Calendar of Events

The Athens Area Council for the Arts is pleased to present “McMinn County en plein air, a collection of regional landscape paintings by Chris Ingram”, on exhibit from September 7 – October 31, 2012, at The Arts Center, 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee.

Venturing outdoors to paint requires the fortitude to withstand the elements and critters long enough to create a work of art that captures the fleeting effects of light as it moves across the landscape. And while the finished work may not have the finesse of a studio painting, these works do capture the atmosphere, color, expressiveness and rhythm of the scene.

The public is invited to meet the artist at an opening reception at The Arts Center on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The Arts Center is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. For more information or directions, call The Arts Center at 423-745-8781, or visit the website at www.athensartscouncil.org.

The second floor Gallery at the U.S. Cellular Stage of the Bijou Theatre is
proud to present an exhibit of fine art photographs of the majestic vistas
and stunning wildlife of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The
exhibit includes prize-winning photos by local photographers Jim Ryan and
Roger Lee.

The purpose of the exhibit is to celebrate the preservation of the Smokies
by showcasing the beauty and wonder of this unique region. The gallery is
open to patrons who attend programs at the Bijou and, during regular
business hours, the general public is invited to view the exhibit.

A special reception to honor these artists and their photography will be
held at the Gallery on Friday, September 7th 5:00 - 7:00PM. The
reception is open to the public.

Jim Ryan is a freelance photographer and graduate of the University of
Tennessee who, for years, has spent his spare time on the trails of the
Smokies collecting images and video of their unspoiled beauty. Roger Lee
has photographed America's national parks extensively and has been honored
with multiple awards for his nature photography. Both photographers make
their home in East Tennessee and are committed to the enhancement and
continued preservation of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, 37902

This Friday, "2 Many Pixels" photo gallery is proud to present:
Jimmy Chiarella, Wildlife Photography.

Hope to see you all for the opening on First Friday September 7th., from 6pm to 9:30pm:
"2 Many Pixels" Gallery
130 West Jackson Avenue, Suite 201
Knoxville, TN 37902

This exhibit will be running through the months of September and October.
The gallery is open weekdays 10 am to 5 pm and after hours or weekends by appointment at 917 532 4913 or patrice@2manypixelsphoto.com

Knox County Public Library's popular outdoor movie series returns to Market Square for the ninth year of free family fun in front of the silver screen! Partnering with PetSafe, this year's Movies on Market Square continues its quest to be the most pet friendly movie series ever.

To pick the line up, thousands of people cast their vote for movies in six categories - from Action/Adventure to Sports through the library's web site.

And the winners are:
9/7 - Footloose (PG 13 - 1984)
9/14 - Despicable Me (PG - 2010)
9/21 - The Adventures of Tintin (PG -2011 )
9/28 - You've Got Mail (PG - 1998)
10/5 - The Hunger Games (PG 13 - 2012)
10/12 - The Blind Side (PG 13 - 2009)

All movies are rated PG-13 or less, but parents are encouraged to check out the films to make sure they are right for their family. The series will run for six Friday nights, from September 7 through October 12.

Pre-show activities will feature pet tips and advice, as well as an array of four-legged festivities sure to please even the most sophisticated Fido. The furry fun will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the movies begin at dusk. Of course, all pets must be very well behaved, and all city rules regarding pets must be observed.

For more information, please call 215-8767 or visit www.knoxlib.org/movies.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition by the Art Guild of Fairfield Glade featuring original oil, watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, acrylic, pottery, photography, mixed media, sculpture, jewelry, and more by nearly 35 regional artists. The exhibition will be displayed at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 7-28, 2012, and an opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on September 7 from 5:00-9:00 PM.

Founded in 1978 by twelve artists, the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a volunteer not-for-profit organization formed to support and promote the arts. Membership is open to everyone interested in furthering art appreciation, personal growth in creative activities, and being part of a dynamic, growing organization. The Guild currently has about 130 members from the surrounding area.

Artwork by The Art Guild of Fairfield Glade will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, September 8, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of watercolor-based artwork entitled “Artwork Gone Wild” by animal artists from the Knoxville Zoo. The exhibition will be displayed in the Balcony at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 7-28, 2012; an opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on September 7 from 5:00-9:00 PM with video demonstrations of the animal artists at work. Artwork will be displayed as a preview to Knoxville Zoo’s Art Gone Wild! event presented by Fast Frames on Friday, September 21, from 6:00-8:30 PM, an after-hours art show at the zoo with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Many animals at Knoxville Zoo are trained by their keepers to paint in the traditional sense, using brushes and/or fingers, including chimpanzees, gorillas, and elephants. Many more paint by walking over or stamping the canvas in a variety of colors. These paw painters include lions, tigers, meerkats, bears, Komodo dragon, penguins, and many other animals. All artwork is matted and ready for framing; most works include a photo of the artist, and all works include a certificate of authenticity with the artist’s name.

The proceeds from this product help support the enrichment program at Knoxville Zoo. For more information, visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.

“Artwork Gone Wild” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, September 8, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the exhibition will be removed from the Emporium September 20-24 for the Art Gone Wild event at the Zoo. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

About the Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission (www.tn.gov/arts) and First Tennessee Foundation (www.firsttennesseefoundation.com).

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of video interviews and photographs entitled “Looking at the Dark” by Knoxville artist Alex Merchant, opening Friday, September 7, at 5:00 PM on the north side of the Balcony at the Emporium Center in Knoxville.

Alex Merchant was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His work explores city spaces, urban systems, and the communities that live in these places. Merchant recently spent time in India interviewing artists who identify themselves as Dalit—the historically disenfranchised group of the Indian caste system. While caste-discrimination has been abolished for many years, it still resonates with most Indians. With an ever-growing middle class, the Dalit discussion has become more complex. Through a series of video interviews, artists and activists give a look into their art practices, their family life, and their communities. Merchant’s exhibition will feature video and photography captured in the artists’ communities.

“Looking at the Dark” will be displayed in the Balcony at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, from September 7-28, 2012. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on September 7 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, September 8, 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.

By Patrick Hamilton
A Broadway hit first produced on the West End under the title Gaslight and filmed twice, Angel Street tells the story of the Manninghams who live on Angel Street in 19th Century London. As the curtain rises, all appears the essence of Victorian tranquility. It is soon apparent however, that Mr. Manningham, a suavely handsome man, is slowly driving his gentle, devoted wife Bella, to the brink of insanity with an insinuating kindness which masks more sinsister motives. While he is out, Mrs. Manningham has an unexpected caller: amiable, paternal Inspector Rough from Scotland Yard. Rough is convinced that Manningham is a homicidal maniac wanted for a murder committed fifteen years earlier in this very house. Gradually the inspector restores Bella's confidence in herself and as the evidence against Manningham unfolds, the author has built and sustained some of the most brilliant, suspenseful sequences in modern theatre.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday performances and $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday performances. Theatre Knoxville Downtown has open seating. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to pick up your tickets and claim your seats. TKD reserves the right to seat walk-in patrons during the final 15 minutes prior to showtime. For more information on the show, please call Theatre Knoxville Downtown at (865) 544-1999, e-mail info@theatreknoxville.com, or visit www.theatreknoxville.com.

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center’s “Fall Concert Series” will present three concerts in September, premiering on Friday, September 7 with a performance by Blue Mother Tupelo. All the concerts begin at 7:00 pm and are presented in the Heritage Center’s outdoor amphitheater which has a roof over the entire amphitheater so that concerts take place rain or shine.

Based out of Henderson, near Nashville, Blue Mother Tupelo (BMT) is led by the husband and wife team of Ricky Davis (acoustic & electric guitars, dobro, vocals) and Micol Davis (piano, tambourine, vocals). With the sweet and soaring vocals of Micol, the gritty vocals and greasy slide guitar of Ricky, and their passionate harmonies, the music of BMT is a genre-defying, earthy blend of Delta blues and Appalachian mountain music. BMT has performed at festivals, clubs and special events all over the Southeast and Midwest. They have also performed in New York City at the Museum of Modern Art and the famed nightclub The Bitter End.

On September 14, Y’uns will bring some seriously silly musical antics to the stage. Y'uns is a goodtime acoustic band that blends jugband music with elements of folk, swing, country, and blues. They play just about everything from Fats Waller to Muddy Waters to Roger Miller to The Beatles, replete with kazoos, whistles, sirens, and yodeling. The band is comprised of Steve Horton (vocals, guitar, kazoo), Danny Gammon (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, kazoo), J. P. Reddick (vocals, guitar, kazoo), Stan Turner (bass), Michael Crawley (harmonica), and J. Miller (percussion). Audience members are warned to listen at their own risk. Side effects may include giddiness, lightheadedness, lightheartedness, nonstop laughter, and an uncontrollable desire to quit your day job and/or take-up the kazoo.

The Fall Concert Series will conclude with a performance by traditional Irish music by Four Leaf Peat on September 21. Four Leaf Peat (FLP) was born out of the Irish traditional music scene in Knoxville, and is dedicated to honoring and preserving the spirit of Irish music. While grounded in tradition and influenced by Ireland's traditional pipers, fiddlers and singers, FLP also bows a hat to the more recent innovators of Irish music such as The Bothy Band, Planxty, Dervish and Lunasa. The band is comprised of Chad Beauchaine on fiddle; Gil Draper on guitar, bouzouki and mandolin; Rick Hall on hammer dulcimer, vocals and bodhrán; and Jason Herrera on vocals, bodhrán, flute and whistle. Among their more notable performances were appearances at Dollywood’s 2007 and 2008 “Festival of Nations”. Whether it's lively jigs and reels, slow airs, or songs, the spirit that gave birth to Irish traditional music can be felt in every set.

The Fall Concert Series is sponsored by Friends of the Heritage Center. Admission to each concert is $5.00 per person at the door, with Heritage Center members admitted free. Food and beverage concessions are available for purchase on site. No coolers, food, drink, or pets are allowed.

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 3/4 mile east of traffic light at the Highway 321 and 73 intersection towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM. Information: 865-448-0044, www.gsmheritagecenter.org

The 93rd annual Tennessee Valley Fair is one of the state’s largest multi-day events attracting nearly 140,000 people each year. Known for its innovative exhibits, livestock shows, concert series, action sports, exciting rides and a variety of unique fun foods, the Tennessee Valley Fair offers tremendous family entertainment! Details TBA

Tennessee Valley Fair: 865-215-1471, www.tnvalleyfair.org

2012 Tennessee Valley Fair – September 7-16, 2012

Featured events include: MC Hammer – $15, Friday, September 7 – 8 PM
Fairest of the Fair Pageant – $5, Saturday, September 9 – 7 PM
Southern Drawl Band – FREE, Sunday, September 9 at 6 PM
Brad Blackwell – FREE, Sunday, September 9 at 7 PM
Stephen Hunley – FREE, Sunday, September 9 at 8 PM
Kip Moore – $8, Monday, September 10 – 8 PM
Josh Thompson – $5, Tuesday, September 11 – 8 PM
Easton Corbin – $10, Proudly Sponsored by the Tennessee Education Lottery
Wednesday, September 12 – 8 PM
David Nail – $8, Thursday, September 13 – 8 PM
Night Ranger – $10, Friday, September 14 – 8 PM
Con Hunley – $5, Saturday, September 15 – 8 PM
Sawyer Brown – $15, Sunday, September 16 – 8 PM

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 6 at 10 AM at www.TNValleyFair.org or by calling (865) 215-1482. Admission tickets will also be available at a discounted rate for a limited time.

The Tennessee Valley Fair is one of the state’s largest multi-day events attracting nearly 140,000 people each year. The 93rd annual fair begins the Friday after Labor Day, September 7-16. Known for its innovative exhibits, livestock shows, concert series, action sports, exciting rides and a variety of unique fun foods, the Tennessee Valley Fair offers tremendous family entertainment at a great value. The Fair is also proud to present nightly fireworks sponsored by the Tennessee Education Lottery. For more information, please visit www.tnvalleyfair.org or call (865) 215-1470.

Come and Get It at the Tennessee Valley Fair, September 7-16. In 2012, the Fair is gearing up to debut a variety of unique new attractions, contests and exhibits for East Tennesseans to enjoy:

Local Artist Spotlight – Sunday, September 9 – 6 PM
Experience some of East Tennessee’s best up & coming musicians free with your paid fair admission.
Don’t Miss: Brad Blackwell, Stephen Hunley and Southern Drawl Band

Einstein Simplified Comedy Improv – Friday, September 14 – 6 PM
Einstein Simplified has been entertaining Knoxville and surrounding areas since 1994. Don’t miss this free family friendly night of laughs.

Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show – September 7-16 – Multiple Daily Showtimes
Truly a giant in family entertainment, this action-packed lumberjack show features log rolling, log rolling dogs, chopping, sawing, axe throwing, dragster chainsaw, tree climbing and much more!

Football Free-For-All! – Wednesday, September 12 – 7 PM
Experience the thrill of football in a whole new way – derby style! Watch as “Tennessee” & “Florida” battle it out in our Action Sports arena. This family-friendly event is a fun way to get pumped for the upcoming SEC matchup on Sept 15. Wear your team colors and come out to support your team!

Texas Roadhouse: “How to Create Legendary Ribs” – Saturday, September 15 – 6 PM
Learn how they create their signature ribs! Free live cooking demonstration on our Culinary Arts Stage.

“Best of” Concessionaire Fair Food Contest - Friday, September 7 – (Judging will occur pre-Fair)
Ever wonder who has the best corn dog, funnel cake and candy apple at the fair? In 2012, we’ll showcase the best food the fair has to offer. Winning concessionaires will display a “Best of the Tennessee Valley Fair” banner.

Pink Day Hoe Down – Sunday, September 9 – 3 PM (Paint the Fair Pink Day)
Line dance to help stomp out breast cancer! Rock your best cowgirl/cowboy couture and boot scoot with the Texas Roadhouse line dance team! Donation requested to participate – all proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Knoxville Affiliate.. No sign-up required, just show up & boot scoot!