Calendar of Events

Frutos Latinos is an exhibition by Hispanic artists who live and work in the Southeastern region of the United States including June Crowe, Susana Esrequis, Astrid Galindo, Angel Luna, Cecilia Stella Martin, Rosalina Tipton, Irene Torrealba, Loren Velazquez and Luis Velasques. Many are from the Knoxville area. This exhibition takes the form of a contest. Artists who are associated with HoLa Hora Latina submit their work, and gallery attendees will vote on the best pieces. This is the third year that HoLa will be awarding a prize and the second time that the winner will be selected by the audience.

First Friday, September 5, 5:30 to 9 PM

HoLa Hora Latina, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 109, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-335-3358, www.holaknoxville.org, www.holafestival.org

The 95th annual Tennessee Valley Fair is one of the state's largest multi-day events attracting nearly 140,000 people each year. Known for its innovative exhibits, livestock shows, concert series, action sports, exciting rides and a variety of unique fun foods, the Tennessee Valley Fair offers tremendous family entertainment!

2014 Headline Entertainment Lineup:
Friday, September 5 - Air Supply | Reserved Seat - $15
Saturday, September 6 - Fairest of the Fair Pageant | Reserved Seat - $5
Sunday, September 7 - Jon Pardi | Reserved Seat - $5
Monday, September 8 - Cole Swindell | Reserved Seat - $12
Tuesday, September 9 - Parmalee | Reserved Seat - $10
Wednesday, September 10 - Big Daddy Weave* | Reserved Seat - $5
Thursday, September 11 - Scotty McCreery | Reserved Seat - $22
Friday, September 12 - Ginuwine | Reserved Seat - $10
Saturday, September 13 - The Fairview Union | FREE show w/ paid admission
Sunday, September 14 - Sawyer Brown | Reserved Seat - $15

*Midweek Retreat is a new event aiming to empower East Tennessee youth to engage in Christ-like service within their communities - a special $7/pp group rate (includes fair admission + concert) will be offered between June 3 - September 4.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. This presale includes concert tickets, discounted admission tickets and ride wristbands.

Tennessee Valley Fair: 865-215-1471, www.tnvalleyfair.org

Due to popular demand, the Clarence Brown Theatre has added a Tuesday, September 16 and a Tuesday, September 23 performance to the run of “Hank Williams: Lost Highway.” The shows will begin at 7:30 pm in the CBT’s Carousel Theatre on the University of Tennessee campus. Several performances in the September 4-28 schedule have sold out or currently have limited availability. Tickets can be purchased by calling the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or online at http://clarencebrowntheatre.com/.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season!

by Randal Myler and Mark Harelick; Directed by Karen Kessler
At the Carousel Theatre

“The best example of a musician’s bio put on stage that I’ve seen!” The New York Post

Follow the music legend’s rise from his humble beginnings at the Lousiana Hayride to his triumph at the Grand Ole Opry to his untimely death at the age of 29. With more than 20 of his famous hits including “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Move It On Over” and “Hey, Good Lookin’”, you will be humming all the way home.

To enhance the audience experience, the CBT will continue, and in some cases expand, several popular programs in 2014-2015. Open captioned productions also will continue in the new season, taking place on the first Sunday matinee of each show. Talk backs, which are informative discussions with the director and cast, will continue to take place following the second Sunday matinee of each show.

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

Damien has been featured on MTV 2's Hip Hop Squares and performed stand-up on Russell Simmons: The Ruckus on Comedy Central. He will also appear in the upcoming film The Amazing Spiderman on SONY Pictures Entertainment.

His comedy career began from his seat in the back of public school classrooms over 20 years ago and continued at his college alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, where he fine-tuned his ability to make people laugh until they cough and choke.

He has rapidly built a name for himself on the New York City comedy circuit and beyond. On stage, his material comes from everywhere and nowhere, from fornicating politicians driving up sex prices to the "Stop BCC'N!" campaign, and is delivered with a flair that can best be described as an all-inclusive bug-out session.

TICKET PRICES: $8 FOR GENERAL ADMISSION, $10 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).

Event price per seat: $35

+ Wednesday, Sept. 3: Pink Path @ Don Pablo's
+ Wednesday, Sept. 10: Two Olives @ Armada
+ Monday, Sept. 15: Teacups @ Calhoun's Maryville
+ Wednesday, Sept. 17: Dragonfly @ Doc's All American Grille
+ Thursday, Sept. 18: Glass Half Happy @ Seasons
+ Monday, Sept. 22: Starry Night @ Crown and Goose
+ Tuesday, Sept. 23: Filtered Light @ Mimi's Cafe
+ Wednesday, Sept. 24: Sea Turtles @ Latitude 35
+ Tuesday, Sept. 30: Tuscan Valley @ Original Copper Cellar

Wine and Canvas: Wine and Canvas Knoxville LLC, 143 Manor Way, Suite J, Louisville, TN 37777, www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

Now through November 30, 2014, visitors to the Museum of East Tennessee History will have an opportunity to view special items associated with the “Freedom Engine,” a tribute gift from East Tennesseans to New York City following the events of September 11, 2001. East Tennesseans contributed more than $940,000 to purchase and equip a 95-foot tower ladder truck for Harlem-based Ladder Company 14, helping the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) replenish the largest vehicles in the city's firefighting fleet. The so-called "Freedom Engine," went into service during March 2002 and was dedicated on September 11th of that year.

FDNY typically retires their trucks from regular service after about 10 years. The Freedom Engine went into reserve status in 2013. Upon retirement, several artifacts associated with the truck, including a bucket door, captain's helmet, memorial plaque from the people of East Tennessee, and a presentation plaque containing a piece of World Trade Center metal, were returned to East Tennessee and donated to the East Tennessee Historical Society. These items are currently on display through November 30, 2014, at the Museum of East Tennessee History, along with a video about the project. You may view the exhibit and artifacts online at the ETHS website at www.easttnhistory.org/exhibits/freedom-engine.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM, Saturday: 10AM-4PM, Sunday: 1-5PM. Library: Monday-Tuesday: 9AM-8:30PM, Wednesday-Friday: 9AM-5:30PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

The Omega Gallery at Carson-Newman University presents re[creation], a solo exhibit by 1995 Art major alum Jan Bridwell Walker, who is now an Instructor of Art at Anderson University in South Carolina.

Closing Day Reception: Homecoming Saturday, October 25, 9:30AM-Noon.
The Omega Gallery at Carson University, Warren Art Bldg, corner of Branner St. and South College St, Jefferson City, TN 37760

The Exhibition in the main gallery is free and open to the public and includes 38 figurative sculptural works from Presenting and Invited Artists of the Figurative Association: The Human Form symposium, from September 10-13. Presenting artists: Robert Brady, Christina Cordova, Susan Hagen, Doug Jeck, Kris Kuksi, Elizabeth Higgins O’Connor, Bob Trotman, Christina West, Thaddeus Erdahl, Dustin Farnsworth. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Info: 865-436-5860 or www.arrowmont.org.

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

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 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.