Calendar of Events

The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, located just off Highway 411 on Highway 360 in Vonore, is the state’s only tribally-owned historical site. It was built to honor the Cherokee Sequoyah, who in 1821 created a Syllabary, or way of reading and writing the Cherokee language. Throughout the year, the museum hosts various special events. This spring, a free lecture series delves into a variety of Cherokee topics.

March 3: Robert Conley’s topic will be, “175th Anniversary of the Trail of Tears.” Distinguished novelist, Robert Conley, a member of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma will focus on the Trail of Tears. Conley is Sequoyah Distinguished Professor at Western Carolina University. His poetry, short stories, novels, and nonfiction works have been published in several languages and have received many awards.

On Sunday, March 10 first time author Ronald R. Cooper will do a photo presentation at 2 p.m. and a book signing from 12-5 p.m. Mr. Cooper spent years researching the Trail of Tear, and in the winter of 2011, walked the length of the Northern Route as closely as he could to the original roadbed. He is the first person to do so in Modern times. His book, “It’s My Trail, Too: A Comanche Indian’s Journey on the Cherokee Trail of Tears”, chronicles that trek.

On Sunday, March 17, from 2 to 3 p.m., Tribal Historic Preservation Specialist, Tyler Howe will be lecturing on the 175th Anniversary of the Trail of Tears from the Qualla town’s perspective; the Cherokees who stayed behind and did not go on the Trail of Tears. Howe works for the Tribal Historic Preservation Office in Cherokee, NC.

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 HWY 360, Vonore, TN 37885. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM; Sunday, 12-5PM. Information: 423-884-6246, www.sequoyahmuseum.org

Opening on March 1 is an exhibit of art quilts entitled “WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS”, produced by Sisters with Artistic Attitude, a sub group of the Village Quilters Guild of Loudon County, TN. This exhibit will remain on display through April 30, 2013. Members of the group embarked on a year and half long project to fashion individual quilts from the pieces and blocks given to them from the other group members.

Each member chose a theme and/or color scheme which formed the basis for the contributions. Each individual created a block each month for another member. Then came the challenge as each member had to merge the contributed blocks of various styles and techniques into a cohesive and attractive finished art quilt.

The public is invited to meet the quilters at an opening reception for “With A Little Help from My Friends” on March 8, 2013, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at The Arts Center. 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.

"2 Many Pixels” photo gallery is proud to present "What She Saw", a beautiful mosaic of images by 3 young women and Knoxville photographers: Shelby Gordon, Erika Smith and Rachel Vykukal. This exhibit is an exploration of the female sensitivity and its transcription through the photographic medium. The photographs are all for sale, gallery archival prints, signed and numbered by the artists. The photos will remain on the walls throughout the months of March and April.
Reception on Friday night, April 5th., 6pm to 9:30pm
"2 Many Pixels"130 West Jackson avenue, suite 201, Knoxville, TN 37902
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

Mark Soppeland is this year’s artist-in-residence at Maryville College. While on campus March 25-29, he will teach workshops, participate in individual critiques with students and give a presentation about his work.
A collection of his recent work, titled “The House of the Mystery Cult,” will be on display in the Clayton Center for the Arts’ Blackberry Farm Gallery through March 29. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
A reception will be held on Mon., March 25 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Soppeland will give a presentation about his work in the Clayton Center for the Arts’ Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall at 7 p.m.

The Art Market Gallery of Knoxville will feature an exhibit of recent works by two members, jeweler Kristine Taylor of Knoxville and photographer Ronald Sullivan of Oak Ridge.

A First Friday opening reception for the exhibit is planned for 5:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, March 1, with complimentary refreshments and live music by Crispy Williams, who performs acoustic, folk and blues on guitar and banjo.

Member owned and operated by more than 60 regional artists, the Art Market Gallery is located at 422 South Gay St., next to the Downtown Grill & Brewery, and a few doors down from Mast General Store. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday. The gallery is handicapped accessible. For more information, call 865-525-5265, visit artmarketgallery.net, or Facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery.

This is the first annual Ijams Hike-a-Thon, a fundraising event for Ijams! Hikers will be able to collect pledges from family and friends and then spend the month of March hiking Ijams Nature Center and the Urban Wilderness Trail. Why? Because you love hiking! To make your miles count! To protect the trails you love! For the exercise! To get your family out on the trail – or just to motivate you! Funds raised will help preserve and protect the environmental and historical resources of Ijams Nature Center and the Urban Wilderness and provide educational opportunities to our local schools and citizens.

Everyone can participate. Young and old, newbie or experienced hiker – anyone who loves hiking and hiking trails or the greenway can participate. Hike as an individual or a team of 2 to 10 people. Ijams Hike-a-Thon runs the entire month of March, 2013.

Saturday, March 30 - HIKE-A-THON: Closing Events
5 p.m. HIKE-A-THON: Closing Hike
6 p.m. HIKE-A-THON: Closing Ceremony
7-10 p.m. HIKE-A-THON: Hikers Ball. After a full month of hiking, it's time to scrape the mud off your boots and kick up your heels at the Hiker's Ball! This event will feature hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and live music from The Bearded. Party attire is optional, but hiking boots are mandatory!

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition by the Tennessee Artists Association (TAA) entitled “March Brushstrokes: Tennessee Artists Association Juried Show”, featuring original art by over 40 Tennessee artists including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, photography, and mixed media. The exhibition will be displayed at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from March 1-28, 2013. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on March 1 from 5:00-9:00 PM, and awards for the show will be given at 6:00 PM. “This is TAA’s fourth show at the Emporium Center, and we are very excited about the opportunity to present the breadth and quality of Tennessee artists’ works represented by our members,” says Sharon Gillenwater and her co-chair Michael McKee.

“March Brushstrokes” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, from March 1-28, 2013. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on March 1 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, March 2, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Friday, March 29, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition featuring drawings of the human figure by nearly 25 local artists entitled “Body Language”. The juried exhibition includes charcoal, pastels, pencils, inks, watercolors, oil paints, digital imaging on computer tablets, clay, and more and is coordinated by the Knoxville Monday Night Life Drawing Group. "Body Language" will be on display in the Balcony at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from March 1-28, 2013, and an opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on March 1 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine.

“The practice of drawing the human form from personal observation is as valid in the 21st century as it was with the old masters,” says Bobbie Crews, exhibition coordinator. “Artists have always studied life in order to express what is seen and experienced as creative work connecting them to the world.”

Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, March 2, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Friday, March 29, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

On display March 1 - March 26, the HIGH SCHOOL ART STUDENT EXHIBIT will feature some of the best works from this year’s art classes at McMinn County and McMinn Central High Schools. The visual art teachers whose students are represented are Joyce Simpson of McMinn Central, and Sara Gaston and Patricia Compton of McMinn County High School. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, from 5:00 – 6:00 pm at The Arts Center. Students, friends, family and the public are invited to attend.

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.

ART LINKS: 2013 Knox County Elementary Art Show at The District Gallery,
5113 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
March 1st through March 18th, 2013
Gallery: 865-200-4452

Several Knox County Elementary Schools have art on display at The District Gallery March 1st- 18th. The 2012 Youth Art Month state flag winner along with the top finalist designs are on display as well.

By Carrie Fisher and Carol Burnett

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.

The first play to portray African American characters, themes, and conflicts in a natural and realistic manner on Broadway, A Raisin in the Sun received the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play of the Year. Playwright Lorraine Hansberry was the youngest playwright, the fifth woman, and the first African American writer to win the award. Recently widowed, Lena Younger receives a life insurance check and plans to buy a house, freeing her family from the cramped tenement she shares with her two children, daughter-in-law and grandson in Chicago’s south side. Her son, Walter, has other ideas for the money. In the struggle that ensures one dream will be fulfilled, another deferred. Will the family collapse or will they seize this opportunity to create a better life?

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