Calendar of Events

The Irish Curse by Martin Casella

Opens August 29 at 8 pm with an opening reception beginning at 7:30 pm and runs through September 14; 2014. Performances are Thursday; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sunday Matinees at 3 pm.;

What "The Irish Curse" is - and how it manifests itself - is the raw centerpiece of this wickedly funny play. From its blistering language to its brutally honest look at sex and body image, The Irish Curse is a revealing portrait of how men, and society, define masculinity. Size matters to a small group of Irish-American men (all professionally successful New Yorkers) who meet every Wednesday night in a Catholic Church basement at a self-help group for men. A 20 something joins their group and challenges everything these men think about the “Irish Curse”. The cast includes Doug James, Mark Palmer, Kiernan Bensey, Donald Thorne and David Snow. Veteran actor and director and founder of Knoxville Children’s Theatre Zack Allen directs. The Irish Curse was first produced at the New York International Fringe Festival; Summer 2005; where it won the festival's Outstanding Playwriting Award.

As Theatre Knoxville Downtown moves into their 9th season in downtown Knoxville, President Bonny Pendleton thinks the patrons are ready to occasionally see an edgier play they may never have seen. “We want to give our audiences many of those plays they love, such Agatha Christie’s “And Then There were None”, but we also want to share works they may have never seen but will enjoy. Critics and audiences loved it and we hope our audience will as well. Due to the strong language and adult themes, parental discretion is advised for this production.

Tickets may be purchased at www.theatreknoxville.com. Reservations are recommended. Tickets are $15 Thursday; Friday and Saturday evenings and $13 for the Sunday matinee.
Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville. 865 544 1999 or email: info@theatreknoxville.com; www.theatreknoxville.com

With paintings by Aleex Conner, J. Austin Jennings, and Kay Jursik; bone and metal sculpture by Linda Leilani Bohanan

In student exhibits: Watercolors by the students of Mary Secrist and Kate McCullough

When: Opening Reception Friday, August 29, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 9AM-5PM; Wednesday & Friday, 10AM-5PM; Saturday, 9AM-1PM. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

The Museum of Appalachia is searching for talented, enthusiastic musicians to participate in their “Porch Pickers” Music Program. As ambassadors for the Museum, musicians will play on the “porches” of historic cabins in the scenic village, as well as other focal points within the Museum, for local, regional, national and international visitors. Individuals and bands are invited to an open audition, August 29th and 30th, 2014 from 11:00am to 2:00pm at the Museum of Appalachia. Musicians should be comfortable with bluegrass, gospel, folk, old-time or country music, and the use of acoustic instruments only. Auditions will be held on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Gift Shop, located within the entrance building of the Museum, 2819 Andersonville Highway, Clinton, Tennessee. Registration begins at 11:00am and musicians should arrive with instruments in hand, prepared to perform up to three songs. Porch Musicians are an integral part of the Museum’s volunteer program, designed to further the Museum’s mission to preserve Appalachian culture and heritage. Additional opportunities at many of the Museum’s special events, including the Tennessee Fall Homecoming, routinely open up for active participants of this volunteer program. A non-profit organization, the Museum is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, Exit 122. For additional information, call 865-494-7680 or visit the website, www.museumofappalachia.org

"It's Concert Time in Townsend" with Steve Kaufman
An evening with "Three-time National Flatpicking Champion"

Tickets for the Summer Concert Series sponsored by Boyd's Jig & Reel, are $5.00 per person - per concert.
GSMHC members are FREE - Children 5 and under are FREE
Tickets are available at the door the night of the concert. No advance ticket sales. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Refreshments available for purchase through intermission. No coolers, food or drink may be brought into the concert. Sorry, no pets permitted, except for service animals.

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

The Arts Center will host a Swing Dance Party, Friday, August 29, 2014 in the Sue E. Trotter Black Box Theater. Beginners can come at 7:00 pm for a swing dancing lesson, and stay for the party at 8:00 pm. Admission is a minimum $5 donation to AACA. All ages and experience levels are welcome.

Local swing dancers, lead by Ava Nicole Hughes, will demonstrate and teach beginners the basics of footwork for six-count swing to the sounds of swing era music. Dancers should wear cool comfortable clothing and non-skid shoes. No partner required.

For more information about these and other programs of the Athens Area Council for the Arts, go to www.athensartscouncil.org, call 423-745-8781, or stop by The Arts Center at 320 North White Street in Athens, TN.

August's ArtWalk will feature the art of YEStudio's Summer Camp kids, and the collaborative works of FAB artists who participated in an exhibition entitled "Good."
DJ Bradley, American Idol contestant, will be performing also!

Please visit our gallery, and other participating businesses downtown, during Last Friday ArtWalk and show your support!

Fine Arts Blount, 106 East Broadway, Maryville, TN 37804, www.fineartsblount.org

Lavell Crawford is a SAG Award Winning actor, writer, & producer who is best known for playing Saul Goodman's bodyguard, "Huell Babineaux" on AMC's BREAKING BAD. Recent projects include a series regular role on Adult Swim’s new series, SPERM WHALE as well as his on-¬-going recurring roles on THE CRAZY ONES, SUPER FUN NIGHT, and IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA.

Lavell has repeatedly guest hosted the STEVE HARVEY RADIO SHOW and has regular appearances on CHELSEA LATELY, TOSH.0 and WORKAHOLICS. He lends his voice as recurring characters on Adult Swim’s SQUIDBILLIES and his second one-¬-hour special LAVELL CRAWFORD: CAN A BROTHER GET SOME LOVE recently premiered on Comedy Central.

TICKET PRICES: $30 FOR GENERAL ADMISSION, $30 FOR PREFERRED SEATING ONLINE! All tickets via phone or at the door are $2 more per ticket! All tickets go up $2 on the day of the show. View picture, web site link, and video at www.SideSplittersComedy.com

Side Splitters Comedy Club - West Knoxville, 9246 Parkwest Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37923. 865.934.LAFF (5233) www.SideSplittersComedy.com

The Picky Chick Fall Pop-up Consignment Sale Event
Grande Event Center at the Knoxville Expo Center
5441 Clinton Hwy., Knoxville, TN 37912
10 a.m.-8 p.m. August 28 & 29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. August 30 (Half-price day)

A three-day Fall/Winter pop-up children’s consignment sale event. Shop for baby equipment, cloth diapers, strollers and clothes, gently-worn kids’ clothing, toys and books for up to 50-90% off regular retail prices. All in one place, at one time. This season expect to find deals on winter outerwear, Halloween costumes, toys and video games for Christmas. Shop popular brands for picky teens in the new Juniors’ boutique area. Pay $5 at the door and shop early between 6-8 p.m. August 27 during the Charity presale (Proceeds to benefit a local-area school). More info: http://thepickychick.com; follow on Instagram @thepickychick and on Facebook for regular updates.

Talented Pellissippi State alumni artists return to the Hardin Valley Campus Aug. 25 for a commemorative anniversary art exhibit, “A Look in Both Directions.” Artists include Sharon Bachleda, Paige Burchell, Jessica Burleson, Pete Hoffecker, Daniel Huxtable, Steven Kempster, Jamie Schneider, Pamela Simpson, Bill Warden, Elliott White and Dean Yasko. The exhibit will feature two- and three-dimensional works: sculpture, ceramics, painting, and drawing. Bagwell Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through Sept. 12 at the Bagwell Center for Media and Art on the college’s Hardin Valley Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

For more information about these and other events in the 2014-2015 Arts at Pellissippi State series, visit www.pstcc.edu/arts or call (865) 694-6400. To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

The Ewing Galleryis pleased to Think / Make/ Think. With works in printmaking, sculpture, design, collage, ceramics, painting, and drawing, digital media, photography, and installation, this exhibition showcases recent work from 19 faculty members from UT's School of Art. Opening Reception is Thursday, August 21 from 6-8pm in the Ewing Gallery.

Please join us on Sunday, September 21 from 2-4PM in the Ewing Gallery for a closing reception celebrating our faculty! Excited to announce that we will have music at the closing reception provided by UT's own Rusty Holloway and Mark Boling of the School of Music jazz faculty!

The exhibition features the work of current professors in the School of Art. Exhibiting faculty are:
Joshua Bienko, Emily Bivens, Sally Brogden, Jason S. Brown, Paul Harrill, Paul Lee, Sarah Lowe, Beauvais Lyons, Frank Martin, Althea Murphy-Price, John Powers, Deborah Shmerler, Jered Sprecher, Cary Staples, Claire Stigliani, David Wilson, Karla Wozniak, Koichi Yamamoto, and Sam Yates

Hours: Tues-Fri 1-5, Sun 1-4

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

The Town of Farragut Arts Council presents Jackie Beckner as the featured artist for August and September. Located at the Farragut Town Hall, her exhibit features handmade sewing creations.

A Knoxville native, Beckner acquired her love of sewing from watching and learning from her mother as a child. When she became a mother, she made clothes for her two daughters, including prom dresses and eventually even a wedding dress. Today, Beckner enjoys sewing children's clothes, purses and other handmade items which she sells to raise funds for missions trips to Haiti. She volunteers with the One Vision International Children's Home in Haiti to teach girls the simple skill of sewing so they will have a means to provide for a family when they age out of the orphanage. Beckner is employed by the Knox County Public Building Authority.

Each month, the work of an artist or group of artists is featured in specially designed cases on the second floor of the rotunda in the Farragut Town Hall. For more information about this exhibit or to access a Featured Artist of the Month application, please contact Lauren Cox at lauren.cox@townoffarragut.org or 966-7057 or visit www.townoffarragut.org/artsandculture.

The Farragut Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive directly across from the Farragut Branch Post Office.

This year, events get under way with the inaugural art exhibit at the Blount County Campus: “Quantum Confusion,” featuring the mind-bending artwork of Denise Stewart-Sanabria. The show runs Aug. 18-Oct. 18. The art will be on display in the lobby of the campus, 2731 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., during normal business hours, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each weekday.

The exhibit will feature installations of large charcoal drawings on plywood that suggest the presence of portals, using existing walls and building spaces. Visitors and students will walk through the installation when they visit the Blount County Campus.

Exhibit Reception at Blount County Campus/Pellissippi State on Thursday, September 25 at 5:00pm

For more information about these and other events in the 2014-2015 Arts at Pellissippi State series, visit www.pstcc.edu/arts or call (865) 694-6400. To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.