Calendar of Events

RECEPTION Friday, Nov. 1, 5-9PM
LECTURE Friday, November 1, 12:15PM - 1:15PM | room 111 of Art + Architecture Bldg.

AAA 75TH ANNIVERSARY PRINT PORTFOLIO
Daniel G. Hill, Assistant Professor of Studio Methods, School of Art, Media, and Technology at Parsons in New York, will be giving a lecture on digital printmaking in conjunction with the American Abstract Artists 75th Anniversary Print Portfolio on display at the UT Downtown Gallery. Mr. Hill is was also the project director for this portfolio. The 75th anniversary portfolio is the first digitally printed portfolio released by the AAA.

The UT Downtown Gallery is please to present the 75th Anniversary American Abstract Artists Print Portfolio, a exhibition consisting of 48 archival digital prints. AAA published its first portfolio in 1937. It consisted of 30 lithographs and, in lieu of a catalog, accompanied the group's first exhibition, which was held at the Squibb Gallery in New York City. In addition to that first portfolio and this 75th Anniversary portfolio, only two others have been published—one commemorating the organization's 50th anniversary, and one for the 60th. All prints are 9.75" x 12.75"

The School of Art at the University of Tennessee takes great pride in the excellence of its printmaking program, so we are excited to host this portfolio, which breaks new ground with its technical production. Printed digitally instead of using a more time-honored method of printmaking, the 75th Anniversary Portfolio seeks to move not only its members, but also printmaking and contemporary art forward into this era of rapid technological change.

This is the first digitally produced portfolio published by American Abstract Artists. All past portfolios–1937, 1987, 1997–were produced using various forms of lithography and means of transferring image to plate. Unlike traditional printmaking, the digital inkjet process does not involve a physical matrix from which ink is transferred to paper. This marks both a technical and a conceptual shift in printmaking. Our choice of the medium situates this portfolio squarely in the current century and is an indication of the group's forward momentum.

The artists were asked to provide a digital file meeting predetermined specifications, yet no restrictions were placed on how the file could be created. The digital process enabled a wide variety of approaches that include abstract and documentary photography, scanning of flat-work made expressly for the project, digital compositing and image manipulation, as well as the use of vector-based software and hand-coded algorithms. The results are as varied as the artists' individual sensibilities.

Please join us for this opening reception. All events are free and open to the public. UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Wednesday-Friday: 11AM - 6PM; Saturday: 10AM - 3PM. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown

“The Robber Bridegroom” is a rousing, bawdy Southern fairy tale set in 18th-century Mississippi. The play tells the story of Rosamund, the only daughter of the richest planter in the county, and her courting by rascally robber Jamie Lockhart. Affairs go awry by way of an unconventional case of double-mistaken identity, compounded by the machinations of an evil stepmother intent on Rosamund’s demise, a pea-brained henchman and a hostile talking head in a trunk. The play includes one of the first genuine bluegrass scores ever heard in a Broadway musical, giving this unusual tale a distinctive sound reminiscent of the Natchez Trace Band. “The Robber Bridegroom” book and lyrics are by Alfred Uhry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Driving Miss Daisy.” The story is based on a 1942 novella of the same name by Eudora Welty.

Pellissippi State presents “The Royal Bridegroom” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 1-2 and 8-9. Additional performances are set for 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 3 and 10. For more information, call (865) 694-6400.

Flying Anvil Theatre is betting that Knoxville theatre audiences are ready for something a little... different. Their next production is VENUS IN FUR by David Ives, a play the New York Times called "good, kinky fun." Flying Anvil Theatre's Executive Producer Staci Swedeen says the play is "smart, sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, but also sneaks in some serious ideas about sex, power and gender roles." The show was an off-Broadway sensation in 2010 before moving to Broadway the following year and picking up a Tony nomination for “Best Play.”

VENUS IN FUR opens with a cynical playwright lamenting the lack of talent in the actresses he has auditioned for his new play based on an erotic novel. Ditzy actress Vanda arrives two hours late. Sparks and punch lines fly, but underneath the humor something wicked and dangerous bubbles to surface. It builds to a punch-in-the-gut ending you'll never see coming.
"This play is definitely an adult comic-thriller," says Swedeen, a playwright herself. "The content and language is for mature audiences. But there's also a lot of comedy to be mined in the issue of dominance and submission between the sexes. Sort of 50 Shades of Grey with laughs." Local actors Carolyn Corley and J.D. Sizemore will portray Vanda and the playwright, Thomas. Flying Anvil Theatre Artistic Director Jayne Morgan will direct VENUS IN FUR.

This production marks the first time Flying Anvil Theatre will produce a show in a downtown space currently being renovated by Hatcher Hill at 525 N. Gay Street. The City of Knoxville is giving a facelift to the entire block, with new lighting, curb cuts and trees to match the rest of Gay Street.

VENUS IN FUR will open with a 'pay-what-you-want' preview on October 30, a $20 preview on Halloween ($15 if you come in costume!) and a $35 Gala opening on Friday, November 1st. Other performances are November 2 and 3, November 7-10 and 14-17. Evening shows are at 7:30 PM, Sunday matinee at 2:00. Admission for these performances is $25. Reserve and purchase tickets through KnoxTIX at www.knoxtix.com or by calling 865-523-7521. Tickets are also available at the door.

Flying Anvil Theatre's mission is to present provocative theatre of the highest professional quality by staging plays that entertain, inspire, and engage the audience. For more information go to www.flyinganviltheatre.com

Opening reception Mon, Oct 28, 6:30-7:30 PM
At the Art & Architecture Building, Gallery 103
http://www.brianjobe.com

1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: brian.r.jobe@gmail.com

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is pleased to present Surface: Selections from Arrowmont's Permanent Collection. The exhibition features 62 works by 61 artists of national reputation, and presents an opportunity to see many spectacular art and craft objects rarely on display to the public. The human need for expressing one's self through the making of images and symbols is evident throughout time and has manifested itself in an array of different forms and a plethora of artistic media. Whether applying paint to canvas, ink to paper, thread to fiber, texture to metal or glaze to clay, the adding, resisting, subtracting or a combination of those approaches to a material is the focus of this exhibition. Inspired by three surface forums (clay, fiber, and metals) taking place at Arrowmont in January 2014, these works from our permanent collection represent the different ways artists handle the surface of their chosen medium and express themselves through the objects they create. All art communicates and it all begins with a mark on a surface.

"We chose these particular pieces because of their exploration and manipulation of extremely varied surfaces, and their diversity of materials and content,” says Stefanie Gerber Darr, Arrowmont Gallery Manager. “Curating, conserving and exhibiting Arrowmont’s fantastic—and constantly growing—permanent collection is one of the truly great things the school provides for this region. We are always pleased by these opportunities to share it, and to invite our neighbors and visitors to be enriched by it here with us.”

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

by Anthony Clarvoe
Eddie Fisker is the dubious mastermind of the “gizmo” – an all-in-one hand held device that revolutionizes communication. Sound familiar? Anthony Clarvoe’s CTRL+ALT+DELETE eavesdrops on the hot-wired world of high-pressure scheming and the manipulation that accompanies a breakthrough in technology. The production runs October 24 – November 10, 2013 in the Clarence Brown’s Lab Theatre. Very popular at the Box Office, several performances have already sold out. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $12 for non-UT students and $5 for UT students with ID.
“The play is a satire of the corporate market place. Pitting idealism against the harsh realities of the business world creates a suspenseful and "telling tale" about youthful dreams, ambition, disillusion, and greed in the often cutthroat corporate environment. What ultimately happens in the play offers a glimmer of hope that there is real humanity within the seemingly unforgiving competitive world of big business,” said Director Terry Silver-Alford.

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

The East Tennessee Society of the Archaeological Institute of America and the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will begin their annual lecture series on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The first lecture will feature UT professors Erin Darby and Robert Darby, who will talk about their recent archaeological excavations at 'Ayn Gharandal, Jordan.
Robert Darby, a lecturer in art history in the UT School of Art, and Erin Darby, an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies, direct the 'Ayn Gharandal archaeological project that has uncovered rare new details about an ancient Roman fort in southern Jordan.

The 7:30 to 9 p.m. event will be in the McClung Museum's auditorium.

The lecture series invites scholars from around the world to present the latest archaeological discoveries. It is free and open to the public.

Upcoming lectures this fall include the following:
Nov. 7: "Cultural Interaction and Reaction in the Courtly Art of the Hellenistic World" by Kristen Seaman, Kennesaw State University, Ga.
Nov. 19: "The Neolithic Alepotrypa Cave: Past Findings and Present Research" by Anastasia Papathanasiou, Greek Archaeological Service

The McClung Museum is located at 1327 Circle Park Drive. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free parking is available on Circle Park Drive in front of the museum.

For more information about the McClung Museum and its collections and exhibits, visit http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu.

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

A new exhibition of colorful landscapes in watercolor and acrylic, nature images, and abstract Rain Paintings. Many images are available as notecards.
Opening Reception Friday November 1, 5:30 to 8:00.

Knoxville Arts & Fine Crafts Center, 1127 Broadway Suite B, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-523-1401, www.cityofknoxville.org/recreation/arts

Blount Mansion will host an exhibit opening from 5:30-7:30pm entitled Furniture on the Frontier, a showing of the Blount Mansion’s finest collection pieces on display at the Blount Mansion Visitors Center. Admission is free with light appetizers and a special gift for our members. Blount Mansion is currently closed to the public for a historic restoration and preservation project; the Visitors Center remains open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30-5 with the exception of Game Days in Volunteer country. This exhibit, Furniture on the Frontier, will be on display for the duration of the closure and is always free to the public, with a suggested donation! Come and see some of William Blount’s most valuable possessions and a wonderful example of the splendor of the Blount’s during the founding of Knoxville. Blount Mansion is the home of William Blount, Tennessee’s only signer of the United States Constitution, as well as where the Tennessee State Constitution was drafted and signed. It will be an opportunity for all Knoxville citizens to learn about their vital historical importance in the founding of our government. Blount Mansion is Knoxville's only National Historic Landmark given by the National Park Service and is the oldest house museum in Knox County. It is owned and operated by the Blount Mansion Association, Inc., a nonprofit, educational organization.

Blount Mansion, 200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-2375, www.blountmansion.org

Wild Thyme Players (WTP) will begin offering general interest, drop-in acting and theatre classes every Sunday at the Broadway Academy of Performing Arts, 706 N Broadway. These classes will be open to all interested individuals aged 16 and up, regardless of experience in performance. Each class will have a different focus week to week, ranging anywhere from character development and improv to puppetry and stage combat. See wildthymeplayers.org for the latest schedule of classes. Students are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes, as some classes will include movement exercises. The classes will be taught by established theatre artists from around the Knoxville metro area. The fee is $10 per class ($8 for students/seniors/military with ID). For more information call 325-9877 or email director@wildthymeplayers.org.

The mission of ACT-UP! is two-fold:
To reach out to our area's latent talent – individuals seeking to "break in" to Knoxville's diverse theatre community; and to provide a forum for established local artists to share wisdom, develop teaching skills and promote their work.

September/October schedule:
September 15 – Acting Warmups/Getting into Character with Jennifer Bolt (of Tennessee Stage Company)
September 22 – Motivation & Movement with Margy Ragsdale (of Theatre Knoxville Downtown)
September 29 – Puppet Theatre with Bran Rogers (of Theatre Obsolete)
October 6 – Improvisation with Paul Simmons (of Einstein Simplified)
October 13 – Storytelling with Jennifer Alldredge (of Tiger Lily Theatre)
October 19-20 & 27 – SPECIAL SEMINAR & WORKSHOP: Pop-Up Theatre with Nashville Stagecraft

Contact: Carolyn Corley, director@wildthymeplayers.org, www.wildthymeplayers.org, 865-325-9877

"The Science Maze" where visitors get lost in science facts as they discover interesting tidbits of science fields from astronomy to zoology. AMSE Second Level.

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM; Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org