Calendar of Events

Faculty and guest artists; Dr. Allison Adams and guests
Dr. Patrick Murphy, Jeffrey Siegfried, & Thomas Snydacker; works by Grieg, Bresnick, Bozza, Mellits, and Rubin

At the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, Natalie L. 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. View additional UT Music concerts and events including all student recitals on the website.

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore, TN will host a free lecture! Come in out of the winter weather and share the afternoon with Cherokee Storyteller Lloyd Arneach, Sr. and his daughter, Dawn Arneach, both EBCI tribal members from the Yellowhill Community in Cherokee, North Carolina. Mr. Arneach will be sharing stories starting at 2:00 and Dawn will be helping anyone who wants help with researching their family trees and general genealogy questions. Mr. Arneach will also have his CD and book for sale with him which he can sign at the time. For more information call the Sequoyah Museum (423) 884-6246 or email us seqmus@tds.net. This is the first of our free winter lecture series.

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 HWY 360, Vonore, TN 37885. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM, Sunday, 12-5PM. Information: 423-884-6246, www.sequoyahmuseum.org

Riding a bike is all fun and games until someone gets a flat. Knox County Public Library is pleased to introduce a new series called Life 101 to help teens develop some practical skills, including bike maintenance. Life 101 will be held at Lawson McGhee Library on Saturdays at 2:00 pm. It's aim is to teach teenagers some important life skills for their future. The programs are free and open to all area teens. No reservation required.
February 15: Bike safety
The first leg of this 2-part program will focus on urban bike safety. Local organization, Kickstand, will be on hand to guide participants through the rules of the road and offer other suggestions on how to become a safer, more aware cyclist.

March 1: Bike maintenance and repair
Flats, broken chains, and wobbly seats, oh my! Meet up with volunteers from local organization, Kickstand, to learn essential bike maintenance and repair techniques.

March 8: Stress management: yoga for teens
March 29: Financial literacy

For more information, please contact Bess Connally at bconnally@knoxlib.org, or (865) 215-8767

Let Them Eat Cupcakes by Leslie Agron
Coming home from the war doesn’t always provide a release from the effects of the war as the home front is not always as welcoming as we would like to believe. Please come see our table reading of Leslie Agron's Let Them Eat Cupcakes this Saturday, February 15th, 2 pm at the Bearden Library. Jennifer Brown of Tiger Lily Theatre directs this modern drama. We will also perform the play Tuesday, February 18th, 6 pm at the Farragut Library.

Found Objects by Marilynn Barner Anselmi
Does the truth always set us free? When a mother and daughter attempt to deal with the accidental death of their son/brother, the truth may keep them from healing.

Please come see our table reading of Marilynn Barner Anselmi's Found Objects this Saturday, February 15th, 12 pm at Fountain City Library. Jennifer Alldredge of Tiger Lily Theatre directs this poignant play.

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

The Center for Creative Minds is pleased to announce the latest exhibition, “Images of Israel,” photographs by Lev Gross-Comstock. Lev Gross-Comstock was one of six American Jewish photographers chosen to document the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel in July 2013. The Maccabiah Games are a stepping-stone to the Olympics for Jewish athletes from around the world. The photos in this exhibition are the results of his time spent photographing the formality of the games and nuances of modern life in Israel. Lev was able to travel to Israel and participate in this incredible experience because of the generosity of much of the Jewish community and will be donating all profits from the gallery showing back to the community, specifically our local Jewish schools.

Show will take place on February 15-16, with receptions on Feb 15, 7-10 pm and Feb 16, 1-4 pm. at 23 Emory Place, across from the Old Gray Cemetery on Broadway, in Knoxville.

Lev Gross-Comstock can be reached at: website: www.lgcphoto.com, email: lev@lgcphoto.com, phone: 615-618-1253

A1LabArts @ the Center for Creative Minds, 23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: www.a1labarts.org

by Jones, Hope & Wooten. This poignant comedy follows five Southern women whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team. The play is set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where the women meet at the same beach cottage, the same weekend every August. Captured at ages 44, 48, 54 and 77, their lives unfold and they increasingly rely on one another, through advice and quick-witted repartee, to get through all the challenges life throws their way. The second act takes a poignant and surprising direction that makes this one of the Jones, Hope and Wooten franchise’s best. The cast includes Freddi Birdwell, Cheri Compton, Bonny Pendleton, Tracy Wolfgram Walker and Judie Douglas. Directed by James Fisher.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday performances and $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday performances. If available, tickets will be sold at the door.

Theatre Knoxville Downtown has open seating. Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to pick up your tickets and claim your seats. TKD reserves the right to seat walk-in patrons during the final 15 minutes prior to show time.

Tickets: 865-523-7521; www.KnoxTIX.com. Information: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Friday, February 14, 2014 at 8:00pm VALENTINE’S NIGHT!
Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 2:30pm

Opera preview hosted by Maestro Salesky begins 45 minutes prior to each performance

Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love is the perfect romantic comedy for your Valentine! Get ready for dazzling vocal fireworks and glorious melodies that will melt your heart as the desperate Nemorino pursues the feisty Adina. Although she is already engaged to a dashing sergeant, the determined Nemorino downs a love potion in hopes of stealing her away. “Liquid courage” triumphs!

Highlights include:
◊ Nemorino’s “Una furtiva lagrima”
◊ the Nemorino – Belcore duet “Venti scudi”
◊ Adina’s show-stopping finale
◊ Featuring Ukrainian soprano Stefania Dovhan and tenor Joshua Kohl

Presented in memory of Luciano Pavarotti whose legendary performances in Elixir won the hearts of millions of fans, including those who heard him perform arias from the opera at his 1990 Knoxville concert.
Performed in Italian with projected English translations.

At the Tennessee Theatre, 601 S. Gay Street. Information and tickets: 865-524-0795, http://www.knoxvilleopera.com/schedule/elixir/

Each spring, hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees come together at the Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show. The show marks the end of winter and start of spring and warmer weather with beautiful landscaped gardens, home improvement contractors, plants, decor, art and much more. The 2014 Dogwood Arts House and Garden Show, presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel, provides retailers, manufacturers, and service providers access to thousands of buyers seeking innovative products, new ideas, practical advice and great deals in decorating, home improvement and gardening with hundreds of experts all under one roof. It’s the must-see event of the year!

This year’s show, selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2014, will take place Friday, February 14 from 10:00am-6:00pm, Saturday, February 15 from 10:00am to 7:00pm, and Sunday, February 16 from 11:00am to 5:00pm at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The 2014 House and Garden Show, presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel, will feature more than 200 exhibits sure to spark the imaginations of home and garden enthusiasts, alike. Attendees can lose themselves in our Grand Gardens, a showcase of landscapes constructed by the region’s top landscape designers, and browse beautifully decorated room scenes and environments created by local designers. Artists will have artwork on the show floor to bring personality to your home and garden. The How-To Stage will present a dozen shows with a wide-range of topics throughout the weekend, and the Cooking School will inspire your inner chef with classic Italian cuisine – with a twist.

2014 SHOW FEATURES:
• Over 200 participating companies with professionals on hand to provide expert assistance.
• Grand Gardens with more than 10,000 square feet of landscapes, constructed by the region’s top designers.
• Green Pavilion showcasing eco-friendly products and services that reduce the environmental impact in the home, at work and in business.
• Raffle drawing of Home & Gardening Products.
• Herb and Flower Markets providing everything colorful and green to brighten up your garden
• Artists in Action will demonstrate and sell their creations on the show floor.
• Urban Living featuring uniquely decorated room scenes created by interior designers and retailers.
• Reach over 200,000 Potential Customers The results of a $300,000 marketing plan make the House & Garden Show known to every demographic in our community, as well as throughout the viewing, listening and readership area of the southeast region.
• Cooking School sponsor will feature cooking demonstrations throughout each day.

Dogwood Arts Festival: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

Legally Blonde follows the story of sorority president Elle Woods as she crosses the country on a mission to find love at Harvard Law School. After discovering how the law can be used to help others, she uses her new found skills to defend a workout-queen in a murder trial, defying the odds and proving that pink can save the day!

MTI rates this production of Legally Blonde: The Musical with a PG rating for mild language and sensuality.

Tickets are $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors & Students
Valentine's Day price: 2 for $25
Group rates are available

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

Athens Community Theatre announces their upcoming musical production of Into the Woods, book by James Lapine, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Show dates for Into the Woods are February 13-23, 2014.

In this fairytale mash-up of epic proportion, familiar faces embark on the unknown: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack (of beanstalk fame), dwell in a sylvan community where a meddling witch and a baker are next-door neighbors and the handsome princes from classic fables are competitive and comically vain paramours. Propelled by Sondheim’s majestic score, these characters venture “Into the Woods” and down a different path than that of the stories you’ve heard. The baker and his wife travel in search of a cow, a red cape, yellow hair, and gold slippers to lift a spell placed on them by the haggard witch. Cinderella, Jack, and Little red, too, have set out on inspired quests of their own. As the plot unfolds, these characters’ individual stories intersect through unexpected plot twists, and cameos by other characters of fairytale lore add to the thrill of the journey. In turn farcical and contemplative, James Lapine’s book examines themes of childhood and parenthood, ambition and desire, and takes on allegorical gravity when the tale does not end with “happily ever after.”

Performances are February 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 and 22 at 7:00 PM and February 23 at 2:00 PM. Tickets for all performances are $15 for adults, $8 for students, except for February 14, which is BE MY VALENTINE NIGHT, when you can bring your prince or princess to the theatre for a “buy one get one $3 off” ticket deal; and February 20, which is FAIRYTALE FUN NIGHT, when you can come at 6:00 PM dressed in a fairytale costume for a complimentary magic potion (hot beverage) and $1 off ticket price.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 16th and will be available online at www.athensartscouncil.org, by phone at 423-745-8781, or in person at The Arts Center, 320 N. White St., Athens, Tennessee. For more information, contact The Arts Center at 423-745-8781.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it is time to book a romantic cruise for yourself and that special someone, and nothing says “I love you” like an unforgettable cruise aboard a luxury yacht.
The Volunteer Princess has a week’s worth of events to entertain you, starting with our romantic pre-Valentine’s Day Sunset Dinner Cruise on Wednesday, February 12, and our pre-Valentine’s Day Starlight Dinner Cruise on Thursday, February 13.
On Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14th, cupid will stay busy with not one, but two luxurious cruises!
The love boat will sail from 6:30-9:00 PM with the Valentine’s Day Starlight Dinner Cruise. Nauti Dessert Cruise sails from 10:15-11:30 PM.
If you did not get your fill of Valentine’s Day festivities, you are in luck! We have three cruises on Saturday, February 15 for all of the lovers that just cannot get enough of this romantic holiday!
Sunday, February 16, is your last chance to celebrate with your Valentine until next year, so do so with our second Valentine’s Day Champagne Brunch (1:00-2:30 PM).
Ticket prices for each cruise range from $29.95-$69.95 per person. Tickets WILL SELL OUT so make your reservations today!
For more information on The Volunteer Princess’ 2014 Valentine’s Day Events, call (865) 541-4556 or visit www.volunteerprincess.com. Remember the BEST EVENTS ARE ON THE WATER!

Painter Diana Dee Sarkar and wood-turner Gordon Fowler, both of Knoxville, are the Art Market Gallery’s February featured artists. Their recent works will be on exhibit with an opening reception to be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, during the monthly First Friday Art Walk in downtown Knoxville. At the opening reception visitors may enjoy complimentary refreshments and live music performed by Living Room Roots.

Gordon Fowler, whose background includes carpentry and a degree in microbiology from University of Tennessee, studied at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts and the Kentucky School of Craft. He has been turning wood since 2002, concentrating on creating pleasing shapes with an eye to proportion. "I love the symmetry and symbolism of circles, and am inspired by the patterns and contrasts found in nature," he says. With his three children now grown, this fulltime stay-at-home dad spends time in the kitchen, tending to the chickens, volunteering, and at the lathe, where he enjoys creating works from recycled logs that would otherwise have gone into someone's fireplace or the landfill.

Diana Dee Sarkar grew up in Wichita, KS, with a formal education focused on chemistry and medicine. Painting portraits, still life and landscapes on her own, she became serious about art in 2005, studying various media with Hongnian Zhang at the Woodstock (NY) School of Art, Lois Woolley, Anthony Ryder, Susan Ogilvie, Nelson Shanks and others. She holds a certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, and is completing work on an MFA at Academy of Art University. Her paintings have been juried into a show at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art Museum, and the International Miniature Painting competition. She paints representationally, currently in oil and pastel.

Owned and operated by more than 60 professional regional artists, the 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, and parking in the abutting garage and on the street is free on weekends and after 6 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 865-525-5265, or visit artmarketgallery.net, or facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery.