Calendar of Events

Arrowmont invites exhibiting artists and their families, members of our community and the public to the 17th Sevier County Biennial Juried Exhibition celebrating the creative talent within Sevier County. The opening reception will be held Friday, January 16 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the Sandra J. Blain Galleries and the exhibit will be on display through March 13, 2015. The Gallery is open Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Tours are available by reservation, and can be arranged by calling 865-436-5860. The opening reception, gallery and tours are free to the public.

Arrowmont is grateful to Sherry Masters, owner of Art Connections in Asheville, North Carolina, who served as juror this year. With over 140 entries and 103 works of art accepted into the exhibition, this show is a glowing testament to the artistic talent and dedication of Sevier County residents. Of the works accepted, 13 were chosen to receive awards. The artists will be presented their awards on the evening of the gallery reception.

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

Free and open to the public - Opening reception January 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; artists’ talks at 6:30 p.m.

Claudia Dean - I Live in Knoxville Now
Through her watercolors, Dean tries to express Knoxville through images of its places. She begins with a photograph, which allows her to isolate and formalize the image before she draws. The photographs are "snapshots" of places that resonate for her and she wants to express the feeling of intimacy and significance in the image. She acknowledges her love of craft and repetition in the quilt pieces, which are intended to convey feeling or emotion in a more musical way than the representational images. She carries over discoveries and lessons learned in each type of work to the other. Dean was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and studied painting and printmaking at Kansas City Art Institute. She was a craft jeweler in Albuquerque for many years, selling work in craft galleries in the southwest and California. In 2003 Dean moved to Knoxville with her family and returned to two-dimensional artwork.

Mark Evans - En Plein Aire
Evans has always enjoyed taking pictures in national parks, and he likes to bring joy and beauty to the viewer. He entitled this show “En Plein Aire” because just as the invention of oil paints in tubes allowed people to work outdoors in the countryside and get the images they wanted, digital photography has allowed Evans to create the images he wants. He started taking photographs as a child with his father’s old camera. He shot black and white film and did his own darkroom work because he couldn’t afford color slide film. What he really liked was slide shows of people’s trips. Eventually he could afford slide film and he hasn’t been in a darkroom since. He’s been doing digital photography for five years. eBooks of Evans’ national park pictures can be found at marksparks.us.

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery hours: Monday-Thursday 9AM-5PM, Friday 9AM-4:30PM, Sunday 9AM-1PM. Information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

The Fountain City Art Center's 4th Annual Theme show, open to all artists, will be on display January 16 through February 13. The opening reception will be January 16, from 6:30-8:00PM. Theme: East Tennessee Treasures.

213 Hotel Rd, Knoxville, TN 37918
(865) 357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

Knoxville Children’s Theatre will present Huckleberry Finn, an adaptation for the stage of the classic American novel by humorist Mark Twain.

Performances: Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 PM, Saturday, Jan. 17 at 1 & 5 PM, Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3 PM
Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 PM, Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 PM, Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sunday, Jan. 25 at 3 PM
Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 PM, Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 PM, Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sunday, Feb. 1 at 3 PM

KCT’s 64th full-scale production features 14 young actors in the cast.

Mark Twain’s comic adventure about life on the Mississippi River bristles with satire, thrills, and drama. Huck escapes from his criminal father aboard a raft on the “Big Muddy,” joined by his friend Jim, also on the run to the North to escape from slavery.Their adventures bring them together with two riverboat con artists, three pious sisters, and reunites him with his old pal Tom Sawyer. Along the way he rescues $3,000 in gold, helps to apprehend the con artists, and sees Jim achieve his dreams. But what will Huck become? KCT is East Tennessee’s leading producer of stage plays for children. Huckleberry Finn is the 64th play to be produced by Knoxville Children’s Theatre. The company has produced 22 original plays since 2008. Over 9,500 people attended a KCT play in 2014.

TICKET PRICES: $12. SPECIAL RATE: Any adult & Child entering together = $10 each

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

MTNA Southern Division Conference
Workshops, lectures, master classes and performances
Friday, January 16th to Monday, January 19, 2015 at 8:00 a.m.
Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, Natalie L. Haslam Music Center

UT School of Music: Unless otherwise noted, concerts are FREE and open to the public. The Alumni Memorial Building located at 1408 Middle Drive on the UT campus. (The James R. Cox Auditorium is located in the Alumni Memorial Building.) The Natalie Haslam Music Center is located at 1741 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus.
*For individual or small group performances, please check the web site or call the day of the event for updates or cancellations: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events

Three Time USA National Guitar Champion to Perform and Teach in Alcoa/Maryville, TN January 16-17, 2015 Steve Kaufman Workshop Weekend

Alcoa/Maryville, TN: Guitarist Steve Kaufman, the three-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championships, will offer a Two-Day, All-level Flatpicking Guitar Workshop in Alcoa/Maryville. The workshop is to be held at MainStay Suites, 361 Fountain View Circle, Alcoa, TN.

Special room rates available for those wanting to stay at the hotel. Call Teagan at MainStay Suites 865-379-7799

The two-day all-level flatpicking guitar workshop will be a two-hour session Friday evening (7-9pm) and will cover core picking skills and techniques, repertoire and building blocks for growth. The workshop continues Saturday morning from 9:30am-3:30. This is when Kaufman will cover right and left hand technique, drills and skills, and many other valuable aspects of the flatpicking guitar. Small groups and some individual attention make this workshop valuable for at all levels of experience. Bluegrass Unlimited has said, “As a professional guitar teacher, Kaufman has perfected his teaching skills as much as his picking technique.”

The fee for the all-level flatpicking guitar workshop is $90 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $45 is required to hold a space, with the remainder due the day of the workshop. Pre-registration required. Seating is limited.

Contact Steve at 865-982-3808 or email steve@flatpik.com to register.

Fundraiser for the library where more than 50,000 books are available—$1 for soft cover and $2.50 for hard cover, plus movies (DVD & VHS), audiobooks and specially priced rare books, collectibles and others--by the Friends of the Blount County Public Library (FOL).

In the Library lower level. 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804 | Phone: (865) 982-0981 Web site: www.blountlibrary.org

At Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave, 37915

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission partners annually with the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA) to host a Community Forum. On Friday, January 16 at the Beck Center immediately following the Gallery of Arts Tribute Reception, the Community Conversation will continue for its 8th year. Please join us for an evening of fellowship, conversation and of course there will be music to enrich the experience. We look forward to seeing you. For more information please call 865.776.5050.

MLK Commission: PO Box 155, Knoxville, TN 37901-0155, www.mlkknoxville.com

The Athens Area Council for the Arts presents Run Boy Run on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 7:30 pm. Run Boy Run is part of the 2014-2015 Black Box Concert Series at The Arts Center at 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee. All Black Box Concert Series events are sponsored by Tennessee Wesleyan College. All AACA programs are supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Run Boy Run continues the spirit of innovation in traditional American music pioneered in recent years by bands like Nickel Creek. The group’s unique sound is dynamic, orchestral, and overflowing with beauty. Run Boy Run exists in the tension between tradition and frontier. Three strong female voices weave a spectacular tapestry of sound, while award-winning fiddle cuts a path for a tightly formed rhythmic front.

From winning the band contest at Pickin’ in the Pines in the first weeks of forming in 2009 to playing on stage at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival as band contest winners in 2012, to making a second appearance on A Prairie Home Companion in St. Paul in 2013, Run Boy Run is spreading their special brand of music to all who would hear.

Tickets for Run Boy Run are $15/adult and $8/student and are on sale online at www.athensartscouncil.org, by phone at 423-745-8781, and at The Arts Center, 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee 37303. The last performance in this year’s series is New York City’s jazz vocalist and singer-songwriter, KJ Denhert on March 20, 2015.

Athens Area Council for the Arts: 320 North White Street, Athens, TN, 37303. Info: 423-745-8781, www.athensartscouncil.org

Since 1993, and years before the resurgence of downtown, Alive After Five has been attracting people to Knoxville from the Knox County periphery and surrounding counties to enjoy live music, food, spirits, and art in the casually elegant atmosphere of the Knoxville Museum of Art. The early Friday evening program has been a great way to wind down from the work week or to start the weekend or both. Mostly showcasing the rich treasure trove of local and regional musical talent, Alive After Five has also presented acts from New Orleans, Boston, Dallas, Canada, Peru, France, Japan, Australia, and more. Food is available from a variety of area restaurants or caterers, and there are two cash bars.

January 16 – Tennessee Sheiks

$10 General Admission · $5 with Membership or student ID · Free for ages 17 and under.

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

KNOX HERITAGE PRESENTS “LOST & FOUND” LUNCH AT HISTORIC WESTWOOD
Jack Neely & Becky Hancock discussing the history and release of, The Tennessee Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Palace

Knox Heritage continues its series of educational lunches, Lost & Found, on Friday, January 16th at 11:30 a.m. Guest speakers Jack Neely and Becky Hancock, Executive Director of the Tennessee Theater Foundation will present a fascinating look at the historic of the Tennessee Theatre.

The Lost & Found Lunch will be held at the office of Knox Heritage, Historic Westwood – 3425 Kingston Pike. Parking is free and is available in the Laurel Church of Christ parking lot next door – 3457 Kingston Pike. A free lunch buffet will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 12:00 p.m. Space is very limited and advance reservations are required. To make reservations, call Hollie Cook at 865-523-8008 or email her at hcook@knoxheritage.org

In celebration of the release of, The Tennessee Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Palace by Jack Neely, Knox Heritage welcomes Neely and Executive Director of the Tennessee Theatre Foundation, Becky Hancock to present a history of the Tennessee Theater and discuss the little known facts and interesting historical tidbits discovered while researching the book.

The book, The Tennessee Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Palace by Jack Neely will be available for purchase at the event for $59.95 plus tax and Neely will also be available to sign books.

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

FAMILY WILDLIFE SERIES: Owl Prowl
(All Ages) You may think you know the trails at Ijams, but they become a whole new experience at night! Our fearless trail guides will lead you on an adventure in which owls hooting, coyotes howling, and strange rustlings in the brush are wonderful possibilities. Animals and plants use the nighttime to their advantage, and we can sneak a peek into their world! The fee for this program is $5 for members and $8 for non-members. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 110 to register.

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