The actors do, however, want to make a distinction between calling someone one of these offensive terms and having a mature discussion about these issues. That in and of itself is the purpose of N*W*C.

N*W*C will be at Cox Auditorium in Alumni Memorial Building on Thursday, September 6 at 8 PM. Admission is free for all with open seating, therefore early arrival recommended for best seats.

The Knoxville Opera Company will present a preview concert at the Blount County Public Library of this year’s opera season on Thursday, September 6, at 7 p.m.

The library concert will feature Maria Natale, soprano, and Jesse Stock, baritone, both graduates of the University of Tennessee Opera Theatre graduate program. They will sing selections from the coming season’s operas, Die Fledermaus, The Girl of the Golden West and Cinderella plus selections from other operas.

Maestro Brian Salesky, Executive Director and Conductor of Knoxville Opera, will be the guest speaker and will accompany the performers. Further information about this season’s operas is available at www.knoxvilleopera.com.

Free and open to the public, Hot Summer Nights concerts will be at the Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville
All concerts are indoors in the air-conditioned library facility and are sponsored by the Blount County Friends of the Library.

September 4-30, Art Market Gallery of Knoxville is pleased to present an exhibit of recent works by Mary Ann Valvoda of Loudon and Jen Hamilton of Knoxville.

Award-winning watercolorist Mary Ann Valvoda will be exhibiting a collection of her recent works. Mary Ann studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art and is a Signature Member of the Ohio and Tennessee Watercolor Societies as well at the Knoxville and Southern Watercolor Societies. In her more recent works, she is "excited about using pigments to flow across the paper, yet trying to maintain control of the final appearance of the painting." She has works in private collections throughout the US.

Artist Jen Hamilton creates her mixed media sculptures from recycled objects such as bicycle parts, dismantled electronics, colored wire and found scraps of metal and plastic. She says that she really enjoys "reusing objects from the the waste stream, and transforming them into objects of value and desire."

A First Friday Reception for the exhibit is planned for September 8th from 5:30-9 pm with complimentary refreshments and live music performed by violinist Elise Van Patten.

Member owned and operated by over 60 regional artists, Art Market Gallery is located a 422 South Gay Street in Knoxville next to the Downtown Grill & Brewery. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm and Sunday 1-5 pm. For more information, call 865-525-5265, visit artmarketgallery.net or join us on facebook: facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery

The District Gallery is pleased to present Equine Spirit, a collection of horse-inspired fine art and craft. The exhibit seeks to convey the essence of the horse through various media and includes the work of established gallery artists and introduces new artists to the gallery.

Current gallery artists were called to step beyond their comfort zone while embracing the equine theme. Artists who rose to this challenge include Donna Conliffe, Gary Dagnan, Ruth Koh, Jane Schmidt and others. Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce the work of veteran equine artists Dan Addington, Nan Jacobsohn, Mase Lucas and Rachael McCampbell.

A portion of the show proceeds will benefit Horse Haven of Tennessee, a nonprofit rescue operation for abused and neglected equine. For more information about Horse Haven of Tennessee, please visit their website at www.horsehaventn.org.

Equine Spirit will run September 4-29, with an artist reception Friday, Sept. 14 from 5:30-9 p.m. The reception will feature live music by the Dirty Dougs.
865-200-4452, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.

An exhibit comprised of photographs by Diane Fox and collages by Deb Shmerler inspired by their travels.
Reception: Friday September 14, 2012 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Artists’ Talks at 6:30 p.m.

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike
Gallery Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The Town of Farragut Arts Council presents Sherby Jones as the featured artist for September and October. Her work is on display in specially designed cases on the second floor of the rotunda in the Farragut Town Hall.

A University of Tennessee graduate, Jones has an extensive background in theatre and education. She has produced and directed many theatrical performances at venues such as the Clarence Brown Theatre and formed a drama club at Pellissippi State Technical Community College. She has served on the boards of many Knoxville organizations, including the Foothills Craft Guild and currently the Candoro Marble Museum. From 2002-07, Jones owned and operated the Mountain Laurel Gallery at The Candy Factory, later relocated to the Candoro Marble Museum. The gallery featured much of her work, as well as that of other local and regional artists and craftsmen. She considers her greatest artistic honor to have been in 1993 when her angel was chosen to top First Lady Hillary Clinton's Blue Room Christmas tree at the White House. As part of the Clinton's celebration of the Year of the American Craftsman, artists around the nation were encouraged to send angel themed decorations for the White House.

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 (Departments, Parks & Leisure Services, Arts & Culture). The Farragut Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive directly across from the Farragut Branch Post Office.

Friday 8/31
Silent Old Mountain
The Grits and Soul Band

Saturday 9/1
Grassroots Gringos WestWend

Monday 9/3
Jonny Monster Band

Tuesday 9/4
Water Liars
Emily Burdette

Wednesday 9/5
John Francis
Dustin Sellers

Thursday 9/6
Dead Tree String Band
Stephanie Day

Friday 9/7
Kenny Owens
Annabelle's Curse

Saturday 9/8
Chelle Rose
Shiny and the Spoon

Monday 9/10
Contraversial
Keegan McInroe

Tuesday 9/11
Phil Lee
Lachlan Bryan

Wednesday 9/12
Jessica Campbell and Heather Morgan
Old North State

Thursday 9/13
MilkDrive
As Girls Go

Friday 9/14
Jackstraw
Redeye

Saturday 9/15
The Fustics
Old Rusty Mandolin

12:00 noon at Knoxville Visitor Center, 301 South Gay St. 37902.

Following the highly successful run of Amadeus in 2010, the Clarence Brown Theatre and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will collaborate once again on the Tony Award winning musical Sweeney Todd at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Starring Dale Dickey, directed by Calvin MacLean with musical direction provide by maestro Lucas Richman, the Sondheim musical tells the story of Benjamin Barker, a London barber wrongly transported to an overseas penal colony so a corrupt judge could seduce his young wife. Returning to London after 15 years, he changes his name to Sweeney Todd and joins forces with Mrs. Lovett, the proprietress of the meat pie shop underneath his former tonsorial parlor. As Sweeney prepares for the moment he can exact his revenge on the judge, Mrs. Lovett puts his murderous rehearsals to good culinary use. Soon, the customers begin lining up in droves for Mrs. Lovett’s new, wondrously tasty meat pies while the dregs of London line up for a close shave, compliments of Sweeney Todd.

Clarence Brown Theatre / Carousel Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com. For tickets: 865-974-5161, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

Pellissippi State Community College and the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies will host a special traveling art exhibit from Mexico Aug. 27-Sept. 12. With the presentation of “Masks of Michoacán,” this will be the fourth year the college and TnCIS have worked with the Ministry of Culture of Michoacán to bring an international art exhibit to East Tennessee.

TnCIS, whose headquarters are at Pellissippi State, and the Ministry of Culture of Michoacán, a Mexican state, are sponsoring the exhibit. TnCIS is dedicated to making international education and cultural understanding a central goal of higher education in Tennessee. The consortium offers study abroad opportunities to college students throughout the state.

The Michoacán collection, which includes 40 wooden masks from the Mask Museum in the Centro Cultural Antiguo Colegio Jesuita in Pátzcuaro, brings to life the attitudes and values of those whose culture the pieces represent. According to early chroniclers and historians, Mesoamerican cultures used masks in rituals and indigenous ceremonies. The masks were made in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and were used in secular and religious celebrations, dances, and pantomimes.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Group tours from schools, art classes or artist groups are welcome and may be arranged with advance notice. An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 27, at 3:15 p.m. in Pellissippi State’s Bagwell Center for Media and Art lobby.

“Masks of Michoacán” is one of the events that make up Pellissippi State’s new arts series, “The Arts at Pellissippi State.” The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures and the fine arts.

Exhibit hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The showing is in the Bagwell Center gallery at the Hardin Valley Campus.

For additional information or to schedule a group tour, contact Linnette Legg at (865) 539-7064 or llegg@pstcc.edu. To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

Additional information about TnCIS is available at www.tncis.org. For more about Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu or call (865) 694-6400.