Calendar of Events

This Saturday, zoo-goers can get hands-on with big trucks, emergency vehicles, race cars and special equipment that rival the animals for size and speed. Touch A Truck, presented by Meade Tractor, will be held on Saturday, August 22rd, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. To make the day even more fun, the first 500 children age 12 and under to arrive will receive a free child’s-sized construction hat.

Visitors can get up close to a wide variety of heavy duty construction equipment from Meade Tractor and the Knoxville Zoo “Zookeeper” dump truck from Claiborne Hauling. Climb aboard ambulances from Rural Metro, a fire truck from Knoxville Fire Department and a Knoxville Police Department police car and meet the personnel who make Knoxville a safe place to live. Guests can also enjoy the view from way up in the driver’s seat of a City of Knoxville Public Service Department tractor and see what life in the fast lane is like with cars and drivers from Warrior Race Cars.

Touch A Truck activities are included with general zoo admission. For more information, please visit the zoo’s Web site at knoxvillezoo.org, the zoo’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/knoxvillezoo or call the zoo at (865) 637-5331.

Knoxville Zoo is Knoxville’s largest year-round attraction. Located off exit 392 from Interstate 40, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxvillezoo.org.

Join us Friday, August 21 for our first year MFA exhibition. This is a showcase of the work of the incoming class of 2018.

MaryAnne Carey, transmedia and design
Cassidy Frye, sculpture
Amy LeFever, ceramics
Alex McKenzie, transmedia and design
Erica Mendoza, sculpture
Austin Pratt, painting and drawing
Christian Vargas, painting and drawing
Johanna Winters, printmaking
Thomas Wixo, painting and drawing

https://www.facebook.com/events/629956993772766/

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

From Hitchcock to Spielberg there's something for everyone in the 17th Annual Summer Movie Magic lineup. Movie-goers will travel back in time and see these American classics as they should be: in a historical theater, with a bag of popcorn in their lap, and a cold drink in their hand. This season is the first season all films will be shown with a digital projector! Come experience some of your favorite classics in a completely unique way.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI
Friday, August 21 • 8 PM and Sunday, August 23 • 2 PM

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

The Knoxville Museum of Art presents The Paternal Suit: Heirlooms from the F. Scott Hess Family Foundation. This unique and challenging exhibition questions where personal stories end and national history begins. Los Angeles artist F. Scott Hess explores this and other questions in this multimedia exploration of the artist’s paternal ancestry going back four centuries.

Meet the artist; cash bar - Thurs, Aug 20, 5:30-7:30 PM

The Paternal Suit consists of over 100 paintings, prints, and objects created by Hess, but presented as legitimate historical artifacts, and supported by photographs, documents, and historical ephemera. Each object and artwork bears an artist’s name and detailed provenance and has been executed in the style of the century from which it supposedly originates. Sculpture, ceramics, furniture, toys, newspaper clippings, historic photographs, guns, and costumes advance the story. Hess does not claim authorship for the works on display, instead, he ascribes to them fictional artists, referring to himself as the director of the “F. Scott Hess Family Foundation.” The exhibition follows Hess’s ancestral lineage from 17th-century England to South Carolina and Georgia, where family members became key players in the War Between the States (1860–65). Through the prism of his ancestry, Hess examines the impact of false history and deception within each generation and throughout society as a whole, and questions the authority of these perceived “truths.” The ultimate subtext for the installation, which traces the trajectory of the Iverson, Patton, Nolan, and Hess family lines, is the seven-year old artist’s abandonment by his own father after a parental divorce.

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

Knoxville Children’s Theatre will present the timeless comedy The Wind In The Willows, featuring a new stage adaptation by Zack Allen of the classic novel by Kenneth Grahame.

The play will be performed Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sundays at 3 PM.

The play will be performed by 10 talented young actors, from ages 10 to 14. The role of Mr. Toad will be played by KCT veteran Brock Mullins, who attends 7th grade at Christian Academy of Knoxville. Brock was recently seen in KCT’s The Hobbit. Mr. Rat is played by Cody Chaffins, who attends 8th grade at First Baptist Academy. Cian Bell, a 9th-grader, plays Mr. Badger, and Emma Stark, a 5th-grader, plays Miss Mole.

The Wind In The Willows is one of the best-loved children’s books of all time. In 2003, the BBC listed the comedic novel as the 16th best children’s book of all time.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-599-5284, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com

Come enjoy cool drinks and have an outstanding time painting with us at some of the new venues we've booked this coming month. We have some beautiful new paintings to create with you and we're also expanding beyond Knoxville and are excited to paint with new friends in the surrounding area. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Also, we've had such a positive response to our special 10 person minimum for Private events, that we are extending this special in August as well. August dates are already booking so be sure to call us and get your one of a kind paint party on the calendar!

Tuesday, 8/11, 6 - 9 pm
Cades Cove at Barley's - Maryville

Saturday, 8/15, 6 - 9pm
A Whale of a Tale at Elvira's Cafe - Sevierville

Sunday, 8/16, 2 - 4pm
Cookies and Canvas, Ta-Dah at The Basement Community Art Studio

Tuesday, 8/18, 6 - 9pm
Get Them Gators at Downtown Grill and Brewery

Wednesday, 8/19, 6 - 9pm
Love Anchor at Calhoun's - Pigeon Forge

Thursday, 8/20, 6 - 9pm
Psychedelic Seascape at Baneberry Golf and Resort

Friday, 8/21, 6 - 9pm
I Love Wine and Art at Tennessee Valley Winery - Loudon

Saturday, 8/22, 6 - 9pm
Camping Out at Buffalo Mountain Grill - Oak Ridge

Monday, 8/24, 6 - 9pm
No Problem at Uncorked Knoxville

Thursday, 8/27, 6 - 9pm
Midnight Moon at Original Copper Cellar

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

Bliss Home is pleased to present The Lake House, by Knoxville artist, Kate Moore, for August and September First Fridays! Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, August 7th from 6pm to 9pm and September 5th, 2014 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided.

Starting with a simple love for crayons, Kate decided from a young age she needed to build her life around art. Kate grew into an artist by exploring different mediums, and dabbling in painting and drawing, until she found her own voice as an artist in graphic design. From custom wedding invitations to small business branding, Kate has spent the last seven years perfecting her graphic design skills at her studio, Kate Moore Creative, located on the 100 block of Gay Street. Kate's exhibit, The Lake House, celebrates the gorgeous lakes, rivers and mountains of East Tennessee which make her appreciate her home.

Purchase Kate's art and you are providing ONE MEAL to a hungry tummy in East Tennessee, through the efforts of Second Harvest Food Bank. Kate is so excited to be a part of something so wonderful, and she hopes her art brings fun and happiness the world. Artist's Website: www.livelovestudio.com

marketing@shopinbliss.com, shopinbliss.com, 865.394.6951

For the month of August, we will be proudly letting our nerd flag fly with local artist, Jon Pemberton!

A resident of Maryville, Jon makes wildly creative pop culture art work, featuring icons such as Nick Cage, Loretta Lynn (yeah, girl!), Ira Glass, and even Admiral Ackbar.
A self-proclaimed nerd, Jon says "I used to hide the fact that I may or may not be a geek, but I have come to understand that being a geek means that you are passionate about something to an extreme point. These are images of my passion, and I accept that."

We love his creative repurposing, such as turning a vintage suit case into a mini bar or a skate deck into wall art. His use of a variety of materials makes his work even more special!
Come on down Friday August, 7th starting at 6pm!
RALA
323 Union Ave
Knoxville, TN 37902

The Art Market Gallery will have a special showing of works by gallery members entitled "Knoxville, Then and Now". There will also be a memorial showing of glass works by artist, Vivian Shoemaker. Her stained glass works reflect the landscape of the east Tennessee area. This show will be in conjunction with the East Tennessee History Center's History Fair which takes place on August 15th in downtown Knoxville.

Owned and operated by 62 professional regional artists, the Art Market Gallery is a few doors from Mast General Store and next to Downtown Grill & Brewery. The gallery is wheelchair accessible, and parking in the abutting garage and on the street is free on weekends and after 6 p.m. weekdays.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Th & Sa 11-6, Fri 11-9, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net

This is a group show by local artists who are members of the Tennessee Artists Association featuring a variety of works in pastels, watercolors, oils, acrylics and mixed media.

Hours: Monday thru Friday, 9 AM to 4PM
Westminster Presbyterian Church's Schilling Gallery, 6500 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919. Info: (865) 584-3957

Tennessee Artists Association: www.tnartists.org

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

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