Calendar of Events

Sing traditional shape note music from East Tennessee's own songbook, The New Harp of Columbia at the Little Greenbriar Schoolhouse in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. All are welcome to participate or listen. Loaner books are available.

Sunday, July 12, 2:00PM. Little Greenbriar Schoolhouse, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. www.oldharp.org or 865 982-6148.

Highlight different animals coinciding with their National Animal Days. Each features special Adopt-An-Animal promotions, crafts and activities centered around that month's animal, keeper chats and special members-only give-aways and prize drawings.

Any guest you bring receives a $5 discount on membership purchased that day.

Knoxville Zoo, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

Each Second Sunday of the month at 2pm, docents offer free guided tours of Higher Ground, Currents, and traveling exhibitions to the public. In order to reach a broader audience the KMA offers Spanish speaking tours once a month at 3pm.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

The Knoxville Community Band will play familiar classical pieces as well as selections from beloved stage productions and film.

This is a FREE event.
At Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Info: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Every month, the Rose Center Council for the Arts features a new and unique exhibit for the public ranging in style, medium and artist. On July 12th, the Center will be hosting an opening reception for their newest exhibit, Faces and Places, from local artist Mike Everidge.

“I was inspired by my grandmother, Jessie Johns, at an early age to draw. An artist herself, she gave me the first tools of art. My grandmother sparked the flame for art while Ruth poured on the gasoline. Ruth Breeding drilled into me the desire for art as a student at Morristown East High. There I won my first award of what was trash and broken glass, arranged and glued together. I later studied painting under Ron Castle, who played a major role in how I apply oil to canvas. Ron was a major influence in my paintings. I've practiced my art in several forms, styles and mediums over the years.”

Everidge’s exhibit will include work in many of these mediums, including oil, watercolor, airbrush, pen and ink, pastels, charcoals, graphite and acrylic. In terms of style, the pieces displayed will range from realist portraits and scenes to freer, more abstract work.

The opening reception for Faces and Places will be held on July 12th from 4 PM to 5 PM at the Rose Center. Light finger foods and refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact the Rose Center at 423.581.4330 or visit their site at www.rosecenter.org.

Come witness this sacred classical dance which hails from Tamil Nadu, South India performed by Jaan R. Freeman. This art brings together many elements of Indian culture such as dance, music, poetry, mythology, philosophy and ethics. This performance is intended to introduce new audiences to the dance form Bharata Natyam.

The performance is July 11, 6:00-7:30PM.
July 12, from 1:00-3:00PM, is a workshop on Fundamentals of Bharata Natyam.
Advance admission is $17, $22 at the door. Workshop admission is $30.
Advance sale package deal for performance and workshop is $47.

Shanti Yoga Haven, 12 Forest Court, Knoxville, TN.
www.shantiyogahaven.com. 865 621 5301.

The time is 1955. Chad, a guitar-playing roustabout just out of the jailhouse and in need of a mechanic, rides his motorcycle into a square little town in a square little state. There he is intro-duced to Natalie, the town mechanic, who is instantly smitten and promises to fix his bike. Dreaming of love and adventure, she yearns for one true love to take her away, never realizing that her best friend Dennis has a secret crush on her. But before long, the drifter shakes up everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical romance that features the music of Elvis Presley and will have you jumpin' out of your blue suede shoes!

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, www.orplayhouse.com

Bambi: Life In The Woods - A stage adaptation of the classic conservationist novel by Felix Salten.

Visiting director (and former KCT intern) Jennie Cunic will direct the production. Jennie is a sophomore at University of Evansville, which boasts one of the nation’s most prestigious theatre departments.

Bambi: A Life in the Woods is an eloquent and haunting tale of growing up and a superbly sensitive work of theatre, appealing to children and adults alike. Bambi becomes heir to his father, the great prince. After Bambi encounters the feelings of love, fear, loneliness and independence, he comes to understand that all of Earth's creatures are guided by a greater force than themselves - all are dependent on each. Intertwined in this great story is Bambi's growing awareness of the fragility of the forest environment and the impact of human encroachment on all of the forest inhabitants.

Performances: Friday 7/10 at 7 PM, Saturday 7/11 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sunday 7/12 at 3 PM
Thursday 7/16 at 7 PM, Friday 7/17 at 7 PM, Saturday 7/18 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sunday 7/19 at 3 PM
Thursday 7/23 at 7 PM, Friday 7/24 at 7 PM, Saturday 7/25 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sunday 7/26 at 3 PM

Knoxville Children's Theatre: 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917, (865) 208-3677, knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

The Spitfire Grill is the story of Percy Talbott, a young woman who must overcome her past as she searches for a new life. Her fresh start takes her to a mostly deserted Wisconsin town and a job at The Spitfire Grill. In a last ditch effort to keep the Spitfire from shutting down, the owner decides to raffle it off. Mail starts arriving by the wheelbarrow full and things are definitely cookin’ at The Spitfire Grill! The contest starts an economic turn for the town and in the midst of this renaissance; Percy realizes she has finally found what she has always longed for… a home. Audiences will be impacted by Percy’s journey of renewal and forgiveness. (PG)

The Spitfire Grill, a soulful & inspiring musical, will be presented by The WordPlayers on July 10 at 7:30 p.m., July 11 at 2:30 & 7:30 p.m., and July 12 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available online at wordplayers.org, knoxbijou.com, by calling 865.684.1200 and will be available at the door on performance dates.

Directed by Matthew Lloyd; Music Direction by David Eilart

At The Bijou, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-539-2490, www.wordplayers.org

Free and open to the public; Opening reception July 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; artists’ talks at 6:30 p.m.
Exhibit runs through end of August

Art Group 21: Friends and Artists
Art Group 21 is comprised of many award-winning artists with professional art training from all over the United States as well as from other countries. Established in the early 1980's by a small group of art graduates needing the fellowship and support of like-minded, working artists, Art Group 21 is a work/study group for mutual support and artistic growth of the members in their pursuit of excellence in the arts. Programs include workshops, lectures, critiques, field trips and group exhibits. The group maintains that the various art forms are a part of the aesthetic total and are mutually reinforcing, thus encouraging the uniqueness of each artist’s vision.
“Friends and Artists” features the recent work of several members.

Lisa Kurtz: Clay for the Wall
Inspired by the sea, “Clay For The Wall” focuses on texture, forms and creatures found in and on sand and water. Kurtz calls these three dimensional canvases: sculptural explorations integrating texture, form, clay and glaze to highlight her two muses – the ocean and clay. She throws and hand builds her clay pieces and often integrates the two methods to create her sculpture, wall art and functional pottery. Her work emphasizes the malleable qualities of clay with lots of texture. By stretching and altering the work while it is still wet, Kurtz welcomes and encourages the spontaneous “happy accidents” that take place while working in the medium and in the firing process. Her current work explores the contrast between raw, earthy, stretched slabs of clay and smooth, thrown glazed forms. Kurtz has been a potter for over 36 years. An award-winning ceramic artist, she currently teaches clay at Cleveland State in Cleveland, Tennessee.

At Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery hours: Mon-Thurs 9 AM - 5 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

We're about to have our one year anniversary on July 1st and want to thank Knoxville for being so welcoming to us! We've met some of the most amazing people, enjoyed meals at great venues and have found Knoxville is the best place to be passionate artists. We've got lots in store to celebrate in the coming month such as new "Paint Your Pet" classes, Cookies and Canvas classes for the kids, flash sales to be on the look out for, a special on our Private Events and even a special Christmas in July! We'll be kicking it all off at the Festival on the Fourth at Worlds Fair Park so make sure to come out and paint with us at our booth.

Wednesday, 7/8, 6 - 9 pm
Dragonfly at R.J's Courtyard

Sunday, 7/12, 2 - 4 pm
Bugged Out at Basement Community Art Studio

Monday, 7/13, 6 - 9 pm
Stadium at Chuy's

Tuesday, 7/14, 6 - 9 pm
Still Life 1 at Downtown Grill and Brewery

Wednesday, 7/15, 6 - 9 pm
Dogwoods at Club LeConte

Thursday, 7/16, 6 - 9 pm
Purple Meadow at Baneberry Golf and Resort

Monday, 7/20, 6 - 9 pm
"Paint Your Pet" at Carolina Ale House

Thursday, 7/23, 6 - 9 pm
Night Owl at Original Copper Cellar

Monday, 7/27, 6 - 9 pm
Full Moon's Ride at Knoxville Uncorked

Tuesday, 7/28, 6 - 9 pm
Birch and Poppies at Mind Yer P's and Q's (Farragut)

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

July 04, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 04, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 04, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 11, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 11, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 11, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 18, 2015 PUBLIC PROGRAM: Wagging Walk
July 18, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 18, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 18, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 19, 2015 IJAMS CREATIVE SERIES: Family Drum Circle
July 25, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 25, 2015 ANIMAL PROGRAM: Ijams Creature Feature
July 25, 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