Calendar of Events

On the Saturdays before Christmas each December, many of our vendors return for our annual Holiday Market. From noon-7pm, craft, artisan food vendors, and food trucks will be set up along Market Street & Union Ave. to provide all your holiday shopping needs.

We also have a small farmers’ market each Saturday from noon-3pm. The peak growing season may be over, but many root crops, winter squashes, hearty greens, hydroponic vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, and more will be available from our farmers.

Location: Union Avenue and Market Street, TN 37902
http://marketsquarefarmersmarket.org/markets/market-square-holiday-market/

Artists throughout history have found inspiration in the form of birds. Man imbued birds with mystical and religious meaning due to their fascinating ability to exist in two worlds – the earthly world, and the sky, or heavenly realm. Drawn primarily from the Ewing Gallery’s permanent collection, Of a Feather features works from historic and contemporary artists who represent birds in a diverse assortment of styles. While some artists approach the bird as studies of simplified form others utilize strategies of space and distance to take a more poetic or analytical look at the economic and social issues attached to birds. Works range from hyperrealism to whimsical to abstract. This exhibition incorporates a number of artists of artists from New York and Chicago including Keith Haring, Michael Kirk, Keith Long, Diane Churchill, and Laurie Hogin; regional artists, Howard Finster, Todd Johnson, Kelly Hider, Heather Middlebrooks, Gary Monroe, and Richard Jolley, as well as distinguished faculty from the University of Tennessee – Jered Sprecher, Diane Fox, Beauvais Lyons, Marcia Goldenstein, Don Kurka, Bill Kennedy, Clark Stewart, and Byron McKeeby. The artworks on display consider themes of scientific inquiry, symbolism, environmental consciousness, and the rituals of birding, among others. The exhibition is organized by Sam Yates, Director and Curator of the Ewing Gallery, in tribute to the late artist, Ellen Lanyon, who often used images of birds in her art. Two of her works will be on display. Of a Feather will be on view at UT’s Downtown Gallery December 5, 2014 through January 15, 2015.

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

New narrative sculpture & paintings ("Every Picture Tells a Story") by Marga McBride, and new paintings by Charlotte Terrell. Opening reception & Holiday Open House Dec 7, 5-8 PM.

Bennett Galleries & Company, 5308 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Info: 865-584-6791; www.bennettgalleries.com

The Knoxville Watercolor Society will exhibit recent works from its members at the Rose Center, 442 W. Second North St., Morristown, TN 37814.

Opening reception will be Friday, December 5th from 6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm, in conjunction with the Rose Center's Holiday Open House. Regular hours for the Rose Center are M-F, 9 am. to 5 pm., and Thursday until 7:30 pm.

For more information about the Knoxville Watercolor Society, membership requirements and to view members' art work go to www.knxvillewatercolorsociety.com.

Where: Bliss Home 29 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902
When: Friday, December 5th, 2014 through the end of the month.
Opening Reception: Friday, December 5th, 2014 6pm to 9pm
Admission: Free

Facebook: Bliss Home • Stacey Fletcher

Artist's Website: www.staceyfletcher.com

Bliss Home is pleased to present the latest works by Knoxville artist, Stacey Fletcher, for December's First Friday. Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, December 5th from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary Steamboat Sandwiches will be provided and Stacey's art will be featured for the month of December.

Stacey Fletcher received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from The University of Tennessee in 2003, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Valdosta State University in 2000. She has exhibited nationally and internationally in many individual, group, and juried exhibitions. This includes being awarded the honor of participating in the 2005 Pienkow International Artist Workshop in Poland. Stacey has taught for The University of Tennessee since 2000 as a graduate assistant, an assistant professor, as well as through the personal and professional extended education program. She lives, paints, and teaches in Knoxville, TN.

As a cathartic painter, Stacey’s work expresses emotions and frustrations that would otherwise be hard to express verbally. They seem abstract at first glace to the viewer, but have some sense of childhood imagery disguised among the colorful layers. Her work is fresh with vibrant lively colors, with layered metaphors of herself and others contrasted with the chaotic approach of the energetic marks.

The District Gallery presents: Chasing Light: New Works by Kathie Odom
December 5-30, 2014
Opening Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-8 p.m.
The District Gallery is pleased to present Chasing Light: New Works by Kathie Odom. For her second solo show at The District Gallery, Odom has created a collection of work fitting for the season. A true impressionist, she follows in the plein-air (in the open air) painting tradition dating back to the seventeenth century.

Chasing Light showcases Odom’s ability to see an ever-changing nature and preserve meaningful details in time and space – to create a mood. Her works are timeless interpretations of the atmosphere, light and story in the landscape around her. Odom leaves the anatomy of her work exposed and allows light to diffuse translucently from the first wash to the thicker oils, revealing different layers and textures. Subtle detailing coupled with loose brush strokes invite the viewer beneath into an aliveness not so apparent on the surface.
According to Odom, “plein-air painters feel like they are chasing the light. When I walk upon a beautiful landscape to paint where the light is perfect, I have to rely upon my memory to paint that moment, because the light changes so fast… At times, on a day full of clouds, there are awesome moments when the sun peeks through the clouds and onto the land. Although quite difficult to capture that moment on canvas, sometimes magic happens.”

Join us for a Holiday Open House and opening reception for Chasing Light on Friday, December 5 from 5-8 p.m. Meet the artist, enjoy holiday cuisine from Gourmet’s Market, and live music by Michael Whitesides.
Chasing Light is on display in the gallery through December 30.

An opening reception for the Art Market Gallery’s December featured artists, painter Marjorie Horne and wood turner Nelson Ziegler, will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Dec. 5, during Downtown Knoxville’s monthly First Friday Art Walk, with complimentary refreshments and Christmas and classical music performed by cellists Carla and Bethany Brown.

Marjorie Spalding Horne, of Knoxville, a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America in both colored pencil and mixed media, has had many solo shows and purchase and merit awards.
Nelson Ziegler, of Sevierville, has been wood turning for 20 years, although he has worked in the medium his entire life and is a longtime member of The American Association of Wood Turners.

The featured artists’ exhibit will run through Dec. 28. In addition, sales of selected works by other gallery artists will benefit The Community School of the Arts during December.

Owned and operated by 62 professional regional artists, the Art Market Gallery, at 422 South Gay St., is a few doors from Mast General Store and next to Downtown Grill & Brewery. December hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday. The gallery is wheelchair accessible, and parking in nearby public garages 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.

The painting class with cocktails!

Friday, 12/5 - 6pm
Einstein Brothers Bagels
"Cuppa Knoxville"

Monday, 12/8 - 6pm
Blue Coast Grill
"Local Brew"

Tuesday, 12/9 - 6pm
Mimi's Cafe
"Red Ornament"

Saturday, 12/13 - 1pm
Blue Slip Winery
"Ornament Painting"

Monday, 12/15 - 6pm
Surin of Thailand
"Winter Spirits"

Wednesday, 12/17 - 6pm
Doc's All American Grille
"Funky Flower"

Thursday, 12/18 - 6pm
Blue Slip Winery
"Evergreens"

Monday, 12/22 - 6pm
Crown and Goose
"A Touch of Winter"

Saturday, 12/27 - 7pm
Original Copper Cellar
"SunMoonRise"

Wine & Canvas: Knoxville, TN, 865-356-9179, http://www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

The Arts & Culture Alliance proudly presents its 2014 Members Show, the largest annual exhibition of local artists in the Greater Knoxville area. The fresh mix of two- and three-dimensional works created within the last two years encompasses a wide variety of media such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, fine craft, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, and more from regional artists who are all members of the Arts & Culture Alliance, which serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. Membership is open to all, and information may be found at www.knoxalliance.com/join.html. Most of the works in the 2014 Members Show are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display in both galleries of the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville from December 5-23, 2014, and an opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on December 5 from 5:00-9:00 PM with a salsa bar provided by Qdoba and chocolate fondue by the Melting Pot of Knoxville. The First Friday reception features music by Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, a demonstration of two hand-built robots, Pablo and Bumblebee, by Knox Makers, and music and dance performances by Pasión Flamenca in the Black Box Theatre.

Gallery hours for the 2014 Members Show are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Additional special hours are posted at www.theemporiumcenter.com/visit.html. Please note, the Emporium will be closed December 24 – January 1 for the holidays, reopening on Friday, January 2. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

Barbara Robinson's book, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," is a holiday favorite of kids around the world. Having sold over 800,000 copies worldwide, KCT's production will tell the story of Imogene, Claude, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys, six delinquent children surnamed Herdman who engage in extremely unruly behavior. They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers snacks. Despite protests from other church members, they are given roles in the Sunday School's Christmas play, in which they tell the traditional Christmas story in a most unconventional manner!

The play will be performed December 5 through 21, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 & 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM. Ashlee Latimer will direct the play.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com. Reservations: www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/tickets

We will be celebrating handcrafted gifts with gallery demonstrations featuring art dolls, textiles, wood carving, print making and weaving during our Holiday Marketplace, Dec. 5 - 16. Join us as we also celebrate our Fifteenth Annual Jewelry Focus throughout December. Choose from our fine selection of premier jewelry designs from artists of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Arrowcraft Shop, 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-4604, www.southernhighlandguild.org/pages/guild-shops/arrowcraft.php

The Appalachian Ballet Company in their 43rd season will present the annual holiday tradition - The Nutcracker. The production features live music by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. The Appalachian Ballet Company will present four public shows and two school matinees (includes K-8 curriculum guide covering common core standards). Dancing the role of the Nutcracker Prince the first weekend will be David Ward, courtesy of BalletMet, Columbus, OH. He will be partnering ballerina Kylie Morton Berry, the Sugarplum Fairy, formerly with North Carolina Dance Theatre. The second weekend Ms. Berry will be joined by freelance artist Peter Doll of Atlanta, GA. This year’s production will include several new pieces of choreography featuring guests artists, who will be traveling in to perform with ABC’s soloists.

December 4 & 5: 10:00AM - Full length school matinee performances of The Nutcracker at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium.
December 6 at 8:00PM and December 7 at 2:00PM - Full length public performances of The Nutcracker, accompanied by the Knoxville Symphony, at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium.
December 13 at 2:00PM and 8:00PM - Full length public performances of The Nutcracker, accompanied by the Knoxville Symphony, at the Clayton Center for the Arts.

For over 100 years, this classic story has proven to be a favorite, enchanting audiences of all ages. Come see the magic with lavish scenery, glorious tutus, soldiers, snowflakes and sugar plums at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium or The Clayton Center for the Arts – the first and second weekends of December. Tickets are now on sale -- call ABC at 865.982.8463 or Knox Tickets 865.656.4444 or Clayton Center 981-8590. Info: www.appalachianballet.com