Calendar of Events

Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling - in the Sue E. Trotter Black Box Theater at The Arts Center in Athens, Tennessee. A group of gossipy southern ladies in a small–town beauty parlor reveal the deep strength and purposefulness in spirited banter. As the characters move through wedded bliss, the joy of children, and the depths of tragedy, they draw on their underlying strength—and love—which makes them truly touching, funny, and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. Steel Magnolias is directed by G. David Brown and stars Lacey Starkey as Truvy, Melonie Carideo as M’Lynn, Dianne Griffith as Ouiser, Mary Kennedy as Clairee, Lori Fritts as Annelle, and Sarah Philpott as Shelby.

Show dates are Thursday-Saturday, September 17-19 and 24-26 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, September 20 at 2:00 pm in the Sue E. Trotter Black Box Theater at The Arts Center in Athens, Tennessee. Tickets are $12 adult and $8 student and are on sale now at The Arts Center. Thursday September 24 is “BFF Night” where adult tickets are $10 when two or more are purchased together. To learn more about this or The Arts Center’s other programs visit www.athensartscouncil.org, call 423-745-8781, or drop by The Arts Center at 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee.

In its third year, the Knoxville Film Festival, produced by award-winning filmmaker Keith McDaniel, in partnership with Dogwood Arts, the Visit Knoxville Film Office and Regal Entertainment Group, will include more than 40 hours of film screenings on three screens at Regal Downtown West Cinema 8 beginning Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, September 20. In addition to the screenings of feature and narrative documentaries and shorts, a Tennessee Film Competition, 7-Day Shootout Competition, Student Filmmaking Competitions, and various workshops will also highlight the festival.

New this year, it was announced earlier this month that a $20,000 Grand Prize will be awarded to the winner of the 7-Day Shootout Filmmaking Competition. The grand prize is designed to be used by the filmmaker to make a feature-length film based on their 7-Day Shootout film. The feature film will be screened at the 2016 Knoxville Film Festival. Grand Prize provided by Visit Knoxville Film Office and Dogwood Arts.

The opening night film, WILDLIKE was directed by New York filmmaker Frank Hall Green and features actors Ella Purnell (Maleficent, Kick Ass 2, Never Let Me Go) and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, Star Trek 2, 13 Days). WILDLIKE has been invited to screen at more than 100 film festivals around the country, receiving 28 best film and audience awards. WILDLIKE will screen at the Knoxville Film Festival on Thursday, September 17th at 6:30pm.

Knoxville Film Festival schedule: http://www.knoxvillefilmfestival.com/festival-schedule/

Tickets are available for purchase at knoxvillefilmfestival.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Knoxville Film Festival Box Office located inside the Downtown West Regal Cinema 8 during the festival: Festival Pass + Opening Night Events [$75]; Festival Pass [$50]; Opening Night Film Screening + Opening Night Reception Tickets [$35]; Opening Night Film Screening Ticket [$15]; Opening Night Reception Ticket [$20]; Individual Film Block Ticket [$10].

Info: Katharine Torbett, ktorbett@dogwoodarts.com, 865.246.4392 or Keith McDaniel, keith@knoxvillefilmfestival.com, 865.742.8783

Part of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s 2015-2016 Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series, which marks the KSO’s 80th season.

The KSO will open its 80th season with music by American Masters George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. KSO Resident Conductor James Fellenbaum conducts the KSO in Chadwick’s Jubilee from Symphonic Sketches, Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. Van Cliburn Competition Crystal Medalist Sean Chen joins the Orchestra for Gershwin’s Concerto in F.

26-year‐old American pianist Sean Chen is the first American to earn a Cliburn award since 1997. He took home third prize just months after being named the 2013 Christel DeHaan Classical Fellow of the American Pianists Association. He has appeared with orchestras throughout the US and frequently performs in recital and chamber music concerts.

Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 PM at the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Tickets and information: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

Reception: September 14, 3-5 p.m. Bagwell Center Gallery

The second edition of this very special exhibition highlights the artwork of students, created while they were studying abroad with the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies. This year's exhibit features work from Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and various cities in India and Scotland.

Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Bagwell Center Gallery hours: M-F 10-6:30. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

We've got so much planned for September and are excited for the coming of fall! We've added a few new venues, have some new artists with some wonderful new paintings and we'll even be at the Tennessee Valley Fair this year! We're also doing a "Paint Your Pet" fundraiser benefiting the Feral Feline Friends. Finally, you parents deserve a break after the back to school rush so come out and enjoy the "Date Night" some great food, drink and art with us!

Mon, 9/14/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Mind Yer P's & Q's - Farragut - Still Life 2
Tue, 9/15/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Carolina Ale House - To The Moon
Thu, 9/17/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Original Copper Cellar - **DATE NIGHT** Heart in the Sand
Sun, 9/20/2015, 2:00 - 4:00 PM at The Basement Community Art Studio - Cookies and Canvas ** Special Event ** Lady Bug
Mon, 9/21/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Gavino's Pizzeria and Restaurant - Give from the Heart with Art **Special Event** Feral Feline Friends Paint Your Pet
Tue, 9/22/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Casual Pint Hardin Valley - The Torchbearer
Mon, 9/28/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Uncorked Knoxville - Rooster
Tue, 9/29/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at R. J.'s Courtyard - Alcoa - My Daisy
Wed, 9/30/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Buffalo Mountain Grill - Oak Ridge - Tennessee Theater at Night

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

Oak Ridge Art Center invites you to the 47th Annual Open Show, a juried mixed-media exhibition open to all artists which showcases exceptional work produced throughout our region. Open Show 2015 will be displayed September 12 through November 7.

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 12, 7:00-9:00PM. Gallery opens at 6:00PM for viewing with a gallery talk at 6:30.
Daily gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM, Saturday through Monday, 1:00-4:00PM.

201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge. 865 482 1441 or www.oakridgeartcenter.org for more information.

This exhibition will take the viewer through the evolution of Himalayan artistic styles from the 8th century through the present. From gilded statues of deities, to complex and colorful paintings of religious figures, the objects in the exhibit explore how trade, travel, and the evolution of Buddhism helped foster a strong artistic tradition that continues today.

Exploring the rich history of Himalayan style art in a chronological fashion, the Tibetan bronzes and paintings featured will progressively lead the viewer through the major stylistic developments that took place and provide an introduction to the techniques used to produce these works as well as to the complex religious iconography depicted in them.

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

Arrowmont invites the public to view Time, a collaborative exhibit by Blair Clemo and Jason Hackett, in the Geoffrey A. Gallery. The exhibit showcases an array of utilitarian and sculptural ceramic works measuring time through developed surfaces, symbolic image, and historic and geologic form. Clemo’s work explores time as a significant venture in labor while Hackett’s work is intuitively developed around the concept of time.

Blair Clemo is an Assistant Professor of Craft and Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. He received his MFA in Ceramics at New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University in 2010. Originally from Doylestown Pennsylvania, Clemo spent many years out west studying ceramics and working at small production potteries in Idaho and Montana. He has been an Artist-in-Residence at The Northern Clay Center (Minneapolis, MN), the Da Wang Culture Highland (Shenzhen, China), the Zentrum für Keramik (Berlin, Germany) and The International Ceramics Studio (Kecskemét, Hungary) funded by the 2013 NCECA International Partnership Grant. Clemo’s utilitarian and installation work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad. For more information, visit his website at www.ablairclemo.com.

Jason Hackett is currently the Studio Manager for the Department of Craft and Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, the same place from which he received his Master’s degree in Fine Arts in 2005. Prior to obtaining his Master’s degree, Jason held studio management positions for Jun Kaneko and Pewabic Pottery’s Education Studios. His artworks have been exhibited nationally and internationally at the Alexandria Museum of Art, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, The Mobile Museum of Art, The Virginia Museum of Fine Art, The Taubman Museum of Art, The City Museum of Aviero in Portugal, Galateea Gallery in Bucharest, and the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Jason was awarded the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Fellowship in 2013 for his collaged ceramic works.

Gallery hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Knox County Public Library is hosting the 12th year of Movies on Market Square, which is presented by Lusid Media, to highlight its vast collection of movies and music with more than 25,000 DVDs representing 13,000 titles. The Sights and Sounds Department at Lawson McGhee Library has one of the broadest physical collections of film and music of any public library in the Southeast.

The schedule is:
9/11 Driving Miss Daisy (PG, 1989)
9/18 Rio (G, 2011)
9/25 Night at the Museum (PG, 2006)
10/2 NO MOVIE - Black Lillies Concert
10/9 Hotel Transylvania (PG, 2012)
10/16 A League of their Own (PG, 1992)

All movies are rated G or PG-13, but parents are encouraged to check out the films to make sure they are right for their family. The series will run for five Friday nights, from September 11 through October 16, with no movie on October 2. Movies begin at dusk, and well behaved dogs are welcome. Moviegoers should bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. For more information, please call 215-8767 or visit http://www.knoxlib.org/movies

By Jack Sharkey and Directed by Tracy Walker. A zany spoof of British mysteries set in Bynewood Cottage, on a small estate just a few kilometers from Harrogate, a medium-sized town in West Riding, Yorkshire, in the north part of England.

"Murder has never been this funny. A spoof of all crime thrillers... it is good clean mirth all the way. The quick, smart, extremely well timed dialogue of Jack Sharkey comes through loud and clear [with] never a dull moment." — Times
"There are secret chambers, secret panels and trap lids galore. They're all operated by the most ridiculous contrivances and gloriously mucked up...A high, mad melodrama." — Frank Harris
"Delightful...constant humor...A good mixture of Agatha Christie, Monty Python, and Abbot and Costello!" — Canon, Memphis

Showtimes: Thu/Fri/Sat @ 8:00 pm and Sun @ 3:00 pm

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Encore Theatrical Company presents the award-winning smash comedy and regional premiere of “One Man, Two Guvnors.” Get ready to laugh out loud with this uproarious knockabout comedy is set in 1963 London as one man tries to serve, and hoodwink, two employers at the same time. Easily confused and distractedly hungry, Francis Henshall takes on two jobs resulting in two bosses. One “guvnor” is a mobster and the other is a criminal who is on the run. Neither is aware of the other, and Francis goes to extremes to prevent them from discovering each other and his deception. Throw in a sweet and beautiful but dimwitted young woman, a vain actor, a woman disguised as her murdered twin brother, a crooked lawyer, and a couple of level hoodlumbs, and it’s almost more than one man can govern.

Based on “The Servant of Two Masters” by Carlo Goldoni, playwright Richard Bean gives us a lighthearted show that is a guaranteed evening of laughs and entertainment. The play opened at the National Theatre in London in May 2011 and soon moved to Broadway. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards and James Corden won the Tony for Best Actor in a Play.

Evening performances September 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8:00 p.m. and matinee performances September 13, 20, 26, and 27 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held in the William H. Inman Humanities Theatre on the Morristown campus of Walters State Community College. Tickets are available online at www.etcplays.org or by calling 423-318-8331.

The 96th annual Tennessee Valley Fair is set to debut a variety of new and noteworthy attractions for East Tennesseans!
• Fair Food Fest - Wednesday, September 16
Love fair food? Stop by and enjoy discounted fair food in smaller portions from select food vendors from 3:00-11:00 p.m. Here's your chance to try a wide variety of deep fried goodness. Bring a friend and come hungry!
• Power T Lego Exhibit - September 11-20 - Jacob Building
Project: To create an artistic rendition of the largest Lego build in the state of Tennessee with the letter "T" sitting on a rocky base in celebration of the East Tennessee community, volunteer spirit and big orange passion.
Live building phase: September 11-17, 4:00-6:00 p.m. daily
Exhibit phase: September 18-20
• Cookies & Canvas - September 11-20 - Kerr Building
Come party artsy! Bring the whole family and paint a masterpiece. No talent or experience necessary. Knowledgeable instructors will guide you through step by step directions. Activity is available during Kerr Building hours and is free with paid fair admission.
• Farmer Charlie Meet & Greet - Sunday, September 20 - Jacob Building
Tennessee Farm Bureau is pleased to present Farmer Charlie for a meet and greet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Event is free with paid fair admission.
• Farmer Phil Show - September 11-20 - Kiddie Land
The Farmer Phil Show is a one of a kind live stage show experience. Impressing audiences with his skillful juggling, yoyo and magic routines, Phil keeps the laughs coming with hilarious jokes and sight gags. More importantly, crowds leave with a new understanding and appreciation for agriculture. Daily showtimes.
• 10 Days of Giveaways - September 11-20 - Jacob Building
Fairgoers are invited to register to win great prize packages including: a free vacation from Bluegreen, $100 in free tickets from the Tennessee Lottery, (18 and older only) a Trace Adkins VIP Meet and Greet package and much more. A new giveaway will be featured daily, September 11-20.
• Quilt for a Cause - Live Quilting Event - Sunday, September 20 - Kerr Building
Bring your sewing machine, equipment and creativity to quilt a 36"x 36" top for a lap quilt. Lap quilts will be donated to patients and residents at Kindred North Haven Healthcare. 100% cotton fabric will be provided. Preregistration is required: 865-382-2221.
• Sassy Stitches Craft Competition
Do you have a sense of humor and love to cross stitch? Create a funny saying and cross stitch the design. The design must be framed, displayed in the hoop, or may be made into a pillow. Registration deadline: August 28.
• Crazy Cakes & Baby Bouquets Craft Competition
Baby shower themed craft competition for a great cause. All proceeds and supplies will be donated to Helen Ross McNabb to assist needy East Tennessee families. Registration deadline: August 28.
• Cut It Out Craft Competition
Silhouette cameo and cricut craft competition. Get crafty with decals, iron-ons and other personalized crafts. Categories include: glass etching, wall art, paper designs and clothing. Registration deadline is August 28.

Concerts include:
Vanilla Ice on Friday, September 11
Chris Lane on Saturday, September 12
The Fairview Union on Sunday, September 13
Big Daddy Weave on Monday, September 14
Dustin Lynch on Tuesday, September 15
REO Speedwagon on Wednesday, September 16
Trace Adkins on Thurs, Sept 17
Warrant on Friday, September 18
JT Hodges on Saturday, September 19
Lonestar on Sunday, September 20

From culinary arts to crafts, livestock shows to action sports, headline concerts and special events, there are thousands of ways to enjoy a little Homegrown Happiness at this year's Tennessee Valley Fair. To see a full list of attractions and activities, visit www.tnvalleyfair.org. Tennessee Valley Fair: 865-215-1471.