Calendar of Events

The McClung Museum’s 5th annual Civil War Lecture series will be held one Sunday each month in the McClung Museum Auditorium.

This month’s lecture, “Churches and Cemeteries in Knoxville 1861–1865: Religious War Stories,” will be given by Joan Markel, PhD, Civil War Curator, McClung Museum. Markel will examine the religious institutions of Knoxville as they endured the war years. Clergy, congregations, buildings, and land were all impacted by the turmoil of the times, and their experience help us to understand the stresses upon our community. The lecture is free and open to the public.

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

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

Elasticity

Crystal Wagner invites us to “fast forward to 2050, where plastic grows by itself!” for a viewing of her one-of-a-kind art. This exhibit explores the space between the plastic, artificial environment of everyday experiences with man-made materials, consumerism, and technology and the exotic landscapes that occupy the surface of our earth.
Wagner illustrates the increasingly severe divide between humans and the natural world through her pieces, which “grow” like life forms through the gallery.

January 15-February 6, Reception: Thursday, Feb. 5, 4-7 P.M.
Bagwell Center for Media and Art
Pellissippi State Community College
10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville 37933
www.pstcc.edu/arts

This exhibition features the photographic and video work of 19 undergraduate UT alumni and students of Baldwin Lee. Professor Lee retired this year after a 30 year teaching career at UT. During his tenure, Professor Lee introduced countless students to photography. Although he was an inspiration for many, nineteen former students have been invited to participate in this celebratory exhibition titled Compound Lens. From Constance Thalken who studied with Lee in the mid 1980’s, to Jonathan Bagby who graduated from UT in 2009, and to Hei Park who continued to study with Lee until his retirement, all of Compound Lens participants were undergraduate students. All remain active artists who reside and work in different regions of the United States, from New York to California, from Texas to Georgia, and across Tennessee.
Artists featured in Compound Lens are:

Christopher Miner
Matt Ducklo
Constance Thalken
Bradly Dever Treadaway
Wardell Milan
Sarah Martin
Jonathan Bagby
Tuni Chatterji
Cip Contreras
Denny Renshaw
Marlo Pascual
Jack Parker
Phillip Carpenter
Erin Leland
Neely Crihfield Hyde
Banner Gwin
Rebecca Finley
Hei Park
Shelly O'Barr

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

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new group exhibition featuring seven regional artists opening Friday, January 9, at 5:00 PM in the Balcony of the Emporium Center:

+ Lynn Corsi Bland (Gatlinburg) – Mixed media paintings using collage; www.lynnbland.com

+ Terina Gillette (Knoxville) – Mixed media, pastels, photography of living canvas works; http://terinagillettefinearts.blogspot.com

+ Tony Henson (Kingsport) – Acrylic paintings; www.tonyhensonart.com

+ Beth Meadows (Knoxville) – Mixed media drawings; www.withbearhands.com

+ Emily Shane (Knoxville) – Mixed media works

+ Tony Sobota (Knoxville) – Acrylic paintings, oil paintings and drawing; www.tonysobota.com

+ Jennifer Willard (Knoxville) – Mixed media on fabric

The exhibition will be displayed in the Balcony gallery of the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville from January 9-31, 2015, and an opening reception will take place on Friday, January 9, from 5:00-9:00 PM. The reception also features music by the Pea Pickin’ Hearts in the gallery as well as a Jazz Jam Session hosted by Vance Thompson and Friends from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Black Box Theatre.

Gallery hours for are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, January 19, for the holiday. Additional special hours are posted at www.theemporiumcenter.com/visit.html. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission (www.tn.gov/arts), the City of Knoxville (www.cityofknoxville.org), and First Tennessee Foundation (www.firsttennesseefoundation.com).

Arts & Culture Alliance at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM. Information: 865-523-7543, www.knoxalliance.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta proudly present a new exhibition entitled “A Narrative of Light and Shadow” featuring the artistry of Taiwan’s female photographers. Three photographers will each present a series of images depicting portraiture, humanitarian concerns, landscape, aboriginal culture, and culture in general: Chang Hsiu-huang presents “Light and shadow”, which displays the interaction of light and shadow and composition in landscape photography; Chien Fu-yu presents “Women’s history”, which includes sensitive, careful portraits of women poets, journalists, artists, pathologists, and entomologists; and Wang Hsiao-chin presents “Mother’s time chart”, which uses the self-portrait to explore the historical implications of creative work, acting both as the photographer and protagonist in her shots.

The exhibition will be on display in the main gallery of the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville from January 9-31, 2015, and an opening reception will take place on Friday, January 9, from 5:00-9:00 PM. The First Friday reception also features music by the Pea Pickin’ Hearts in the gallery as well as a Jazz Jam Session hosted by Vance Thompson and Friends from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Black Box Theatre.

Since the 1970s, photography has flourished in concert with Taiwan’s economic development, democratization and the universalization of education so that female photographers have become common. Nothing can stop the flow of time – only photography can crystallize the moment and the surrounding environment into a permanent image. Photography can capture scenes that are inexpressible in language; thus the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words. With close attention paid during both shooting and arrangement, the series of pictures in “A Narrative of Light and Shadow” are used to create photographic narratives, much as a director might compose a film montage.

Gallery hours for “A Narrative of Light and Shadow” are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, January 19, for the holiday. Additional special hours are posted at www.theemporiumcenter.com/visit.html. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

About the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta
The office offers consular, commercial, informational and cultural services to the six states in the Southeastern United States: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky and commercial services to Florida. Although the U.S. and Taiwan do not have official diplomatic relations, the friendship between the two is long-standing and marked by mutual benefit and cooperation. Under the guidance of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington DC, TECO in Atlanta has developed ever closer ties to our friends in the Southeast. For more information, please visit http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/ATL.

About the Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission (www.tn.gov/arts), the City of Knoxville (www.cityofknoxville.org), and First Tennessee Foundation (www.firsttennesseefoundation.com).

Arts & Culture Alliance at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM. Information: 865-523-7543, www.knoxalliance.com

By Del Shores. Set in a small Texas town, Daddy's Dyin' concerns the reunion of a family gathered to await the imminent death of their patriarch, who has recently suffered a physically as well as mentally disabling stroke. But it is not the story of the impending demise of the father or of the drafting of his will ... it's a story of a rebirth of the spirit of the family unit.

"It's a fast, delicious, easy tale with funny moments, tense moments, touching moments, and characters you care about." – The Hollywood Reporter
"A masterful comedy." – Variety
"A well written piece of mainstream theatre that's consistently funny and occasionally touching." – The Los Angeles Times
"A knockout." – L.A. Weekly

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville. Info: 865-544-1999 or email: info@theatreknoxville.com. www.theatreknoxville.com

The Arts Council of Roane County (ACRC) announced that its 2015 Roane Open Art Show will hold its official opening January 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the O'Brien Art Gallery on the campus of Roane State Community College. In previews since January 8, the exhibit features nearly 20 local artists displaying paintings, sculptures, photographs, pottery, mixed media works, and short films. In a departure from previous ACRC art shows, which ran for just a single weekend, this year’s exhibition will be in place through February 28. Admission is free.

The show will feature short documentary films by Lenoir City filmmaker Jesse Brass, each of which features the work of one artist and provides a glimpse into their passions, motivations, and processes.

The Grand Opening of the show is open to the public. Many of the artists with works on display will be on hand for the event and awards will be presented to the best works in several categories as judged by Roane State Art Department Associate Professor Stacy Jacobs.

Subsequent to the opening, the public is invited to check the Event page of the ACRC website at ArtsCouncilRC.org for gallery hours. Specially scheduled visits can be arranged for groups of five or more by emailing artscouncilofroanecounty@gmail.com at least one week in advance. The ACRC particularly encourages art teachers in Roane County Schools to consider class trips to the gallery.

O’Brien Art Gallery, Roane State Community College, 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, TN, 37748. Information: www.roanestate.edu/art/gallery

Arts Council of Roane County: artscouncilofroanecounty@gmail.com