Calendar of Events

Library's monthly lunch and learn program is focusing on environmental books this Fall!

The public is invited to join the conversation. Bring your favorite sandwich or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Soft drinks and bottle water will be available for 50 cents. Copies of the books are available at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program.

On December 17, Todd Witcher, Director, Discover Life in America will discuss The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us. In The Sixth Extinction, two-time winner of the National Magazine Award and New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert draws on the work of scores of researchers in half a dozen disciplines, accompanying many of them into the field: geologists who study deep ocean cores, botanists who follow the tree line as it climbs up the Andes, marine biologists who dive off the Great Barrier Reef. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy; as Kolbert observes, it compels us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.

Knox County Public Library, 500 W. Church Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902: (865) 215-8700, www.knoxlib.org.

Disaster! Silver Stage Players' Star Studded Super Spectacular Christmas Holiday Musical...Disaster!

Coming to your friendly Neighborhood O'Connor Senior Center, Knoxville, TN
December 17, Wednesday. 1 pm. Donations Accepted.

Preview: The Silver Stage players have put on plays from New Orleans to Washington, DC with awesome reviews and many rewards.
Author, Director, Producers: Charlie & Jeanette Stevens

A book signing and artist's talk for John Kelley's new book, "John Woodrow Kelley, Greek Mythology Now".
Free to the general public with a cash bar & hors d'oeuvres.
More information about the book: www.greekmythologynow.com. More information about the artist/author at www.johnwoodrowkelley.com.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Metamorphosis: Angel-Phoenix Figures
Art By Theophilus
The Literacy Imperative Arts Reception:
December 11, 2014 4PM to 8PM
Exhibit: December 11, 2014 to January 31, 2015
Burlington Library, 4614 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37914
(865) 525-5431

Grade-school students from the Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School are building a canned food sculpture, featuring the school’s name and ram mascot, for a “STEAM Out Hunger”. The project is inspired by Knoxville’s Holiday Canstruction® event hosted by Messer Construction. ConAgra and Bush Beans donated the 1,440 canned-food building blocks for the sculpture. The Besmann Family Fund for Social Justice and Spiritual Enrichment of the Knoxville Jewish Community Family of Funds also provided support.

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org

At the Museum of Appalachia, log cabins and barns nestle at the base of a hill. Smoke rises lazily from chimneys, signaling warmth from within on a chilly December day. Beginning on December 6th, the Museum will celebrate Christmas in Old Appalachia, a festive winter celebration that captures the beauty and simplicity of an old-fashioned Christmas. Inside the cabins, simple cedar Christmas trees are draped with paper chains, popcorn strings, sweet gum, and sycamore balls. In the Dan’l Boone Cabin, a dormant sapling wears cotton “snow” and scraps of cloth for bows. Pine clippings, magnolia leaves and holly berries line the mantels above the fireplaces. The Little Tater Valley School House is adorned with hand-made ornaments made by local students. Tattered or well-worn quilts are laid under the trees; topped with carved wooden animals, tin horns, rag dolls, wagons, and spinning tops—all of which were presents found early on Christmas morning. Children often opened their Christmas packages to find practical gifts, such as new shoes or books, purchased from a mail order catalog; and relished in the joy of receiving something as simple as an orange or a peppermint stick.

For December 6th-7th the Museum has planned a variety of charming holiday festivities to kick off its Christmas season. Such fun activities include: craftsmen demonstrating traditional arts, warm fires surrounded by traditional porch musicians playing seasonal music, local authors signing their books, and a delicious home-cooked dinner at the Museum’s restaurant. Continuing through December 24th, special holiday exhibits include the children’s display in the Hall of Fame, with toys and furniture made by loving parents and grandparents, and Granny Irwin’s traditional Christmas Crazy Quilt—brought out only on special or festive occasions.

Browse the regional, ‘American made’, hand-crafted gifts and books in the Shop at the Museum for a special Christmas gift. Enjoy hot, southern country-style lunches, served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Museum restaurant. Home-made cakes, pies, cookies, and other holiday treats are available all day, or can be made special to order for Christmas gatherings.

December hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily (8:30 a.m.-3pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day). The Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate and a not-for-profit organization, is located 16 miles North of Knoxville, one mile East of I-75, Exit 122. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

This vintage steam engine train takes guests on a 90-minute excursion through some of Knoxville’s most historic and beautiful countryside.

Our Christmas Lantern Express trains feature holiday decorations, holiday refreshments, story time with celebrity readers and a visit with Santa.

DECEMBER
Saturday, December 6 at 9:45 am (sold out), 1 pm, & 4:15 pm (sold out)
Sunday, December 7 at 1 pm & 4:15 pm
Saturday, December 13 at 9:45 am, 1 pm (sold out), & 4:15 pm (sold out)
Sunday, December 14 at 1 pm & 4:15 pm
Saturday, December 20 at 9:45 am, 1 pm, & 4:15 pm
Sunday, December 21 at 1 pm & 4:15 pm

FARES
Adults: $26.50
Senior (55+): $25.50
Child (3-12): $15:50
Toddler (1-2): $7.50
Infant (under 1): Free

400 Neyland Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902, 865-524-9411, http://www.threeriversrambler.com

Presented by HoLa Hora Latina
First Friday at the Emporium Center-Casa HoLa • December 5, 5:00 - 9:00 PM
A series of paintings by Argentine native Susana Esrequis. Selected by UNICEF to design their Christmas cards and postcards, Susana has also contributed her work to other non-profit organizations including the Argentinean Children Patronage, Argentinean Association of University Women, Knoxville Opera Guild, and HoLa Hora Latina.

Susana Esrequis through her clear-green eyes sees the world with the confidence of a person who does not despair, even when everything leads to uneasiness. She sees with the eyes poorly called “the child”, but it is the glance of a person who did not forget the depth of the nature message, this unique gift always affronted, than now more than ever a lot of us are trying to protect for the man, that mistreated son of God. - Albino Dieguez Videla, Internatinoal Asociation of Art Critics

HoLa Hora Latina, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 112, Knoxville, TN 37902. Gallery hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm. Information: 865-335-3358, www.holaknoxville.org, www.holafestival.org

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.