Calendar of Events

­­What do you get when you combine the glorious sounds of gospel and the magnificence of opera? Multiple standing ovations by a large crowd who have shouted “Hallelujah” at the four previous performances of Knoxville Opera Goes to Church… A Celebration of Talent! The 5th annual concert, sponsored by Home Federal Bank, will feature the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir and local soloists together with Knoxville Opera artists in a unique presentation of gospel, spirituals, opera and Broadway highlights. The free-admission concert, one of Knoxville Opera’s yearly 75 education/outreach activities, will take place at New Covenant Baptist Church, 10319 Starkey Lane, Knoxville, TN 37932.

Jeanie Turner Melton, along with Knoxville Opera Maestro Brian Salesky, will conduct the 40-voice Gospel Choir. “We are the only opera company in the world that has its own Gospel Choir and we are proud to present our eclectic repertoire featuring outstanding local and visiting guest artists. Our performances are an inspiration to both the performers and our very enthusiastic audience. We always make sure to give them something to cheer about!” said Ms. Melton. The outstanding lineup of soloists includes Knoxville Opera guest artists Talise Trevigne, Kevin Thompson, Evan Bowers, Markus Beam, and Leah Serr, along with Evelyn Jack and Calvin Daniels. “We are privileged to contribute to our community with this unique event that unites patrons and fans who appreciate diverse musical cultures” said Salesky, “and we are most grateful for the support of Home Federal Bank which makes this concert possible.”

The event’s program will include Anthem of Praise, Ain’t got time to die, Center of my joy, He’s got the whole world in his hands, I know the Lord will make a way, Every praise is to our God, and excerpts from Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, and Bellini’s Norma. Admission is free. Knoxville Opera: 865-524-0795, www.knoxvilleopera.com

School of Music faculty solos and ensembles

At the Sandra Powell Recital Hall, Natalie Haslam Music Center, 1741 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus. Unless otherwise noted, concerts are FREE and open to the public. *For individual or small group performances, please check the web site or call the day of the event for updates or cancellations: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events

A preview of the annual art auction and dinner by the Knoxville Museum of Art (on October 11).
At the Convention Center - $40 per person. RSVP by September 25.
Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

On the first Sunday of each month, the American Museum of Science and Energy will open its doors to Knox County students for $0.01*. Tour AMSE's permanent exhibit galleries; The Story of Oak Ridge, Exploration Station, The World of the Atom,Y-12 and National Defense, Earth Energy Resources, and The Flattop, explore its temporary exhibits, experience the hair raising demonstration Atoms & Atom Smashers, and more. *All children ages 5-15 must be accompanied by a paying adult (age 18 and older) in a ratio not to exceed three children per one adult. Proof of Knox County residency (driver's license) will be required for each adult accompanying children ages 5-15. Contact: Glenda Bingham, 865-576-3200. 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 | www.amse.org

Our next reading is upon us. We'll read Macbeth in the Lawson McGee Library downtown. Lee Wittenberg has done the cutting and will be directing the reading. A few parts will be cast ahead of time and a number of parts will be left open to be grabbed up the day of the reading. If you have a string interest and want to get signed up ahead of time for a role please get in touch with us by phone. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! We welcome all voices, all dialects. We read the plays for the joy of reading them, to hear and discover more about the plays and to further help people discover and appreciate these marvelous plays. We'd love you to be part of it. You may come and grab a script and take part in the reading or you can come and participate as an audience member. Jennifer Horn will provide a brief reference for the play - what we call Shakesology! And we can talk about our thoughts about the play afterwards. It's free and it's fun!

Tennessee Stage Company: 865-546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com

Recent works by Dennis Sabo Photography will be on display at the Tomato Head Restaurant-Market Square in downtown Knoxville from October 5 - November 1 and at the Tomato Head-Bearden location from November 3-December 7. His art exhibit entitled "Leafing Impressions" is an impressionistic and expressionistic viewpoint of the autumn grandeur that Mother Nature has provided to us.

Sabo says, "I challenge myself to capture common subjects that are often overlooked and then refine the photograph into an interpretive collage of color, motion, and textures. With a global community very much focused on environmental impact and fragile ecosystems, my artwork captures natural images and color with a perspective people easily miss." Dennis Sabo is an internationally award winning photographer specializing in contemporary fine art abstract, and scenic photography. His fine art prints interweave his creative compositional expressions and vivid colors into nature’s greater scheme of things. Dennis has refined the photograph into an interpretive collage of colors, and texture. His artwork and photography has appeared in a variety of books and magazines that include Canon, NOVA, PBS, Living Southern Style, Hilton Hotels, NBC, Ocean Conservancy, Shedd Aquarium-Chicago, and Blue Planet. His fine art has been included in gallery exhibitions at the Blowing Rocks Preserve-Hobe Sound, FL., Arts in the Airport Spring 2011/13 Exhibition-Knoxville, TN, the National Juried 2012/13 Exhibition-Knoxville, TN, Emporium Gallery- Knoxville, TN, Red Line Gallery-Farragut, TN, the Dogwood Regional Fine Art 2012 Exhibition-Knoxville, TN, Bliss Home Designs 2013, and ongoing at "The Art Market Gallery", Knoxville, Tennessee. www.dsabophoto.com

Tomato Head - 12 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902 | (865) 637-4067
Tomato Head - Bearden - 7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 172 | 865-584-1072

$4 admission at the door. Presented by Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers. Wood carving at its best with competition from beginners through professionals from all over the country. Vendors offer handmade items for sale. Visit www.woodcarvers.com/festival or email smithcafe@bellsouth.net

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

In celebration of downtown Knoxville’s 10th anniversary of the First Friday Art Walks, the Art Market Gallery will present two shows for October in the front part of the gallery: the regular monthly featured artists’ exhibit, and a display of works by five recently juried-in members. An opening reception for both shows will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, with live music by The Tennessee Valley Accidentals, and complimentary refreshments. Sponsor for this event is Christopoulos & Kennedy General Contractors.

October Featured Artists are painter Brenda Mills and copper jeweler Kathy Bradley, both of Knoxville.

The five gallery members, juried in last year, will show their work in a variety of disciplines. They are: watercolorist Linda Johnson of Loudon, intarsia artist Kory Kiker of Greensboro, NC, jeweler Joann Marie of Knoxville, photographer Dennis Sabo of Loudon and photographic collage artist, Ron Sullivan of Oak Ridge.

Art Market Gallery, at 422 S. Gay St., is a few doors away from Mast General Store and next to Downtown Grill & Brewery. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday. The gallery is wheelchair accessible. Parking in the abutting garage, nearby city owned garages and on the street is free after 6 p.m.and on weekends. For more information, call 865-525-5265, or visit artmarketgallery.net, orfacebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery.

Join Bliss and Bliss Home for a October First Friday Double Feature!
To honor 10 Years of First Fridays, Bliss and Bliss Home will both feature artists for October's First Friday. Bliss and Bliss Home will host an opening reception at 24 & 29 Market Square from 6pm to 9pm on October 4, 2013. Complimentary Steamboat Sandwiches and drinks will be provided.

At Bliss Home: North Carolina artist, Kent Youngstrom, a self-taught painter with a background in interior and graphic design.

At Bliss: Neon Indian Summer brought to you by Taylor Wilburn and Juli Jordan of the award-winning Bliss Design Team. Neon Indian Summer consists of handmade dream-catchers which Taylor and Juli crafted from recycled fabric and yarn.

Bliss & Bliss Home 29 & 24 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902
October 4th, 2013 through the end of the month.
Opening Reception: Friday October 4th, 2013 6pm to 9pm
Admission: Free

It is often said that what was once old is new again, and two talented, long-time friends set out to prove this true in their Rock-n-Roll inspired First Friday art show. Local artists Rhonda Moody and Jessica Gregory each have collected many accolades and much praise for their individual achievements in Knoxville’s art world, but combining their love of music, particularly, Rock-n-Roll that they may just have a hit on their hands with their Refurbished Rock-n-Roll Art Show. Incorporating items that lead to the popularity of Rock-n-Roll into their art show, Rhonda and Jessica, prove that things that were once old CAN BE new again! Make plans to attend this art show to see the creative ways these two ladies have shaked, rattled, and rolled previous musical items into modern day art pieces.

First Friday Specials: 4p - 6p, enjoy 1/2 price glasses of Bota Box wine and Happy Hour appetizers
If you can't make it early, then plan to stop in for the after party, 10p - 1a, 1/2 price glasses of wine and all late night apps $6. Happy First Friday!

Central Flats & Taps, 1204 N Central St Knoxville, TN 37917, (865) 247-0392

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of recent, narrative works by Knoxville artist Richardson Turner. The exhibition includes paintings, lithographs, and sculptures and will be displayed in the Balcony of the Emporium Center from October 4-26, 2013. A public reception will take place on Friday, October 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM with chocolate fondue provided by the Melting Pot of Knoxville. The First Friday reception also features music by The Porch Pickers from 6:00-8:00 PM and a Jazz Jam Session hosted by Vance Thompson and Friends in the Black Box Theatre from 7:00-9:00 PM.

Recent Works by Richardson Turner is on display October 4-26, 2013 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit our Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of oil paintings by Clarksville artist Terri Jordan on display October 4-26, 2013 in the Emporium. The suite of paintings, entitled “Romantic Notions”, brings together Jordan’s signature women with decorative floral backdrops. Her modern-day girls are dramatically paired with some of the most deadly flowers and plants found in everyday life, which adds a sense of vulnerability to their otherwise strong presence. The month of October would have been the 14th birthday of Jordan’s niece, who was killed in June of 2012. Jordan will donate a percentage of sales from this exhibition to the purchase of holiday gifts for patients of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in celebration of her niece’s memory.

“Romantic Notions” by Terri Jordan will be displayed from October 4-26, 2013 on the North Wall of the Balcony at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. A public reception will take place on Friday, October 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM with chocolate fondue provided by the Melting Pot of Knoxville. The First Friday reception also features music by The Porch Pickers from 6:00-8:00 PM and a Jazz Jam Session hosted by Vance Thompson and Friends in the Black Box Theatre from 7:00-9:00 PM. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit our Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.