Calendar of Events

The City of Knoxville and the Central Business Improvement District launches the 2015 Concerts on the Square on downtown’s historic Market Square. All concerts are FREE. The series consists of Jazz Tuesdays (through August 25) and Variety Thursdays (through June 25). Concert events will take place from 7-9 p.m. (unless otherwise noted in the full schedule) on consecutive Thursdays and will cover a number of genres from classical music to Southern rock to swing and Americana.

Here is the schedule for Variety Thursdays:

May 7: Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra (7:30 p.m.)
May 14: Homemade Wine
May 21: FourKast
May 28: Jazz Time Swing Ensemble
June 4: The Coveralls
June 11: Old City Buskers
June 18: Knoxville’s Finest Band
June 25: Kelsey’s Woods

All concerts are free.

Concert goers are invited to bring chairs or blankets to sit on the Square or enjoy the shows with food and drink from the patios of surrounding restaurants.

To stay updated on the bands and on any cancellations due to the weather please check out the Special Events Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofKnoxvilleSpecialEvents?fref=ts

In the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church

Community School of the Arts: 620 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-523-5684, www.csaknox.org

A Tale of Three Valleys. Mark Davidson.

Blount County native Mark Davidson will give an insider's look at the lore and history of three of the most beautiful and interesting places in the Smokies--Walker Valley, Little Greenbrier Cove, and Tuckaleechee. He will talk about the people, mountain life, and the changes wrought by logging and the coming of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While his wife is a direct descendant of Cades Cove patriarch Russell Gregory, Mark descends from early Tuckaleechee Cove pioneer William Davidson. Retired from Blount County Schools, he now teaches a noncredit course, OUR APPALACHIA, at the Blount County campus of Pellissippi State.

May 7, Noon. Free and open to the public.
East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM, Saturday: 10AM-4PM, Sunday: 1-5PM. Library: Monday-Tuesday: 9AM-8:30PM, Wednesday-Friday: 9AM-5:30PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

Pamela Schoenewaldt, USA Today bestselling novelist, will launch her third novel, "Under the Same Blue Sky," at the next Knoxville Writers' Guild program, Thursday, May 7. The event, which will be open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Laurel Theater, at the corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th Streets (in Fort Sanders). A $2 donation is requested at the door. The building is handicapped accessible. Additional parking is available at Redeemer Church of Knoxville, 1642 Highland Ave.

Schoenewaldt's "Under the Same Blue Sky" is set to be released Tuesday, May 5 by HarperCollins. "The pub date... was actually moved up by HarperCollins for this launch," she said.

The historical novel is set in a German-American community during World War I. The story centers on Hazel Renner, who has mysterious healing powers that bring shattering consequences. Her journey takes her to an exiled baron’s looming castle in New Jersey and into the ruins of post-war Germany to solve the mystery of her past, ultimately of herself, as she fashions a new kind of healing for a shell-shocked hero and one small boy. Schoenewaldt is also the author of "When We Were Strangers" and "Swimming in the Moon," which will be released in German in November. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines in England, France, Italy and the United States. She taught writing for the University of Maryland, European Division and the University of Tennessee and lives in Knoxville with her husband, Maurizio Conti, a physicist, and their dog, Jesse. For more information, including an excerpt from "Under the Same Blue Sky," visit http://pamelaschoenewaldt.com.

The book will be available for purchase at the program, courtesy of Union Ave Books. Additional information about KWG and its events can be found at www.KnoxvilleWritersGuild.org. The Knoxville Writers' Guild exists to facilitate a broad and inclusive community for area writers, provide a forum for information, support and sharing among writers, help members improve and market their writing skills and promote writing and creativity.

Symphony on the Square, a FREE outdoor concert in Market Square. The Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra plays popular songs from The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera and more. This concert is sponsored by Home Federal Bank.

Information: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

With few brass groups in the area, Stephen Wallace saw the need for a brass quintet and, as a professional musician, he wanted to share the experience of that music with others. Together with four other musicians, Wallace organized Craggy Top Brass Quintet which will perform at the Blount County Public Library. All five musicians are members of the Maryville College-Community Band.

Stephen Wallace, ensemble organizer and alto horn, is a Professor of Music Emeritus from Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA, with 35 years of teaching experience and 59 years of playing brass instruments. Having a starter repertoire from the Brass Menagerie Quintet where he played trumpet for 14 years, Wallace has added to the selections with his own arrangements or popular tunes and original compositions. Glenn Prager, playing trumpet, is an engineer who worked for Alcoa, Inc. for 30 years, with an extensive background in diverse band types: jazz, small ensembles, community bands. Prager is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. Craig Valentine, also playing trumpet, recently retired as a band director in East Tennessee area and plays in the University Orchestra and Knoxville Community Band. Tarlton Atkinson, trombonist, is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and is a member of other ensembles in the region. Atkinson has a computer career. Joe Baker, tubaist, hailing from Texas, began his college career as a music performance major but ended up working in computers.

Among songs in the performance will be “Ain't Misbehavin',” “After You've Gone,” “Die Bankelsangerlieder” [Singer of Ballad Songs], “Maple Leaf Rag”, a Sousa Collection, selected Civil War pieces, “Shenandoah”, “Ragtime 1927” [an original Wallace wrote for the quintet], “Up a Lazy River”, “Alley Cat”, “Canzona” and an “Armed Forces Salute”.

508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804
Phone: (865) 982-0981 Web site: www.blountlibrary.org

Inna Nasonova Knox was born in Kazan, Russia and came to the United States in the year 2000. Her paintings have a rich sense of color and reflect her Russian heritage as well as her Tennessee surroundings and recent travels.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 Northshore Drive, Knoxville. Information: 865-584-3957, www.wpcknox.org
Hours: Monday thru Friday, 9 AM to 4PM

What are we up to in May? April has been a great month for us so far and we're so glad that many of you have come out to paint with us. We've had some of our biggest classes yet, a very successful fundraiser for the Leukemia Society, and we had a huge turnout at the Dogwoods Arts Festival despite the rain. We want to do so much more in our May classes and we're proud to bring you some new artists, new paintings and some new venues as well! Make sure you come out to paint with us! Life's too short for blank walls!

White Lightning
Mon, 5/4/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Calhoun's - MARYVILLE - 751 Watkins Road, Maryville, TN 37801

Starry Night in Knoxville
Mon, 5/11/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Carolina Ale House - 9045 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923

Eiffel Tower at Night
Tue, 5/12/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Mimi's Cafe - 10945 Parkside Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922

Cumberland Gap
Wed, 5/13/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Calhoun's - Pigeon Forge - 2532 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Henley Street Bridge
Tue, 5/19/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Calhoun's - Turkey Creek - 625 Turkey Cove Ln, Knoxville, TN 37934

Love Marquee (or is it VOLS?!?)
Wed, 5/20/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Crown and Goose - 123 S. Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902

Reflections of Love
Sun, 5/24/2015, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Mind Yer P's & Q's - Farragut - 12744 Kingston Pike Suite 104, Knoxville, TN 37934

Hometown Pride
Mon, 5/25/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Hurricane Grill & Wings - 319 Lovell Rd, Knoxville, TN 37934

Tennessee Theater at Night
Tue, 5/26/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Uncorked - 18-20 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902

Butterfly Song
Thu, 5/28/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Original Copper Cellar - 1807 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916

- Special Offers and Notices for May-
• We are offering a special promotion for brides-to-be! If you book a Private Bridal Event with us, be it a bridal shower, bachelorette party or a "last" girls night out to celebrate, the bride gets her seat for free! Call us for details on our Private Events at 865-356-9179 and let's get you booked as dates are filling up fast!
• Take a selfie with the "Splatmobile" - If you see our vehicle around town take a selfie with it! When you post it on Facebook and tag us, we'll give you a code for 20% off your next public class!
• Come paint with us for free at one of our demonstration classes on May 9th! We'll be at World's Fair Park during the "Relay for Life" event!

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

The Knoxville Watercolor Society will have an all water media exhibit at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Gallery. A reception will be held on Friday, May 8th from 6:00 pm. until 7:30 pm. Included in the reception will be artist talks beginning at 6:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

The Knoxville Watercolor Society began in 1963, when a group of Knoxville artists was invited by the late Kermit (Buck) Ewing, Head of the University of Tennessee Art Department, to participate in an exhibition of watercolor paintings at the University's McClung Museum. During the opening reception, Mr. Ewing noted that the Knoxville area did not have an organization for artists who share a common interest in painting in aqueous media. He suggested that those artists exhibiting in the McClung show could be the nucleus for such an association. From that suggestion, the Knoxville Watercolor Society began, with Laura Bagwell serving as the first president. The purpose of the organization is to educate the members as well as the community about watercolor as a significant art form. New artists are invited to apply for membership, determined by a jury process, and can find complete details on the Knoxville Watercolor Society website: www.knxvillewatercolorsociety.com

Knoxville Watercolor Society members also exhibit with the Tennessee Watercolor Society, other state watercolor organizations, the Southern Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA and the American Watercolor Society and consistently win regional, state and national awards. Annually, the KWS also provides a scholarship for a University of Tennessee student who is majoring in watercolor painting, donates to the UT Ewing Gallery and maintains membership in the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Greater Knoxville. The organization has also provided grants to the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Tennessee Resource Center and the Tennessee Art Association High School Scholarship program.

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

May 02, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 02, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Nature Center
May 02, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 09, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 09, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Nature Center
May 09, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 16, 2015 PUBLIC PROGRAM: Wagging Walk
May 16, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 16, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Nature Center
May 16, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 23, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 23, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Nature Center
May 23, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 30, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
May 30, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Nature Center
May 30, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature

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

Save the date! The Appalachian Arts Craft Center in Norris will hold its Plant Sale on May 2. Details TBA.

The Appalachian Arts Craft Center is a nonprofit center that has been fulfilling its mission by promoting traditional artists and crafts in the East Tennessee area for over 40 years. The center is located at 2716 Andersonville Highway 61 in Norris, Tenn., one mile east of I-75 north at Exit 122. For more information, call 865-494-9854, or visit our web site, www.appalachianarts.net.

Two receptions: May 1, 5-9 PM at the UT Downtown Gallery and June 5, 5-9PM at the UT Downtown Gallery

Richard J. LeFevre’s Civil War Series presents the history of the War Between the States (1861 – 1865) through works on paper that depict 32 of the war’s most significant battles. By combining his love of history and his skill as an illustrator, LeFevre used inventive mixed-media techniques to create these powerful images inspired by his personal investigation into that terrible and definitive era. He sought to authenticate the audience experience by incorporating images from period publications such as Harper’s Weekly and Leslie’s Illustrated. Century-old woodcut engravings, made from sketches by Civil War artists who were present at the battles, were flash-framed onto paper with a copier. They were further manipulated with watercolor, pencil, and collage techniques. Some contain photographic tintype images of prominent battle figures. The Civil War Series, which took LeFevre four years to complete, portrays the Civil War without bias toward the Union or the Confederacy.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! 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