Calendar of Events

BG is excited to present Nutcracker Act II & What Child Is This? for our Christmas production this year. We will perform at the Clayton Performing Arts Center at the Pellissippi State Technical Community College on Hardin Valley Drive.

Dancers of all company levels will be performing in this production. Nutcracker Act II is a family favorite you won't want to miss. What Child Is This? is a unique telling of the Christmas story using dance and narration, and being performed to the music of Selah.

Tickets are $10/adults, $8/seniors & students. Group rates available.

Tickets will be available during the week of November 18 at the Tennessee Conservatory of Fine Arts. Call 865-689-8525 or e-mail us tcfa@comcast.net.

December 21 - The Palace Film Club Presents: White Christmas
Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney. A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
Tickets $5.00 Children 9 and Under Free with Adult
Showtime 7PM
The Palace Theater is conveniently located in Downtown Maryville just 17 miles south of Knoxville, TN. South from Knoxville: Travel 129 South past the airport. Take the right fork and turn left at the first light. Pass 4 or 5 lights and Take the first right onto Broadway. The Palace is will be on the right.

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture will host a free Family Fun Day on Saturday, December 21 from 1:30-4:30 pm. The activities will center on Celebrating Winter Holidays throughout the world.

The program will take place in the museum’s decorative arts gallery, called The Decorative Experience, which features works of arts from many peoples and places around the world. Part of the program will be a show-and-tell using objects from the museum’s collections about winter and winter holidays and celebrations. Children can also enjoy making a winter holiday themed craft to take home.

All materials will be provided. The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not necessary.

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM; Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

Join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and special guests: Knoxville Choral Society and Go! Contemporary Danceworks for a Celtic Holiday! These special guests and more will lead you in your favorite songs and carols, plus Celtic fiddling and step dancing. All concerts will take place at the Civic Auditorium.

Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 21 at 3:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Special Guests include: Knoxville Choral Society - A group of extremely talented musicians, the Knoxville Choral Society has been committed to high quality performances as well as promoting the arts in Knoxville for over the last 50 years. An auditioned group, the Choral Society currently has over 170 singers coming from various backgrounds and professions. In recent years, the group has sung on a European tour in addition to a performance in Carnegie Hall in New York City. Since its inception in 1951, the Knoxville Choral Society has brought some of the best choral music to audiences around the world and hopes to continue to make an impact on the arts here in Knoxville.

GO! Contemporary Dance Works - The 43 member GO! Contemporary Dance Works is far more than your typical group of dancers. Consisting of students at Studio Arts for Dancers, GO! combines dance and athletics to provide high energy and highly entertaining performances. The group is also a committed member of the Knoxville arts community, spreading enthusiasm for contemporary dance throughout East Tennessee. GO! is known for blending contemporary ballet and modern dance with daring athleticism that appeals to audiences far beyond the devoted dancegoer.

Knoxville Pipes and Drums - Since 1991, the Knoxville Pipes and Drums have been working to spread knowledge of Scottish heritage throughout East Tennessee and beyond. Growing from its initial three members, the KPD now fields two bands that compete in the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association competitions. Not content to just perform all around the East Tennessee region, the Knoxville Pipes and Drums also provides free piping and drumming lessons to anyone who is interested.

Four Leaf Peat Irish fiddle band - Four Leaf Peat (FLP) was born out of the Irish traditional music scene in Knoxville, Tennessee and is dedicated to honoring and preserving the spirit of Irish music. While grounded in tradition and influenced by Ireland's traditional pipers, fiddlers and sigers, FLP also bows a hat to the more recent innovators of Irish music such as The Bothy Band, Planxty, Dervish and Lunasa. After playing together at the local session for some time, this group came together to play a benefit concert in 2004 to save the historic Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville and has been going strong ever since!

Ticket prices range from $14.00 - $45.00. Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

Circle Modern Dance is proud to present its 23rd annual production of "Modern Dance Primitive Light" where you can experience exciting new contemporary dance works accompanied by live music set the backdrop of the gorgeous stained glass windows of the Historic Laurel Theater. This year will feature choreography from Danah Bella of danahabella DanceWorks, and a special appearance by Go! Contemporary Dance Works as well as offerings from Circle Core Members and artists from the local community.

Performance times: December 19, 8:00 PM
December 20, 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM
December 21, 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM

Tickets, if available, will be sold at the door for $15 (General admission) and $10 (Student/Seniors/Military).

Our company members have had the incredible opportunity to work with renowned guest artist, Danah Bella, a professor of dance at Radford University whose work has been presented throughout the United States. "Poco a pop se anda lejos" is somber, raw, and strangely alluring, drawing us in with its subtle textures and expressive athleticism. Set to music of Maurice Ravel, this piece showcases the raw talent of a strong cast of dancers.

Circle is happy to welcome back Angela Hill who originally joined the company in 1995 under the founding directors and has just returned from nearly 7 years in Sydney, Australia. Her piece "Overview Effect" is a joyful and yet introspective reflection on a long journey.

Several Circle Core Members will be presenting pieces including Sarah Whitaker and former Go! dancers, Laura Burgamy and Darby O'Connor. MDPL 2013 Director Amanda Merriss will show a new work to an original composition by local songwriter Greg Horne. Rounding out the offerings for this year include artists from the community including Wendy Caldwell, newcomer, Lauren Wilson Phillis and engineer/choreographer, Jun Liu who will again bring his signature flavor of traditional Chinese and modern dance fusion.

As always, MDPL is a cozy and delightful event that has something for everyone including the incredible house band made up of some of Knoxville’s finest musicians including Mike Murphy, Preston Davis and Core Member/Musical Director Nate Barrett.

MDPL is an all ages show and is a participant in the Penny 4 Arts program. Circle Modern Dance would like to thank the Tennessee Arts Commission and WUOT for their financial support. Founded in 1990 as a platform for area choreographers to showcase their work, Circle Modern Dance believes that "everyone is a dancer, and everybody has the right to dance".

At the Historic Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-309-5309, http://www.circlemoderndance.com/. Tickets: 865-523-7521 or www.KnoxTIX.com

This Holiday Season, let The District Gallery help wrap up your holiday shopping in a special way. Our staff is ready to assist with everything from great gift ideas, customized wish lists, and spectacular gift wrapping... And don't forget our distinctive custom framing and gift certificates!
Featured artist: Dawn Whitelaw.
Be sure to ask about our Holiday Wish List!
Holiday Hours:
Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. & Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The District Gallery & Framery | 5113 Kingston Pike | Knoxville | TN | 37919
(located next to Gourmet's Market) | 865.200.4452 | www.thedistrictgallery.com

Popcorn balls and paper chains; Fruits and nuts in their stockings; Carols by the fire; A cedar tree cut in the nearby woods - that's the Christmas most rural Appalachian children knew.

And it's the Christmas we recreate each year throughout the Museum village at our special Christmas in Old Appalachia. Join us as we recreate a meaningful holiday of simpler pleasures and homier joys. Traditional trees and homemade decorations, typical of austere pioneer days, transform the Museum's authentic log buildings; and in the one-room, dirt-floored "Dan'l Boone" cabin, strings of popcorn and cotton bolls circle a dormant tree. Paper chains and other ornaments trim the tree in the Little Tater Valley Schoolhouse.

Sweet gum and sycamore balls are strung throughout the Mark Twain Family Cabin, and a traditional silver star tops a native red cedar Christmas tree in the turn-of-the-century Peters Homestead House. Apples, nuts, homemade toys, and oranges fill stockings hung in the cabins.

Sing Christmas carols along with musicians in the Homestead House, where they'll be singing holiday and traditional songs every day during December. Sit and visit with the kids over some hot chocolate and Christmas cookies from the Museum Restaurant.

Pick up some stocking stuffers in the Museum Gift and Antique Shop, which features everything from hand-crafted ornaments, locally made muscadine and moonshine jellies, and beautiful pottery, along with baskets, quilts, and plenty of Appalachian specialties. Or just come relax in a rocking chair by the cozy, crackling fire in the big stone fireplace.

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, TN 37716 (16 miles north of Knoxville at I-75, exit 122, then one mile east). Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

The Market Square Farmers’ Market reprises the popular Holiday Market on the three Saturdays before Christmas and invites shoppers to buy local from area farmers, artisan food vendors, artists and crafters.
Saturdays, December 7, 14, and 21. Farm vendors from 12 – 3 p.m. Food
trucks, artisan food and arts & craft vendors from 12 – 7 p.m.
Where: Market Square, Market Street and Union Avenue

Although the peak growing season is over, regional farmers are offering many root crops, hearty greens, meat, eggs, dairy and other preserved foods —ideal for serving at festive seasonal gatherings or giving to your favorite food lover.

Craft and artisan food vendors will line Market Street, creating a marketplace for handmade items perfect for satisfying recipients on shoppers’ gift lists. Items include jewelry, home décor, bath and body products, hand-blown glass, pottery, turned wood and folk art. And when hunger threatens to distract visitors from the task at hand, Knoxville’s best food trucks will be stationed on Union Avenue to quench cravings.

Visit the Market Square Farmers’ Market information booth to purchase the market’s annual letterpress poster, canvas tote bag and Market Money, which can be used to purchase from any vendor on site. Gift certificates are also available!

The Market Square Holiday Market is presented by Nourish Knoxville, a non-profit organization founded to cultivate and support relationships between farmers, artisanal producers, and the community through outreach, education, and advocacy and to build healthy communities through connections to local food.

For more information, visit http://marketsquarefarmersmarket.org, email
knoxfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call Charlotte Tolley at 865-405-3135.

Farmers' Market season may be over, but that just means that it is time for the Market Square Holiday Market! On Saturdays from December 7 through 21, craft and artisan food vendors will be set up along Market Street to satisfy your shopping needs. Whether you need the perfect wreath or a wonderful holiday gift, the Holiday Market is the place to visit. For more information, visit marketsquarefarmersmarket.org.

The UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Artist in Residence program at UT’s School of Art. Begun after the retirement of painting professor Carl Sublett, the Artist-in-Residence Program enriches a student's experience further by regularly bringing new artists from outside the university who are actively showing in the contemporary gallery and museum arenas. Each semester an invited resident artist teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses in the painting and drawing curriculum. The AIR program has been highly successful in making a direct connection to the marketplace of ideas that surrounds art centers such as New York City, Chicago, and LA. The artists we bring to campus represent a spectrum of current sensibilities in painting and drawing holding sway in the art world today.

This exhibition features work from past participating artists from the Ewing Gallery permanent collection.

Please join us December 6 from 5-9pm for an opening reception celebrating the program.

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

December First Friday at Bliss Home, 29 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902 featuring the artwork of Elizabeth Kidder.
Friday, December 6, 2013 through the end of the month.
Opening Reception on Friday, December 6, 2013 6pm to 9pm

Bliss Home is pleased to present Knoxville artist, Elizabeth Kidder, for December's First Friday. Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, December 6th, from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary Steamboat Sandwiches will be provided and Elizabeth's art will be featured for the month of December.

Elizabeth's December exhibit is comprised of illustrations that invite the viewer to walk around the landscape, become the figure and read the underlying tale.
Elizabeth Kidder is a freelance illustrator currently living in Knoxville, TN.

Beginning on December 6, the gallery at the Plateau Creative Arts Center (PCAC) will feature art in the theme of Food for Thought. The public is invited to the PCAC gallery to view original artwork in the form of oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, colored pencil, photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, and jewelry, created by Art Guild members.
In addition to viewing this fine art work, visitors also learn about the many art classes available during the month, and depending on the day and time, may view a class in session, or watch the open painting, beading, or figure drawing sessions that take place in the studio. The gallery is also the perfect place to shop for a reasonably priced gift of art for Christmas.
The PCAC is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Beginning on December 24 the gallery hours will change to 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Located at 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine), the gallery is handicapped accessible. The Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a not-for-profit organization and an equal opportunity provider. For more information call 931-707-7249. www.artguildfairfieldglade.net.