Calendar of Events

March 20: Author Jay Erskine Leutze will discuss his own book Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail
12:00 noon at Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave.

The public is invited to join the conversation. Bring your favorite sandwich or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Copies of the books are available at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program. For more information, please call Emily Ellis at 215-8723.

What happens when whip-smart 14-year-old Ashley Cook and her Aunt Ollie, both of Dog Town, North Carolina, decide to challenge a mining company that wants to blow up the mountain they live next to? Find out in Knox County Public Library's lunchtime series, Books Sandwiched In, at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street. Author and activist Jay Erskine Leutze will discuss his own book, Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail. Living alone in his wooded mountain retreat, Leutze gets a call from Ashley and her aunt, Ollie Cox, who say a mining company is intent on tearing down Belview Mountain, the towering peak above their house. Ashley and her family suspect the mining company is violating the law, and they want Leutze, a nonpracticing attorney, to stop the destruction of the mountain. Leutze, a devoted naturalist and fisherman, quickly decides to join their cause. So begins the epic quest of the “Dog Town Bunch,” a battle that involves fiery public hearings, clandestine surveillance of the mine operator’s activities, ferocious pressure on public officials, and high-stakes legal brinksmanship in the North Carolina court system. Jay helps assemble a talented group of environmental lawyers to do battle with the well-funded attorneys protecting the mining company’s plan to dynamite Belview Mountain, which happens to sit next to the Appalachian Trail. As the mining company continues to level the forest and erect a gigantic rock-crushing plant on the site, Jay’s group searches frantically for a way to stop an act of environmental desecration that will destroy a fragile wild place and mar the Appalachian Trail forever. Much more than the record of a legal battle, Stand Up That Mountain takes the reader to a remote corner of Appalachia, a region often stereotyped and little understood, even now in the twenty-first century. Leutze’s plaintiff group is eventually joined by several national conservation groups who see that Belview Mountain and the Appalachian Trail must be protected for future generations of Americans.

The series will continue on April 17, when Knoxville Attorney Wanda Sobieski discusses The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family by Madeleine Kunin. On May 15, Assistant Director of the H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy Nissa Dahlin-Brown will discuss The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education by Diane Ravitch.

The public is invited to join the conversation. Bring your favorite sandwich or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Copies of the books are available at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program. 865-215-8723, www.knoxlib.org

Raw Food Trucker Dave Conrardy speaking on March 20th at 6:30 pm. Westside Unitarian Church, 616 Fretz Rd., $15.00. For more info or to preregister email nextbiteraw@gmail.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a professional development seminar for local and regional artists on Wednesday, March 20, from 12:00-1:00 PM at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville. R.L. Gibson, artist, blogger & Editor of Art & Art Deadlines.com, a food-themed art blog, reveals the secrets to increasing one’s chances of success getting into group and solo shows. As a former gallery director, arts administrator, and recipient of more rejection letters than she'd like, Gibson will guide participants through a fun, food-themed 40-minute presentation followed by Q&A. Participants will receive handouts as well as a FREE entry into ArtAndArtDeadlines.com's Featured Artist contest.

In addition to producing her own work and work in collaboration with other artists, Gibson also runs ArtAndArtDeadlines.com, a fun and quirky, food-themed art blog that offers reviews of emerging artists, shows from great galleries, and FREE Art Deadlines and Calls for Entry as an artist’s resource. For more information on R.L. Gibson, visit http://www.rlgibson.com/.

The seminar is free for members of the Arts & Culture Alliance; non-members are welcome to attend for $5. The seminar will take place at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Parking is available at metered spots on the Gay Street viaduct or in the parking lot on Jackson Avenue caddy-corner from the Emporium. Guests are invited to bring a “Brown Bag” lunch. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com/development.html.

Experience the arrival of spring at the Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum. Choose from many unique varieties of dogwoods, all of which are represented on KBGA's Dogwood Nature Trail. Also featuring everyone's favorite flowering shrub, the timeless hydrangea. Several rare varieties grown locally in East Tennessee are available.
Peruse our hardy perennials, many of which have been growing at the gardens for years.
Receive expert advice from local Master Gardeners.

Saturday, April 6, 9:00AM-1:00PM, rain or shine.
2743 Wimpole Avenue, Knoxville, 37914.

Art exhibits featuring students, faculty and visiting artists are regular occurrences at Pellissippi State Community College. So, too, are photography-related events showcasing the works of guest photographers. New this year is an exhibit that focuses solely on the work of Pellissippi State’s Photography students. The March 18-29 event is free and open to the public.

Gallery guests have the chance to explore images captured by Pellissippi State students in their travels near and far, in vivid color and in subtle black-and-white. Students who pursue the art of photography at Pellissippi State do so through the Photography concentration in the Media Technologies program. The degree program’s other three concentrations are Communication Graphics Technology, Video Production Technology and Web Technology.

The exhibit is one of the events that make up Pellissippi State’s 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.

An opening reception, also free and open to the public, takes place March 21, 3-6 p.m. The Student Photography Exhibit and opening reception take place in the gallery of the Bagwell Center for Media and Art at Pellissippi State’s Hardin Valley Campus. Regular exhibit hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. For additional information about the exhibit or “The Arts at Pellissippi State,” call (865) 694-6400 or visit www.pstcc.edu/arts.

Saturday, March 16
10 a.m. HIKE-A-THON: Hike with Appalachian Trail veteran, Jim Myers. Swap trail tales with Mast General Store's Jim Myers who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Open to all ages.
10 a.m. Wagging Walk with Dr. Louise. Grab your favorite four-legged friend and join Ijams' own veterinarian, Dr. Louise Conrad, as she walks her own canine companions. She'll review good doggy etiquette at the park and help owners understand the special safety concerns for dogs in nature. The fee for this program is $5 for members and free for members. Please call 865-577-4717, ext. 110 to register.
10 a.m. Ijams Birding Series: Spring Wing Fling at Marie Myers Park. Come explore part of Knoxville's Urban Wilderness. Marie Myers Park is a wooded, all-natural park that is preserved by the city as a public nature sanctuary, ideal for birding. Join naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales, as he regales tales from the outdoors as you search for the feathered residents of the park. You're sure to enjoy the beautiful scenery, laugh a little, and maybe even learn a bit about birds. The fee for this program is $5 for members and free for members. Please call 865-577-4717, ext. 110 to register. NOTE: Due to limited parking, we will meet at Ijams Nature Center and then carpool to Marie Myers Park.
1 p.m. Living Clean & Green: Save Your Seeds. Get ready to get dirty as you learn techniques for propagating seeds, taking plant cuttings and gathering seeds with Ijams green thumb Peg Beute. This hands-on workshop will be sure to get you ready for spring planting! This program is FREE. Please call 865-577-4717, ext. 110 to register.

Monday, March 18
10 a.m. HIKE-A-THON: Discovery Hike with Samantha. Lace up your hiking boots and discover the wonders of wildflowers, animals, and trees at Ijams Nature Center. Open to all ages.
4 p.m.: Nature Fun Station. Join us each Monday afternoon for a different Nature Fun Station. You never know what kind of outdoor fun we'll be digging up each week. These programs are FREE and no registration is required.

Wednesday, March 20
2 p.m. HIKE-A-THON: Bouldering Adventure Hike with Sarah. Come out and discover the boulder fields at Ross Marble Quarry. Due to rough terrain, this hike is recommended for ages 12 and up ONLY.

Thursday, March 21
10 a.m. HIKE-A-THON: Little Tikes Hike with Sarah. Bring your little ones out to explore, dig, run and play. Each week has a different theme. Recommended for families with children aged 2-5.
2 p.m. HIKE-A-THON: Ijams Explorers Hike with Sabrina. Even if you have been to Ijams before, you never know what you'll find on each new visit; each trip is a new experience! Open to all ages.
4 p.m. Backyard Birds FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatch data help scientists track bird populations. Join us each Thursday in March as we visit the feeders around Ijams Nature Center to identify and count the visiting bird species. At the end, we'll submit our bird counts to help with this research project. This program is FREE and registration is not required.

Friday, March 22
6 p.m. Ijams Family Wildlife Series: Owl Prowl. Want to be part of Ijams night life? You may think you know the trails at Ijams, but they become a whole new experience at night! Peg Beute and our fearless trail guides will lead you on an adventure in which owls hooting, coyotes howling, and strange rustlings in the brush are wonderful possibilities. Ijams owl prowls are a real "hoot!" The fee for this program is $8 for non-members and $5 for members. Please call 865-577-4717, ext. 110 to register.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Call for Visitor Center hours. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

Megan Brooker, flute | Junior recital; assisted by Dustin Lin, piano; works by Mercadante, Clarke, and Borne | Friday, March 15, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Sarah Fitch, mezzo soprano | Graduate recital; assisted by Eileen Downey, piano | Friday, March 15, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Allen Havens, saxophone | Graduate jazz recital; assisted by Geoff Dean, piano; Jonathan Keeney, guitar; Will Yager, bass; Hunter Deacon, drums | Friday, March 15, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 210, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Linda Brimer, soprano | Graduate recital; assisted by Eileen Downey, piano and Valerie Reese, clarinet; vocal works by Schubert, Poulenc, Osma and Laitman | Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra: Concertos and Classics | Concertos and arias by winners of Annual UT Concerto Competition; plus a timeless masterwork, Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3. | Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. | James R. Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Daniel Reeve, tenor trombone | Junior recital | Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Drew Mullican, tenor saxophone | Senior jazz recital; assisted by Julias Blue, piano; Jonathan Keeney, guitar | Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Siobhan Drury, flute | Junior recital; performing works by C.P.E. Bach, Taktakishvili, and Hoover | Monday, March 18, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Luke Bowers, drums | Junior jazz recital; assisted by Jake Smith, guitar and Matt Nelson, bass | Monday, March 18, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 210, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Yunyue Liu, piano | Graduate collaborative piano recital; assisted by vocalist Daniel Webb | Monday, March 18, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Symphonic and Concert Band Concert | Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | James R. Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Bldg. | Jinyoung Son, cello

Graduate classical recital; assisted by Ahyoung Son | Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Geoffrey Dean, piano | Senior jazz recital; assisted by Andrew Piarrot, bass, Hunter Deacon, drums; Joe Jordan, trumpet; Allen Haven, saxophone; Devan Jones, guitar | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 210, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Alex Shrum, trumpet | Junior recital | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Jacob Wiser, guitar/voice | Senior recital; assisted by Golden Klein, cello; Michael Garland, alto saxophone; Michael Seay, drum-set; Sarah Compton, violin; Haniska Princeton, viola; Matt Nelson, double bass | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 210, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

UT Cello Studio Bach Recital | UT students of Dr. Wesley Baldwin performing movements from the Solo Cello Suites by J.S. Bach | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

Simon Hogg, organ | Graduate recital | Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. | James R. Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

William Lavonis, tenor; Kurt Ollmann, baritone; Kevin Class, piano | Faculty and guest artists recital; Our American Family Tree--American Art Songs | Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. | Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.

UT School of Music: Unless otherwise noted, all concerts are FREE and open to the public. At the James R. Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building. Info: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events

The senior adult Young at HeART art group from Marietta Cumberland Presbyterian Church will display their work in March at the Farragut Town Hall. Exhibition runs March 11-22, during regular Town Hall hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public Reception: Sunday, March 24 - 2 to 3 p.m. The art show and reception are free and open to the public.

At Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive (across from the Farragut Branch Post Office). For more information, please contact Lauren Cox, special events and program coordinator, at lauren.cox@townoffarragut.org or 865-966-7057.

As their time at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts draws to a close, artists Heather Ashworth, Jason Burnett, Erin Castellan, Ashley Gilreath and David Katz share a collection of new work developed during their 11-month stay on campus.

The Annual Artists-in-Residence Exhibition opens with a gallery reception on Saturday, March 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Blain Galleries. The exhibition will be on display from March 9 through May 4, and both the reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. This year’s Residents will exhibit works that include functional wood furniture, whimsical pottery, ceramic installations, embroidered paintings, metalsmithing and enameling.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865.436.5860

Every Wednesday. The goal is to integrate education, nature crafts, and physical activity in order to promote healthier living. Come read a book with us, and let's promote healthier living! Free and open to all pre-school aged children and their parents.

Information: whoward5@utk.edu

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914. Hours: Gardens open daily from dawn to dusk. Information: 865-862-8717, www.knoxgarden.org

Come enjoy the beauty of water media. This exhibit is free to the public with a reception to meet the artists on Friday, March 22 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM. On display are some of the finest examples of water media paintings created by award winning artists from the region. The DENSO Gallery and the KWS exhibit will be open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Friday and during public events such as plays and concerts. This is a free event!

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Info: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com