Calendar of Events

5:30PM Dinner, 6:30PM Program in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church

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

Modern day China is experiencing a great collision: the clash between the elevation of the individual and the Communist Party's struggle to retain control. The New Yorker’s Evan Osnos has seen the clash first hand during his decades on the ground covering this rising global power. Join Elizabeth Rowland, Founder & Executive Director at TN-China Network, for a discussion of Osnos’s book Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China. This month's Books Sandwiched In, a program series of Knox County Public Library, is made possible through a partnership with TN-China Network and by the generous support of the Friends of Knox County Public Library.

From abroad, China is often portrayed as a caricature: a nation of pragmatic plutocrats and ruthlessly dedicated students destined to rule the global economy -- or an addled Goliath, riddled with corruption and on the edge of stagnation. What we don't see is how both powerful and ordinary people are remaking their lives as their country dramatically changes. Osnos follows the moving stories of everyday people and reveals life in the new China to be a battleground between aspiration and authoritarianism.

Rowland moved to China in 2007 where her work included founding an online jewelry company that sourced from China; serving as a policy analyst for the American Chamber of Commerce in China; and serving as senior manager of policy analysis with the Beijing office of an international law firm. In 2013, she returned to Tennessee to be closer to family and founded TN-China Network, a new organization that educates and connects people across Tennessee and China to strengthen TN-China business ties and enhance bilateral trade and investment. Rowland received her master’s degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

In the East Tennessee History Center auditorium, 601 S. Gay Street. For more information, call Emily Ellis at 865-215-8754 or email eellis@knoxlib.org.

Blue Ridge Yoga hosts Open House.
Blue Ridge Yoga opened last month in Farragut at 623 N. Campbell Station Road (near Mellow Mushroom). They will be having their official Grand Opening on Wednesday, May 20th from 5:00-830 PM.

The community is invited to enjoy healthy food, 20% off retail purchases, free massages, gifts, and Nashville's Thistle Farms. For more information, call 865-288-3562.

River Whyless and Poet Susan Underwood on Tennessee Shines

Join WDVX every Wednesday night for Tennessee Shines live at Boyd's Jig and Reel! This week, host Paige Travis welcomes hypnotic Americana and Folk band River Whyless. Poet Susan Underwood returns for some more East Tennessee poetry. Tickets are $10 at the Boyd's Jig and Reel door.

Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts invites the public to the Opening Reception of the 2015 Instructor Exhibition, June 5, 2015, 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Sandra J. Blain Gallery.

The Exhibition showcases the work of over 100 Arrowmont instructors who are teaching during the 2015 workshop season. Both the opening reception and the exhibition are free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend with their family and friends.

“The Instructor Exhibition is an annual Arrowmont tradition and offers the work of nationally and internationally recognized artists who make up Arrowmont’s faculty. They come from across the globe to share skills and ideas, foster new thinking, artistic growth and creative camaraderie. We are pleased to provide the community with the opportunity to view these outstanding works of art,” Bill May, Arrowmont Executive Director said.

The exhibit features a wide range of diverse media including woodworking, glass, ceramics, painting, fiber and textile work, metals, jewelry, book arts, photography and printmaking. The show celebrates Arrowmont’s instructors and functions as an educational tool, demonstrating the skills and techniques that the instructors focus on in their workshops.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a national arts education center. The School offers weekend, one- and two-week workshops for the beginner to advanced artist, taught by national and international practicing studio artists and university faculty. Students work and learn in professionally equipped studios on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg, TN. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the workshop immersion by registering for on campus housing and meals offered by Arrowmont.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Gallery hours: M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4PM. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Dollywood's Little Engine Playhouse is bringing to life a favorite title in the Imagination Library collection through song and dance. Old Bear and his Cub by Olivier Dunrea is the charming tale of tables turned when Little Cub takes care of Old Bear who has come down with a cold. Little Cub is served some of his own medicine. The Dollywood production presented by the Penguin Players will kick off the Children's Festival of Reading on the main stage at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 in World's Fair Park. The show will then tour 10 branches of the Knox County Public Library from May 18-22.

The free performances will tour the following libraries:
May 18 at 11:00 a.m. -- Howard Pinkston
May 18 at 4:00 p.m. -- Bearden
May 19 at 10:00 a.m. -- Murphy
May 19 at 4:00 p.m. -- Farragut
May 20 at 11:00 a.m-- Sequoyah
May 20 at 4:00 p.m. -- Carter
May 21 at 11:00 a.m. -- Karns
May 21 at 4:00 p.m. -- Norwood
May 22 at 10:30 a.m -- Powell
May 22 at 3:30 p.m. -- Burlington

Dollywood's Little Engine Playhouse's production of Old Bear and his Little Cub is part of on-going summer programs at the Library to encourage summer reading. For times, dates, and a full schedule of events, please visit www.knoxlib.org. Registration for the Summer Library Clubs opens on May 16 at the Children's Festival of Reading, online at www.knoxlib.org or at any Knox County Public Library facility.

Darkhorse Entertainment, LLC invites you to go back in time at the Tennessee Medieval Faire. The Grand Opening is the last three weekends in May, including Memorial Day, in Harriman, TN. It’s a new tradition – Joust for You! “The Medieval Faire has something for everyone,” said Barrie Paulson, VP-Manager & Entertainment Director. “The Faire is fun and family-friendly – and includes plenty of theatrical violence,” she said with a grin.

The rock stars of the Faire perform The Royal Joust in the tournament arena. There will also be Warriors’ Chess where the characters fight to take over the square. Warhorse rides will be offered between arena shows. Rotating on the stages will be professional, interactive, comedy shows. These include The ridiculously dangerous Fire * Whip * Sword Show; The Steele Sisters; Fantasies, Fables & Fortunes; and Albi Belly Dancers. There will also be Celtic musicians, interactive folk dancers, puppet shows, games, and The Royal Players whose characters include young King Henry VIII. Period crafts, food and beer will be available.

The Tennessee Medieval Faire will run the last three weekends in May, including Memorial Day: May 16-17, 23-24-25, 30-31. Hours are 10-5 EDT. Ticket prices are $14.95 for ages 13 and up, $7.95 for ages 5 to 12, free for ages 4 and under. Free parking is included. The festival is located at 550 Fiske Road, Harriman, TN. For more information, please visit the website: www.TMFaire.com. Please like us on Facebook. A New Tradition -- Joust for You. Fun for the Entire Family!

New in the Bearden Art District! Please join us for refreshments, live music, drawings to win art prints, and more! Meet Kay List, artist/owner and Larry S. Cole, artist, at the opening on May 15, 5-9 PM.

View 22 of Kay List's original oil paintings as well as numerous framed and unframed archival quality prints and note cards with images of her paintings. Kay works in a wide range of subject matter so the show is a sampling of a few of them. The show features abstracts, historical barns, nautical, whimsical, animals, flowers and landscapes.

Gallery hours: Tues-Thurs 10-5, Fri-Sat 10-6

Envision Art Gallery, 4050 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919. Information: 865-438-4154, www.kaylistart.com

Reception, everyone invited, Friday, May 15, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Also showing: Handmade books by Bob Meadows' students and watercolors by Mary Baumgartner's students.

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9AM-5PM, Friday, 10AM-5PM, Saturday, 9AM-1PM. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

The Town of Farragut Arts Council presents Carol Erikson as the featured artist for May and June. Located at the Farragut Town Hall, the exhibit highlights her photographic art, titled "Images that Inspire."

A New Jersey native, Erikson's exhibit features a mix of customer favorites and her newer work, including birds in South Texas, the Tybee Island lighthouse, and angel statuary from cemeteries in Savannah and Ohio. Her photography focuses on local nature images, especially waterfalls, wildflowers, old barns and landscapes. Mainly self-taught, Erikson has taken non-credit photography and editing courses at the University of Tennessee. A Rutgers University and University of North Carolina graduate, she works as an analytical project manager in Oak Ridge, supporting the ongoing decontamination and decommissioning work on the Oak Ridge reservation.

Each month, the work of an artist or group of artists is featured in specially designed cases on the second floor of the rotunda in the Farragut Town Hall. For more information about this exhibit or to access a Featured Artist of the Month application, please contact Lauren Cox at lauren.cox@townoffarragut.org or 966-7057 or visit www.townoffarragut.org/artsandculture.

The Farragut Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive directly across from the Farragut Branch Post Office.

Showing work by Athens’ Mayfield Dairy entrepreneur, Goldie Mayfield. The exhibit is scheduled at The Arts Center, 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee. AACA invites community members with original work by Goldie Mayfield to loan pieces to this special exhibit. Goldie Mayfield, one of Athens’ most prolific local artists, is among the women fundamental in bringing the visual arts to our community by teaching and supporting other local artists and by starting our Community Artist’s League. Her work was often featured in Mayfield Dairy’s Christmas cards in the 1980s and early 1990s. She used various mediums and is known for her expert use of watercolor.

Goldie was known for graciously giving away her work to friends and family. Community members who loan work to the exhibit will be duly credited as donors.

The exhibit reception is Friday, May 22, 2015 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Mayfield’s friends and family will be on hand to informally discuss her art. The reception will include light refreshments and is free and open to the public.

Athens Area Council for the Arts, 320 North White Street | Athens, TN 37303. Info: 423.745.8781 or www.athensartscouncil.org

Join us when our new shows open!
"A Life’s Work: Phyllis Wichner" will include collages, prints, and batiks in the Long Gallery and "Family Ties: Kniseley & Van Wyk" will be composed of paintings by Father & Daughter, Ralph Kniseley and Susan Van Wyk.

Opening reception Saturday, May 9 from 7 to 9 PM. A Gallery Talk will be held at 6:30 PM.

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org