Calendar of Events

New York Times Bestselling author Amy Greene will host a writers’ retreat in Historic Rugby, Tenn., Wednesday, June 17 through Saturday, June 20.

She encourages anyone who isn't familiar with Rugby to visit its website at www.historicrugby.org. The retreat will include group discussions, writing time and individual conferences with the author, whose first novel, "Bloodroot," was one of the Top 10 Novels of 2010 by Booklist, Kirkus Reviews and Amazon and whose second novel, "Long Man," was named a Best Book of the Year by the Washington Post and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Instructors fee for the retreat is $200. In addition, there are several lodging and meal package options. The complete package, which includes three meals per day and a private room at Newbury House, is $105 plus tax per night. The lodging only package is $80 plus tax per night for a private room at Newbury House. Rooms will be reserved June 17 through 19, with check-out on June 20. Attendees can also purchase a meals only package, which includes three meals per day for $50 plus tax per day. Individual conferences with the author can be scheduled during free time, for one-on one writing advice.

To register for the retreat, please contact Kelly McCauley at rugbylegacy@highland.net. Additional information about Greene and her most recent book, "Long Man," can be found at www.amygreeneauthor.com.

Former member of The Steeldrivers and The Jompson Brothers, Chris Stapleton is now forging his own path in the country music world. Declared "the baddest voice in country" by the LA Times, don't miss him on our stage this summer!

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com, www.ticketmaster.com

Joining Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin as the only other female comedians to win Grammy awards for Best Comedy Album, Kathy Griffin's pull-no-punches brand of delivery has made her one of the most successful comedians of all time!

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com

Forrest Pritchard grew up on a farm but didn’t know much about farming. Fresh out of college with an English degree, he decided he could save the family farm from financial ruin. Join Mark Campen, Executive Director of the Tennessee Chapter of the Isaak Walton League of America for a discussion of Pritchard’s engaging memoir Gaining Ground: A Story Of Farmers' Markets, Local Food, And Saving The Family Farm, this month’s Books Sandwiched In, a program series of Knox County Public Library, sponsored by the Friends of Knox County Public Library.

"This book is about family, community and a will to successfully carry on the farming lifestyle, albeit in a different way,” Campen said. “Knowing where our food comes from and our potential role in the food system is ‘gaining ground’ here in Knoxville."
Campen completed a B.S. in wildlife and fisheries science at the University of Tennessee. He is an avid birdwatcher, camper, fisherman, and gardener.

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.

East Tennessee’s Own powerhouse blues band Jenna and Her Cool Friends perform on Tennessee Shines.

Tennessee Shines Radio Show is performed for a live audience every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Boyd’s Jig & Reel musical pub in Knoxville’s historic Old City. Admission is $10 at the door, available beginning at 6 p.m. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

To commemorate the Highlands Grill's 5th Anniversary, Tom Weiss is hosting an elegant dinner party in support of historic preservation! All proceeds will support the Knox Heritage J. Allen Smith Endangered Properties Fund used to save threatened historic places across our region. Live jazz, delicious food and wine pairings will create a special evening to remember.

Wine pairings will be featured with each course courtesy of Constellation Brands.
$100 per person

For more details and to reserve your place, please contact Mickey Mallonee at mickey@knoxheritage.org or 865.523.8008. Or purchase tickets at http://knoxheritage.org/news/support-historic-preservation-and-celebrate-5-years-at-the-grill-at-highlands-row/.

Information: 865-523-8008, www.knoxheritage.org

Tickets are $20 for each evening or $85 for a weekly pass, excluding the 4:15 concert on June 24.

Monday, June 15, 2015: Jim Pankey, Sarah Morgan, Steve Kilby, Keith Yoder
Tuesday, June 16, 2015: Richard Smith; April Verch, Robin Kessinger, Erynn Marshall
Wednesday, June 17, 2015: Dennis Caplinger, Tyler Grant, Chris Proctor, Linda Thomas
Thursday, June 18, 2015: Beppe Gambetta, Tony McManus, Evie Laden, Josh Goforth
Friday, June 19, 2015: Steve Kaufman, Happy Traum
Monday, June 22, 2015: Emory Lester, Molly Tuttle Becky Buller, Gary Davis, Keith Yoder, Chris Quinn
Tuesday, June 23, 2015: Annie Staninec, Mike Kaufman, Paul Glasse, Roberto Dalla Vecchia, Tim May, Ivan Rosenberg, Will Maring
Wednesday, June 24, 2015: Curtis Burch, Scott Nygaard, David Harvey, Jim Hurst, Missy Raines, Dede Wyland
Thursday, June 25, 2015: Alan Bibey, Dennis Caplinger, John Moore, Marcy Marxer, Andy Hatfield, Jimmie Heffernan, Steve Roy
Friday, June 26, 2015: Steve Kaufman, Bobby Hicks, Alan Munde, John Reischman, Mark Cosgrove
For the above evening concerts, Open Mic Begins at 7PM - Concert Showtime at 7:30PM

Wednesday, June 24 Matinee: Audie Blaylock & Redline Tickets $10.00 Showtime: 4:15-5:30pm

Performer information at http://www.flatpik.com/kamp-faculty

At Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Tickets are available at the Clayton Center Box Office M-F 10AM-6PM or by phone or online: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

The American Museum of Science & Energy will open Nikon Small World, a traveling exhibit showcasing 20 award winning photomicrographs from the 40th annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. This year’s winner is Rogelio Moreno of Panama for capturing a rarely seen image of a rotifer’s open mouth interior and heart-shaped corona. A computer system programmer by occupation, Moreno is a self-taught microscopist whose photomicrograph serves to show just how close the beauty and wonder of the micro-world truly is - not just for scientists, but anyone willing to open their eyes and look for it. Moreno is recognized along with over 80 other winners from around the world for excellence in photomicrography. Winners from Italy, the United States, Austria, Spain and Australia also ranked in the top ten, for exceptional images selected based on both artistic quality and masterful scientific technique.

“Since the competition began 40 years ago, the caliber in quality and range of subject matter of the images, is matched only by the scientists and photographers who submit them,” said Eric Flem, Communications Manager, Nikon Instruments. “So much has changed in science and technology in the past forty years, opening the door for more and more scientists and artists alike to capture and share their stunning images with the world. A look at our gallery is like a time capsule of the advancements made in the last four decades and truly shows the legacy a Nikon Small World continues to build.”

Rogelio Moreno is a first-time first-place winner of the Small World competition, though he has placed each time he has entered the contest starting three years ago. That success is a testament to his incredible skill, as he only began taking photomicrographs in 2009.

Judges awarded Moreno’s shot of a rotifer caught open-mouthed and facing the camera – for its exemplary technique. Capturing the perfect moment when the rotifer opened its mouth for the camera required extreme patience from Moreno, who watched for hours waiting for his opportunity. With the rotifer in constant motion, he utilized the flash to freeze the movement as soon as the mouth opened – still leaving him with only a one- or two-second window to take the photo, and possibly only one shot to get it right. He also used differential interference contrast (DIC) to enhance the coloration in unstained, transparent samples, and to provide a more detailed image of the rotifer.

“When you see that movement, you fall in love. I thought - wow, that is amazing. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This is something very, very beautiful,” said Moreno of his winning image. “I hope now it can inspire others as much as it has inspired me – to learn about science, to look closely and notice something truly amazing.”

As the 2014 winner, Moreno joins the ranks of 36 other photomicrographers, artists and scientists from all over the world who have taken the top prize. This year’s competition received over 1,200 entries from more than 79 countries around the world. Top images from the 2014 Nikon Small World Competition will be exhibited in a full-color calendar and through a national museum tour. For additional information, please visit www.nikonsmallworld.com, or follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter @NikonSmallWorld.

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org

Showcasing a variety of 3-D and 2-D works. Opening reception for the exhibit will be Friday, June 12, 6:30 - 8:00 PM.

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tu-Th 9-5, F 10-5, Sa 9-1. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

The 2015 nief-norf Summer Festival (nnSF) moves to Knoxville to offer a concert and lecture series open to the greater Knoxville area. The nief-norf Summer Festival (nnSF) is an interdisciplinary summer music festival, which brings together dozens of performers, composers, and scholars to collaborate on the performance, creation, and discussion of contemporary solo and chamber music. The nnSF is held in the beautiful facilities of the University of Tennessee’s Haslam Music Center (Knoxville, TN) and presents inspired and devoted performances of modern music, aiming to encourage both appreciation and support for live music and contemporary art.

Since its inception in the summer of 2011, the festival’s performance, composition, and research seminars have attracted undergraduates, graduates, and professionals from institutions across the United States and abroad. Each summer, these fellows present some of the most challenging and boundary-pushing contemporary music, including world premieres of works by composers-in-residence at the nief-norf Summer Festival. As former performance fellow Joshua Spaulding recalls, “I can’t think of another festival in the country that has such an amazing atmosphere, incredible faculty, and the opportunity to play 4-5 concerts of splendid music in the span of 10 days!” Artistic Director Andrew Bliss explains that “this festival is designed as a think-tank environment for performers, composers, scholars, and lovers of contemporary music. We are very fortunate to have our festival hosted in Knoxville –– a city with an unquenchable thirst for new music and an incredible curiosity for the unfamiliar and the experimental.” In addition to concerts and lectures at the University of Tennessee, the festival is excited to offer events throughout the Knoxville community--at locations including the Square Room, Remedy Coffee, and the Birdhouse.

The festival features wind, string, percussion, and piano fellows, as well as nine composition fellows and regular visiting scholars who will collectively offer 7 concerts and 8 lectures throughout the 13-day festival. One highlight of the festival will include a portrait concert of Philip Glass’s music at Knoxville’s Square Room on Wednesday, June 10, at 8PM. The festival’s final marathon concert will conclude with a performance of Gérard Grisey’s Le Noir de l’Étoile, a 1-hour masterwork for percussion sextet inspired by the late-1960s discovery of pulsars and the periodic
radio signals they emit. nief-norf thanks the UT School of Music for hosting this festival’s daily events and preparations. Unless otherwise noted, all events occur in UT’s Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall and have a $10 suggested donation. All events are open to the general public. For more information, please visit www.niefnorf.org or contact Andrew Bliss, nnSF Artistic Director, at contact@niefnorf.org. Regular news surrounding the nief-norf Summer Festival, as well as the organization’s yearly activities, can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/niefnorf and on Twitter @niefnorf.

nnSF CONCERT SERIES
(All concerts in UT Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall with $10 suggested donation unless otherwise noted)
Concert One: nief-norf Project (festival faculty), Sunday, June 7 @ 8:00 PM
Featuring music by Adler, Eckardt, Løffler, Wubbels, Munakata
Concert Two: Philip Glass Portrait Concert, Wednesday, June 10 @ 8:00 PM – The Square Room
Tickets $10 available in advance at ww.thesquareroom.com - $12 at the door
Concert Three: Solo Works, Thursday, June 11 @ 8:00 PM – Remedy Coffee House
Featuring solo performances by nnSF15 Performance Fellows and Faculty
Concert Four: Collaboration, Saturday, June 13 @ 8:00 PM
Featuring music by Birtwistle, Vierk, Lunsqui, and two nnSF International Call for Scores winners
Concert Five: Music of Steve Reich and David Lang, Tuesday, June 16 @ 8:00 PM – The Square Room
Tickets $10 available in advance at ww.thesquareroom.com - $12 at the door
Featuring David Lang’s child and Steve Reich’s Four Organs, Concert Six: World Premieres, Wednesday, June 17 @ 8:00 PM
Featuring seven world premieres and music by Donatoni, Greenstein, and Mackey
Concert Seven: Final Marathon Concert, Friday, June 19 @ 5:00 PM
Featuring music by Aperghis, Rowan, nnSF Composer-in-Residence Nicholas Deyoe, two world premieres, one nnSF International Call for Scores winner, and Gérard Grisey’s Le Noir de l’Étoile

nnSF LECTURE SERIES
(All talks in UT Sandra G. Powell Hall and are free and open to the public)
Lecture One: Jason Eckardt, nnSF Composer-in-Residence, Monday, June 8 @ 1:30 PM
Lecture Two + Three + Four: Music as Theater, Wednesday, June 10 @ 10:30 AM
“Concept and Drama: The Influence of Fluxus upon Ligeti’s Theatrical Works”
“Laughter is Preferable to Tears”: John Cage and the Golden Age of Television”
“Music as Transduction: John Cage’s Variations VII (1966)”
Lecture Five: David Chapman, nnSF15 Guest Scholar, Wednesday, June 10 @ 1:30 PM
“Theatricality, Presence, and the early minimalist music of Philip Glass”
Lecture Six: Music as Theatre Lecture Recital with strike/speak percussion duo, Sunday, June 14 @ 1:30 PM – The Birdhouse (800 N. 4th Ave. - $5 suggested donation)
Featuring music by Adler, Aperghis, Hall, Schwitters
Lecture Seven: Nicholas Deyoe, nnSF Composer-in-Residence, Monday, June 15 @ 1:30 PM
Lecture Eight: Robert Honstein, nnSF International Call for Scores Winner, Thursday, June 18 @ 4:00 PM

June 06, 2015 XTERRA Trail Run
June 06, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 06, 2015 IJAMS BIRDING SERIES: On Top of Ol’ Smoky
June 06, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 06, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 07, 2015 XTERRA Knoxville Triathlon
June 10, 2015 IJAMS BROWN BAG SERIES: All About Bees
June 13, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
10 am, 2 pm, 3 pm ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
(All Ages) Have you met all the animals that call the Ijams Visitor Center home? If not, be sure to stop by every Saturday for a chance to get nose-to-beak with some of our resident furred and feathered ambassadors. This program is FREE, but donations to support animal care are welcome. Pre-registration is not required for this event.

June 13, 2015 IJAMS BIRDING SERIES: Birding Picnic with Ijams - 10 AM - 12 PM:
Join Ijams naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales for this road trip to Sequoyah Hills to observe Osprey nesting. Last year, we were fortunate to watch parents begin the intricate training of their young fledglings. Brunch will be a hearty continental breakfast provided by our newest gourmand Kodie Underwood. The fee for this program is $12 for Ijams members and $15 for non-members. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 110 to register.

June 13, 2015 TN NATURALIST PROGRAM: Mammals
10 am - 2 pm TN NATURALIST PROGRAM: Feathered Friends
(Ages 16 and up) This program is part of the Tennessee Naturalist Program, an ongoing series that introduces participants to the wonder of the state's amazing natural resources. This session will focus on the furry friends of the mammalian world. This program is open to registered participants only. For more information about the Tennessee Naturalist Program, visit our website at http://ijams.org/tennessee-naturalist-program.

June 13, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 13, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 18, 2015 IJAMS OUTDOORS: Summer Slam at Mead’s Quarry
June 20, 2015 PUBLIC PROGRAM: Wagging Walk
June 20, 2015 SPECIAL EVENT: 2015 Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale
June 20, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 20, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 20, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
June 21, 2015 IJAMS CREATIVE SERIES: Family Drum Circle
June 21, 2015 SPECIAL EVENT: Jazz at Ijams
June 24, 2015 IJAMS BROWN BAG SERIES: Eating Your Yard
June 27, 2015 SPECIAL EVENT: Meadow Lark Music Festival

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

A new exhibition featuring botanical photographs by retired University of Tennessee, Knoxville, botany professor Alan S. Heilman, opens at UT's McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. "Through the Lens: Botanical Photography of Alan S. Heilman" explores the art and science of 60-plus years of Heilman’s award-winning botanical photography of leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, seeds, mosses, lichens, cones, and bark of plants native to or grown in the East Tennessee region. The 55 photographs on view include images of plants from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the UT Gardens on the Agriculture Campus, and highlight Heilman's fascination with color, texture and plant structure.

"Images in the exhibit are products of a lifelong scientist who became an artist painting through a lens," said exhibition curator Gary Crites, McClung Museum curator of paleoethnobotany. "The exhibit offers an exciting blend of plant structure, which has been at the core of Heilman's decades as a student, educator and advocate for habitat appreciation and protection, and the artist's eye for color, form and function in nature." Highlights of "Through the Lens" include the diversity of plant species, types and parts photographed. There are veterans of various photograph competitions, including regional and national award winners. A sunflower image in the exhibit was awarded first place in the Natural World Photographic Competition held at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in 1996.

Heilman began his career as a science photographer in the 1940s, when he used his Kodak Recomar 33 and a darkroom in his family's basement to experiment with making microscopic enlargements of dissected plants. He continued to take thousands of photographs of plants in the field and under the microscope over the next decades, amassing an archive of images, many of which are available today as digitized color-film photographs housed at the UT Libraries. They can be viewed at http://kiva.lib.utk.edu/heilman.

The exhibition includes prints produced from digital files held by UT Libraries, as well as prints gifted by Heilman to the UT Gardens.

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