Calendar of Events

Jessica Schatz, the Artist of the Month at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She also remains busy as an interior designer, specializing in staging and new construction, and is also a pet portrait photographer. She also donates her photography services, photographing homeless pets in order to help them find homes. Jessica and husband, Robert, recently became Fairfield Glade residents. They have been coming to Fairfield Glade for 27 years, as she has family in the area. Originally from the Midwest, she once ran a Gallery called “Widow’s Weeds” that featured both Civil War reenactment photography and more contemporary art. . Perhaps the most fascinating part of her artistic history is how she became the only woman at that time to photograph camp life and battle reinactments of the Civil War. “I hate war , but I love history, and the genre of photography of that time”. So when she was asked to record the reenactments by Prince William County, VA (site of two Civil War Battles) Jessica said “yes”.

Jessica first became interested in photography by using her mother’s point-and-shoot camera as a young girl. A friend of hers, who had been badly injured in the war in Viet Nam, gave her her first Nikon,as he was unable to use it. She has been a professional photographer, specializing in hand-painted black-and-white photography, until recently. She also enjoys another near “lost art” painting floor cloths, the precursor to linoleum. Thomas Jefferson had a floor cloth as a rug. Itinerant artists used to go house-to-house, painting the floor cloths. They can also be utilized as placemats, table runners, and as wall hangings (one is hanging in her exhibit).

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

TCDE will present an Evening of Dance at the Carousel Theatre. There will be 5 performances, as follows:
Thurs, May 16, 6:45 PM
Fri, May 17, 6:45 PM & 8:45 PM
Sat, May 18, 6:45 PM & 8:45 PM

Please call the office at 865.584.9636 or email us at tcde@nxs.net for any questions or just stop by the Dancers Studio located at 4216 Sutherland Avenue in Knoxville for tickets. http://dev.tcdedance.org/

The KSO’s 2012-2013 Season will conclude with Wagner’s Overture to Tannhauser, Richman’s Three Pieces for Cello and Orchestra featuring guest artist Inbal Segev on the cello, and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Under the direction of Maestro Lucas Richman.

Performed at the Historic Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information and tickets: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

Meander through the woodland wildflower garden leading to The Turners’ Little River Artist Retreat. There enjoy a late afternoon respite of wine and hors d’oeuvres with friends and together, revel in the creation of nature’s daily masterpiece - the sunset. Be on the River Porch when the golden orb drops; and sky and water meet in on indistinguishable palette of liquid paste. Fill up your senses with the wonder of springtime along the banks of The Little River in East Tennessee. Does life get any better than this?

Host: Milton & Mimi Turner - $50 per person - Limited to 20 people
Information: 865-862-8717, www.knoxgarden.org

Knoxville Chapter of TN Ornithological Society
Meet at Ijam's Nature Center parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and drive to Karen Fletcher's home. For directions to Ijams, see http://ijams.org/find-ijams/directions/. This is the site we first explored October, 2012. The area consists of several farms that connect forming 300 acres including Karen's. The land contains cedar thickets, old growth trees, meadows, creeks, springs, caves, and sinkholes with lots of undergrowth. Come out and see what breeds and migrates through this area.
http://www.outdoorknoxville.com/calendar/event/3613-brian-hann-s-farm-bike-trails

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

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

Marble Springs State Historic Site is proud to present the 3nd Season of ‘Shopping at the Farm’ – the Marble Springs Farmer’s Market for our South Knoxville community. The market will be held Thursdays beginning on May 9 & continuing weekly to November. All vendors will be selling fresh, locally-produced products including sauces, seasonal produce, herbs, perennial plants and more!

Marble Springs: 1220 West Gov. John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920. Information: 865-573-5508, www.marblesprings.net

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