Calendar of Events

Recipient of the 2014 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Artist of the Year Award, Andrea Wilson will have a solo exhibition in the Loggia Gallery at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts. The Opening Reception will be on Wednesday, April 16th from 5:30 to 7:00pm at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg. Everyone is invited to attend!

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

We are delighted to announce the return of the Foothills Craft Guild for our next full length exhibit. Everyone is invited to attend the opening reception from 6:30 – 8:00 PM on Friday, April 11. The Foothills Exhibit will display a wide variety of skills by about 25 participating artists. Most of the works on display will be for sale. Expect to see pottery, handmade books, jewelry, block prints, weaving, needle felting, spinning, works in wood, photography, and much more! From 10 AM to 4 PM on most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the exhibit, at least one artist per day will be on hand to demonstrate his or her craft and to talk to visitors about the show. The Fountain city Art Center is located at 213 Hotel Avenue, 37918, located next to Fountain City Park in the old library building. Our hours are Tuesday – Thursday 9 AM - 5 PM and Friday 9 AM - 5 PM. We are also open on Saturdays from 9 AM - 1 PM when volunteers are available. Call first. Contact information: (865)357-ARTS; fcartcenter@knology.net; www.fountaincityartctr.com.

Artist Reception – Friday, April 11, 5:30-9 p.m.
We are pleased to present this show as a Dogwood Arts Featured Art Exhibit. Kathie Odom leaves the anatomy of her paintings exposed and allows light to diffuse translucently from the first wash to the thicker oils, showing different textures, birthing life. Subtle detailing coupled with loose brush strokes invite the viewer beneath into an aliveness not so apparent on the surface. Almost exclusively Kathie’s compositions are places where the possibility of life exists: barn, nest, field, dwelling, bud, shed…the vision of Home.

The District Gallery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-4. Information: 865-200-4452, www.TheDistrictGallery.com

April 09, 2014 THE URBAN WILDERNESS: Explore Ijams
April 10, 2014 CHILDREN’S PROGRAM: Stroller Stroll
April 10, 2014 SCIENCE CAFÉ: The Lunar Eclipse
April 11, 2014 THE URBAN WILDERNESS: Bouldering Hike
April 12, 2014 PUBLIC PROGRAM: Wagging Walk
April 12, 2014 PEG'S KITCHEN: Breakfast is Served
April 12, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 12, 2014 THE URBAN WILDERNESS: South Loop Piece-by-Piece
April 12, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 12, 2014 IJAMS GARDENING SERIES: Urban Gardening
April 12, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 15, 2014 IJAMS SOCIAL SERIES: Pink Moon Happy Hour
April 16, 2014 THE URBAN WILDERNESS: Explore Ijams
April 17, 2014 SPECIAL EVENT: Ijams @ The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
April 19, 2014 PEG'S KITCHEN: Breakfast is Served
April 19, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 19, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 19, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 19, 2014 SPECIAL EVENT: Family Drum Circle
April 23, 2014 THE URBAN WILDERNESS: Explore Ijams
April 24, 2014 CHILDREN’S PROGRAM: Stroller Stroll
April 26, 2014 SPECIAL EVENT: Spring Native Plant Sale
April 26, 2014 PEG'S KITCHEN: Breakfast is Served
April 26, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 26, 2014 SPECIAL EVENT: Ijams @ EarthFest
April 26, 2014 SPECIAL EVENT: Outdoor KnoxFest @ Ijams
April 26, 2014 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
April 27, 2014 SPECIAL EVENT: Outdoor KnoxFest @ Ijams
April 30, 2014 THE URBAN WILDERNESS: Explore Ijams

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

Art in Public Places Knoxville is a monumental installation of large-scale outdoor sculptures by regionally and nationally acclaimed artists. The sculptures enliven downtown Knoxville as well as McGhee Tyson Airport.

Opening Reception: Friday, April 4, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Award Ceremony: Friday, April 4, 5:30 pm

We are honored to announce noted sculptor, Kenneth M. Thompson, as the Juror for the 2014-2015 exhibition!

Most of the Festival's wide range of arts events, performances, and exhibitions are offered to the public free of charge. Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

Civil War Historical river cruises in Knoxville, Tennessee

If you would like a relaxing and entertaining weekend on the river join us aboard TRACE 1. Bring your friends and guests to share this memorable experience with you. Learn the history of the area during the steamboat/Civil War era where you see the Armstrong Locket plantation home, Bleak house, Longstreet's Heights, Armstrong Hill, Fort Dickerson and many others. You will have an annotated map to help visualize the 1863 siege of Knoxville with Confederate and Union positions highlighted.

Your crew will be the 150 year old spirit old Sam Clemmons and Miss Drusilla. Sam has operated steamboats for many years and will entertain with the local Civil War history even if he never did pick a side.

Saturday gourmet sandwich lunch Civil War cruises, 12:00, 90 minutes, $26 adults and $20 children.
Second Sunday gourmet sandwich lunch cruise, 12:00, two hours, $32 adults and $26 children 5 to 11, see more sights.
Friday and Saturday Civil War cruise 3:00 and 5:15, 90 minutes, $18 adults and $14 children on-line or $20 and $16 at the gate
Sunday Civil War cruise 3:00 and 5:15, 90 minutes, $18 adults and $14 children 5 to 11 on-line or $20 and $16 at the gate
Prices above are for advanced on-line reservations.
If you have a copy of our narration booklet with you, you get a $2.00 discount for everyone in your party. You may purchase a copy at the Knoxville Visitor's Center or Knoxville History Center, both on Gay Street.

NavCal River Rides http://navcal.com/navcal/CWHistory.htm. 865-765-3407

Bliss Home is pleased to present Knoxville artist, Jane Nickels, for April's First Friday. Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, April 4th from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary Steamboat Sandwiches will be provided and Jane's art will be featured for the month of April.

Jane's April exhibit will feature her Knot Perfect series which consists of paintings that explore a biomorphic interpretation of Celtic knots and overlapping pattern, color and line demanding an emotional response.

The last Wednesday of every month, 5:30-7:30PM, join friends of historic preservation for a drink and good conversation. Who knows what topics will be covered, but it's fun to gather together. No need to RSVP, just stop by The crown and Goose, 123 S. Central Street in the Old City.

Knox Heritage: 865-523-8008, www.knoxheritage.org

Opening reception: Saturday, April 5, 7:00-9:00pm. Admission is free and the public is invited
Each spring Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts hosts its annual resident artists’ exhibition, which celebrates the five artists who have lived and worked on campus during the past year. The artists-in-residence program, which fosters and advances the careers of emerging artists, is in its 22nd year and has seen over one hundred individuals pass through its ranks. This year’s residents, Lynn Batchelder, H.P. Bloomer, Rachel K. Garceau, Tally Locke, and Rena Wood present Five Lines, a culmination of their experiences, creativity, hard work, and dedication of their time spent here. Like explorers and cartographers of yesteryear these five are generating mappings of territories that benefit us all. Through their investigations of the mind, time, places, and memories each one is connecting us to their world and thoughts while encouraging us to be more mindful and introspective of our own. While the lines they walk have merged in their time at Arrowmont, soon they will diverge into new frontiers.

“This is an exciting time for this group of young artists,” says Arrowmont Gallery Manager Stefanie Gerber Darr. “There has been a palpable shared energy among them since they arrived last summer. It’s wonderful to see this work come together as a result of that energy. It represents closure, along with the great promise of what we can expect from these very creative people in the years to come.” The Arrowmont residents will also be involved in this year’s Dogwood Arts Festival.

Meet the residents and visit their Gatlinburg studios during the Dogwood Arts Festival Art DeTour, Saturday and Sunday, April 12 & 13, 10:00am to 5:00pm daily. And you can meet the residents and other arts and crafts demonstrators at Arrowmont’s booth at the Dogwood Arts Festival’s Market Square Art Fair in downtown Knoxville, April 25-27 Friday: 11 am – 9 pm, Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm, and Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm.

For more information about Arrowmont’s gallery schedule and upcoming exhibitions, visit arrowmontgalleries.org. To view or learn about workshops and other arts and crafts programming at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, visit arrowmont.org.

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

East Tennessee Baskets, 1880-1940

Imagine doing away with plastic shopping bags, buckets, and storage tubs and depending instead upon wood baskets. The essential role these hand-woven containers played in bygone days would soon be realized. During the past year, ETHS has worked to document the traditional baskets of our region, including family stories and photographs when the maker's identity is known. Woven of Wood highlights selected examples from this survey and illustrates how East TN baskets were some of the most functional and creative possessions in everyday life.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM; Saturday: 10AM-4PM; Sunday: 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

The Athens Area Council for the Arts announces the annual High School Art Show showcasing art from McMinn county high school students. The work can be viewed at The Arts Center, 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee. The goal of this show is to promote art by local high school students and to provide them with an opportunity to participate in an open art exhibit. The Visual Arts Committee of AACA will sponsor a gift certificate for art supplies as a “Best in Show” prize. The show features over forty pieces in a variety of media from pencil to printmaking and papier mâché. The opening reception is Friday, March 14 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. The reception will include light refreshments and is free and open to the public. Evening with the Stars, AACA’s annual event featuring local performing talent, starts immediately after at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students.

For more information, go to www.athensartscouncil.org, call 423-745-8781, or stop by The Arts Center at 320 North White Street in Athens, TN.

Blount Mansion is proud to host the works of East Tennessee’s own Richard LeFevre. He focuses on the history of the American Civil War (1861 – 1865) through 32 of its most significant battles. LeFevre combined his love of history and his skill as an illustrator, using inventive mixed-media techniques to create powerful images inspired by his personal investigation into that most terrible and definitive era. As part of the First Friday’s the opening reception will be from 5:00 to 7:30 on Friday March 7th here at the Blount Mansion Visitors Center at 200 West Hill Avenue in Knoxville. There will be drinks and light refreshments available. It is a free event and all are welcome. The exhibition is on loan from Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture, University of Tennessee, and is supported through the Tennessee Arts Commission & Knox County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. www.knoxcivilwar.org and will run through the end of May 2014. More information is available at our Facebook page, facebook.com/blountmansion

Blount Mansion Visitors Center, 200 West Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902; 865-525-2375 or www.blountmansion.org