Calendar of Events

In an extraordinary exhibit, Lens and Brush: The Visual Textures of East Tennessee, acclaimed watercolor artist Sandy Brown elucidates illusions of texture in Jim Caldwell’s breathtaking photographs of the environs of eastern Tennessee. Two artists, working in different mediums; one artist finding inspiration through his love of the land and the other artist finding inspiration in her ability to reinterpret texture, structure and light transitions.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Tuesday, May 14th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

522 West Madison Avenue, Athens, TN 37303. Information: 423-745-0329

Tuesday, May 14, 5:30 pm - Science Café: BOOM! The Science of Explosives
(Recommended for Adults) Join Jim Quick, Investigator with the Knoxville Police Department Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team as he discusses the science of explosives. There will be a brief NOVA video presentation followed by an informal Q & A session and refreshments. There is no fee for this program, but pre-registration is required. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 110 to register.

Friday, May 17
7:00 pm - Cocktails from the Garden
(Recommended for Adults) Join us for an evening of "social irrigation" as we mix up tasty fresh-from-the-garden beverages. From margaritas and manhattans to cosmos and coladas, we'll use produce and herbs to put a fun twist on some old favorites. We'll even raffle off a basket with ingredients for your own cocktail garden. The fee for this program is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Pre-payment is required for this program in order to guarantee materials. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 130 for payment and registration.

Saturday, May 18
9:00 am - 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 non-members and free for members. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 110 to register.
10:00 am - Ijams Birding Series: Chat-About
(Ages 12 and up) Explore part of Knoxville's Urban Wilderness. Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area is state land with lots of open meadows ideal for birding... perfect habitat for yellow-breasted chats. 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 even learn a bit about birds. The fee for this program is $5 for non-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 the South Knoxville location.
10:00 am - TN Naturalist Program: Ferns, Fungi, & More
(Ages 16 and up) This program is part of the Tennessee Naturalist Program, an ongoing series that introduces participants to the wonder of the state's amazing natural resources. This session will focus on ferns, fungi, and flowers in an effort to understand more about the species that cover our forest floors. This program is open to registered participants only. For more information about the Tennessee Naturalist Program, visit our website.
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Ijams @ Children's Festival of Reading
(All Ages) On May 18, World's Fair Park will come alive with world-class children's book authors and illustrators, storytellers, musicians, and all manner of crazy fun! It's the kickoff celebration to a summer of reading. Share the news with the world! Join Ijams Nature Center staff as we host a hands-on nature booth as part of the day's festivities! This event is held at World's Fair Park; for more information, visit the City of Knoxville Events website.
1:00 pm - Magical Fairy Gardens
(All Ages) Just a touch of inspiration, a cute container, some plants and a few accessories are all it takes to get the magic of a fairy garden growing. Of course, you'll also want to add whimsy and merriment as well. Fairy gardens are a great way to get kids interested in gardening, and this workshop is a terrific family activity. At the end, you'll leave with your own piece of nature magic to keep in your home. Fairies typically take up residence within just a few days, so be sure to keep your eye out for magical visitors! The fee for this program is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Pre-payment is required for this program in order to guarantee materials. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 130 to register.
6:00 pm - Family Campout
Join River Sports Outfitters as they host a family campout at Ijams Nature Center. Families will have the opportunity to camp on the lawn, as well as participate in fun outdoor activities such as climbing walls, night hikes, movies and more! Spend some time under the stars and get back to nature with these fun family campouts. Pre-registration is required NO LATER than Thursday, May 16 to reserve your spot. Reservations can be made by calling River Sports Outfitters at (865) 523-0066.

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

The pages of Backpacker Magazine come to life when the Get Out More Team visits the Mast General Store in Downtown Knoxville. This interactive mobile media and education outreach program is designed to inspire readers and encourage participation in active outdoor pursuits. The 2013 Get Out More Tour is celebrating Backpacker Magazine’s 40th anniversary.

Randy and Sheri Propster, the Get Out More Tour ambassadors, provide tips and techniques to help individuals at any level better enjoy the outdoors. From trip planning to choosing the right outdoor gear and apparel to staying safe while on the trail, information is shared from personal experience. The Team is set to arrive at the Mast Store at 4 p.m. to answer questions with the 75-minute seminar beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s sponsors feature many familiar brands in the outdoor arena including Sawyer, PrimaLoft, Vasque, Clif, and Deuter among many others. “We'll be offering information and inspiration for folks planning their First Night Out or their Next Night Out. And to add to the excitement and to further drive the desire to get out and apply their new knowledge, we’ll be giving away tons of free gear,” shares Randy Propster.

This stop is one of over 60 locations across the United States to host this free seminar providing skill, gear and trip advice to encourage everyone to make time to enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities in their own areas. Randy and Sheri’s explorations will allow them to share their personal experiences from each adventure aimed at travelling light, enhancing weekend getaways, and going on long excursions as they guide audiences from the first step in the planning process to the final step on trail.

The team will be in the store beginning at 4 p.m. to answer your questions and their formal presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. If you miss this opportunity, the Backpacker Magazine Get Out More Tour will also be stopping at Mast Stores in Greenville (May 22) and Columbia (May 23).

402 S Gay St Knoxville, TN 37902. Info: (865) 546-1336

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is famous as an international destination for all manner of aspiring artists and craftspersons—students seeking exposure, guidance, or simply practice at media ranging from jewelry-making to glass-fusing. The public tends to be less aware that Arrowmont’s historic campus is also a powerful attraction for a large, diverse and enormously talented family of instructors. For professional artists, instruction at Arrowmont offers an opportunity to ply their livelihood, certainly. But they also have the chance to demonstrate, discuss and refine their techniques in modern studios where lively conversation and exchange of knowledge enrich the entire group. For teaching academics, Arrowmont provides incentive to winnow away at a semester’s worth of teaching and determine what is essential and possible for a weeklong workshop. Both students and instructors say it’s common to cover more than a semester’s worth of collegiate art education during the span of one Arrowmont workshop.

Stefanie Gerber Darr joined Arrowmont as Gallery Director in April, following work at prestigious institutions in Denver and Nashville. “Every summer Arrowmont invites over one hundred artist instructors to share their talents and teach classes to students from all over the country,” says Darr. “They are conduits of creativity that help make Arrowmont an educational, expressive, and inspiring force in the world of arts and crafts. In addition to showcasing their abilities through the classes offered, the annual instructor exhibition presents the artist instructors’ work to the students as well as the greater community and visitors to the region. Representing diverse styles and media, the exhibition complements the educational experience of the individuals attending class sessions while also signifying the trajectory of contemporary craft.”

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

May 10, 6:00-8:00 PM: Opening Reception for Three Femmes Exhibition
Elaine Barnes, Annamaria Gundlach, and Lauren Karnitz will present their works through the end of May at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville. The exhibition is titled “Femmes and Forms”.

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

Our popular summer series featuring the Marble City 5! These free concerts take place on the outdoor stage at Market Square Mall every Tuesday evening, weather permitting.

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

The senior adult Young at HeART art group from Marietta Cumberland Presbyterian Church will display their work in May at the Farragut Town Hall. A public reception will be held on Sunday, May 19.

View the exhibition during regular Town Hall hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public Reception: Sunday, May 19 - 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 966-7057.

May’s themed art exhibit is titled “Stormy Weather”. Visit us to view how members of the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade interpret this theme.

Once a month, the PCAC gallery exhibit changes, so monthly visits are advantageous for viewing quality artwork, including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastels, colored pencil, photography, mixed media, and 3-D work, including pottery, sculpture, and jewelry. The gallery is also a perfect place to shop for one-of-a-kind decorations or gifts at reasonable prices. PCAC visitors not only enjoy the latest gallery exhibit, they also learn about the many art classes and day trips offered by the Art Guild. In addition, visitors often get to see a class in progress or watch the open painting, beading, or figure drawing sessions taking place in the art studio.

Art Guild at Fairfield Glade at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive, Fairfield Glade, TN 38558. Hours: M-F 9AM-4PM; Saturday-Sunday 1-4PM. Information: 931-707-7249; www.artguildfairfieldglade.net

Opening First Friday, May 3, 2 Many Pixels photo gallery is proud to present a collection of photographs by young artist Jake Wheeler. The work (more than 40 large format images) depicts urban decay and the distress of individuals coping with adversity. The images are mounted on reclaimed plywood, emphasizing a sense of deterioration. The photographs are all for sale, gallery archival prints, signed and numbered by the artists.

Hope to see you all for the opening on Friday night, May 3rd., 6pm to 9:30pm!

130 West Jackson avenue, suite 201, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: M-F, 10AM-5PM and after hours or weekends by appointment or chance: 917-532-4913 or patrice@2manypixelsphoto.com

The Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture is pleased to announce our Annual BFA Honors Exhibition. Graduating seniors in the School of Art and the College of Architecture and Design are honored each year when selected by committee as the top students among their peers. This exhibition will feature work from students in ceramics, painting and drawing, design, architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. There will be a First Friday opening reception on May 3 from 3-5pm in the Ewing Gallery. Come out to see some fine examples of student work from our undergraduate programs before heading downtown for evening First Friday events.

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 Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition featuring needlepoint pillows by Coral Grace Turner and monoprint/chine collés by Marilyn Avery Turner.

“Recent Works by Coral Grace Turner & Marilyn Avery Turner” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, from May 3-31, 2013. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on May 3 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, May 4, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, May 27, 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 contemporary Polish printmaking and media art at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from May 3-31, 2013. Artists in the exhibition include professors, tutors and students with the Faculty of Graphic Arts and Media Art from the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw, Poland. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on May 3 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Students from the University of Tennessee Print Club will demonstrate screenprinting and relief printing during the May 3 reception.

“The Wroclaw Faculty of Graphic Arts and Media Art Exhibition” will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, from May 3-31, 2013. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturday, May 4, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, May 27, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.