Calendar of Events

The Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865 may have legally ended the Civil War, but it did not end East Tennessee’s bitter internal war. As Union and Confederate veterans returned home, fierce partisanship and settling of old scores often continued. Some Confederates, feeling unwelcome in their own homeland, left the region, many never to return. Yet, as the months and years passed, the vast majority on each side began to work together to mend their differences and to rebuild their war-ravaged lives and communities. The new exhibit Memories of the Blue and Gray: The Civil War in East Tennessee at 150 will explore early attempts at reconciliation and how we as East Tennesseans continue to remember the Civil War 150 years later.

The exhibition will feature more than 125 artifacts from the collections of ETHS, Gerald and Sandra Augustus, Drs. Anthony and Jill Hodges, and others, highlighting reconstruction, reunions, the Sultana disaster, cemeteries and monuments, commemorative art, educational institutions, collecting of artifacts and memorabilia, and state and local preservation efforts. Clothing varying from period gowns to a Ku Klux Klan uniform to a Confederate reunion frock coat will be on display, alongside a brush believed carried by a soldier who survived the explosion and sinking of the Sultana, a piece of furniture made by the former slave Lewis Buckner, and the diaries of Ellen Renshaw House. Featured Civil War Reunion memorabilia will range from 1881 to 2013 with the 150th anniversary of the battle of Fort Sanders. The “Looking Back” Civil War artifact documentation program of the Tennessee State Library and Archives will be represented with an odd-shaped shoe, fashioned by the Union for a Confederate soldier from Grainger County who lost half his foot in the Battle of Franklin. In addition to artifacts, the exhibition will include a video of Civil War collectors Gerald and Sandra Augustus and a slide show highlighting East Tennessee’s Civil War cemeteries and monuments.

The exhibition is presented in conjunction with the Blue & Gray Reunion and Freedom Jubilee to be held in Knoxville, April 30-May 3, 2015. Four days of special programming highlighting Knoxville and the region’s Civil War history begins with the state's Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event with lectures by nationally recognized speakers, a performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Civil War artifact documentation by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, student and teacher programs, a Blue & Gray Dinner, and more. Weekend activities include music, vintage baseball games, bus tours to historic homes, forts, and cemeteries, living history, heritage groups, exhibits, a service of remembrance, a Peace Jubilee, fireworks, and more. For more information on the programs of the Blue & Gray Reunion and Freedom Jubilee, please visit www.eastTNhistory.org/BlueGray.

The Museum of East Tennessee History is open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday; and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday. Museum Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, and FREE for children under 16. Each Sunday admission is FREE to all and ETHS members always receive FREE admission. The Museum is located in the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37901. For more information about booking the exhibition, scheduling a school tour, or visiting the museum, call (865) 215-8824, email eths@eastTNhistory.org, or visit www.easttnhistory.org.

The Town of Farragut and Farragut Arts Council will sponsor the 2015 Farragut Intermediate School Art Show beginning in April at the Farragut Town Hall. Don't miss this opportunity to marvel at the work of some of Farragut's most talented young artists. Awards will be given for best in show and first, second and third places during the reception.

View during regular Town Hall hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Reception: Tuesday, May 5 - 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Dr, Farragut, TN 37934. Information: 865-966-7057, www.townoffarragut.org

We’ve teamed up with Outdoor KnoxFest for a second year to make Bikes & Blooms even better as we experience the Dogwood trails the lean, green way – on a bicycle by way of an organized ride! Both rides will be scenic, 7-9-mile rides for everyone to enjoy and will be led by a member of Tennessee Valley Bikes. Rides are free, NO pre-registration is required.

Bikes & Blooms Scenic Rides
Leaving from Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center [900 Volunteer Landing, Knoxville]

SATURDAY, APRIL 26 AT 3:00PM
Observe the beauty of the Dogwood Trails from the seat of a bicycle as you ride to the colorful gardens that frame Island Home Boulevard. Riders will enjoy river views and tranquil forests as they continue on the greenway to Ijams Nature Center before returning.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27 AT 3:00PM
Behold the colorful displays of our native dogwood trees that fringe our boulevards and gardens. Bikers will ride through downtown and loop through historic neighborhoods in North Knoxville.

Dogwood Arts Festival: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

The District Gallery & Framery is pleased to present Automata: Art Cars by Clark Stewart, opening April 24. Stewart, a retired professor, taught drawing and painting at the University of Tennessee for 42 years. His work, which is largely figurative, has been shown in over 200 exhibitions worldwide and is included in many private, corporate and museum collections.

Opening Reception: Friday, April 24, 5-9 p.m. - Meet the artist, and, if you own a classic car, we invite you to drive it to the opening reception for a fun evening with fellow gear heads!

As a teenager in Orange County, California, Stewart restored an MG-TC to concours level and progressed through an Alpha Romeo, Porsche, MG, Jaguar and more. An avowed motoring enthusiast, he is now involved in various vintage motorcycles—Nortons, a Benelli, and a classic BMW. Stewart’s “Automata” project is an attempt to bring his passions of art-making, modeling and machinery together. “Automata” are sculptures of imaginary, somewhat fantastic cars that are loosely based on exotic cars of the ’30s deco period. Most are around 15 inches long and made of wood, metal, and materials not associated with cars, such as velvet. They have no provision for passengers and are conceived as pure machines, their qualities uncompromised by human occupancy. The series concept is that they are imaginary maquettes for full-scale vehicles that would cruise urban areas controlled by sensors and computer programs—like drones for the viewing pleasure of passing onlookers.

The exhibit features over 20 of Stewart’s art cars and motorcycles. Also included in the show are displays that were custom-built by The Framery for these sculptures.

The District Gallery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-4. Information: 865-200-4452, www.TheDistrictGallery.com

Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964
Also: Gente Not Numbers and Border Monster sculptures by Angel Luna

Opening reception Sunday April 19, 1:30pm

This exhibit, created by the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Service and presented by Humanities Tennessee, highlights the historical program which imported Latin American agricultural workers to the United States. For a full list of events and exhibits for this celebration, visit www.rosecenter.org. Rose Center has received a generous grant from Humanities Tennessee to support these events.

The Rose Center, 442 West Second North St., Morristown, TN, 37814. Information: 423-581-4330

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season!

Book and Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht; Music by Kurt Weill; Directed by Calvin MacLean
Clarence Brown Theatre

“The greatest musical of all time.” Newsweek

With a haunting jazz score and biting lyrics, the “haves” clash with the “have-nots” in Brecht’s sharp critique of Capitalism.

This brilliant masterpiece of epic theatre originated the popular songs “The Ballad of Mack the Knife,” “Solomon Song,” and “Pirate Jenny.”

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

Many people consider Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy​ to be one of the world's greatest novels. Published in 1877 against the backdrop of Russian high society and its frequent hypocrisy, Tolstoy explores themes of love, selfishness, family, and how to lead the best possible life.

Often masterpieces such as Anna Karenina can be intimidating. Knox County Public Library is pleased to partner with the University of Tennessee's Department of Modern Languages to present Tuesdays with Tolstoy throughout April to encourage readers to try Tolstoy's classic story of passion. Everyone is invited to read along and join the discussion.

UTK Russian literature student, Erika Knowles, under the guidance of her major professor, Dr. Stephen Blackwell, will facilitate a four-part study of Anna Karenina at Lawson McGhee Library from 6:00-7:30 p.m. starting on Tuesday, April 7 and continuing on April 14, 21, and 28. Each week, participants will read a section of the book, which they will discuss at the Library. Registration is encouraged at http://www.knoxlib.org/Tolstoy.

Tuesdays with Tolstoy is held in conjunction with the UTK's Leo Tolstoy Festival, which takes place April 23-25 . More information is available at http://mfll.utk.edu/tolstoy/. Dr. Blackwell began the Leo Tolstoy Festival as part of a bigger series called the Great Author Festival.

Many copies of Anna Karenina are available for check out at the Knox County Public Library.
Knox County Public Library: 500 West Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-215-8750, www.knoxlib.org

Where: Downtown Knoxville and McGhee Tyson Airport
When: April 4, 2014-March 20, 2015
How Much: Free

Art comes in all shapes and sizes. We invite you to experience some of the larger variety with Art in Public Places, an annual event featuring large-scale outdoor sculptures in Knoxville’s downtown public spaces and also at McGhee Tyson Airport. These larger scale pieces are thought provoking and awe-inspiring.

By displaying these works outdoors, we celebrate not only the art of sculpture but Knoxville’s natural beauty during this year-round outdoor exhibition.

The exhibition presently on view, an interesting and inspirational collection of works by sculptors from across the nation, was selected and awarded by noted sculptor Kenneth M. Thompson. Kenneth holds a Master of Liberal Studies in Sculpture from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Siena Heights College, in Adrian, MI. While many of his sculptures are in Ohio and Michigan, Thompson’s work can be seen in other states. He has done 41 pieces of public sculpture across the country. Ken has been making sculpture for over thirty years out of his car-dealership-turned-studio in Blissfield, Michigan. From this facility he operates Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Galleries as well as Midwest Sculpture Initiative, which provides exhibitions that feature outdoor sculpture. Fourteen shows are planned for next year, he says. He also serves or has served on numerous arts-oriented boards.

The Art in Public Places Knoxville program, the 2015-2016 year being its 9th is a featured presentation of Dogwood Arts in partnership with the City of Knoxville Public Art Committee. The 2014-2015 Art in Public Places Knoxville Co-Chairs are Bart Watkins and Jason Brown.

To purchase a sculpture, please call [865] 637.4561.

Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

Tracey Crocker, co-owner and artist extraordinaire of Wine and Canvas Knoxville is proud to announce her first "1st Friday" show in Knoxville. Her pieces will be on exhibit at Uncorked on Market Square starting Friday April 3rd throughout the end of the month! Uncorked in Market Square, 18 Market Square, Knoxville. Info: (865) 521-0600

Dennis Sabo, a Loudon, TN resident, is an internationally honored photographer specializing in contemporary abstract, landscape, and seascape photography. His award-winning work has appeared in various publications, television, the Internet and institutions. among them National Geographic, NOVA, PBS, and Blue Planet.

His exhibit, titled “Meadows and Mountains,” will be on display from April 1 to June 30th at Rarity Bay Community Center, Vonore, TN. The main exhibit hall is accessible Monday through Friday, 9AM to 4 PM which displays 12 of his pieces. Visitors should call ahead if they want to see the entire exhibit to assure that the conference room is not occupied with an event.

For more information, directions, or to check exhibit availability contact the Community Center at 423-884-3800
Viewing on weekends by special arrangements can be made by contacting Becky Kosalac at 423-884-3614 or Jean Porter at 423-744-4166.

East Tennessee Art Educator Exhibition curated by John Ashworth. Student Art Exhibition curated by Flowerree McDonough.

A Program Of Knoxville's Dogwood Arts, at Clayton Center for the Arts, 502E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 2, 5:00-9:00 with awards at 7:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm. Also: Saturday, April 11, 12:00-5:00pm
Free to the public!
Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

4/2: Shoreline, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Hurricane Grill & Wings - 319 Lovell Rd, Knoxville, TN 37934

4/9: Starry Night in Knoxville **Give from the Heart with Art** - The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Club LeConte - 800 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37929

4/13: Blossom Sunrise, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Chuy's - 9235 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922

4/14: Birch Trees, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Mimi's Cafe - 10945 Parkside Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922

4/21: Love Anchor, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Dead End BBQ - Maryville - 527 West Broadway Ave., Maryville, TN 37801

4/22: Spring Blooms, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Calhoun's - Turkey Creek - 625 Turkey Cove Ln, Knoxville, TN 37934

4/23: Dogwoods, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Original Copper Cellar - 1807 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916

4/26: Wine and Fruit, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Mind Yer P's & Q's - Farragut - 12744 Kingston Pike Suite 104, Knoxville, TN 37934

4/27: Old World Wine, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Uncorked - 18-20 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902

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