Calendar of Events

The Art Gallery at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) is pleased to announce the opening exhibition of Knoxville artist Gary Dagnan on Sunday November 6. The Reception and Gallery Walk with the artist will take place beginning at 12:15 pm. Refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Gary Dagnan has been drawing and painting since childhood. He was born and grew up in the East Tennessee area. His inspiration comes from the rural landscapes of this area. “Most of my paintings are of the mountains, hills, lakes and buildings of this area. I enjoy the changing light and colors that come from the distinctly different seasons of Tennessee.” Dagnan began painting watercolors in 1968 as an art student at the University of Tennessee. Although he has painted almost exclusively in watercolor since then, Gary also enjoys painting in oils and acrylics. “I like the spontaneity and versatility of watercolor, but I am also excited about the unique qualities and the look of oil and acrylics.”

The exhibit will be on display at ORUUC through November. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm and Sunday 9:30 am to 1 pm. For more information on the event call ORUUC at (865) 483-6761. To learn more about the artist go on line to www.garydagnanart.net.

Bliss Home is pleased to present Local Nostalgia, by Knoxville artist Christi Shields, for November's First Friday. Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, November 6th from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided and Christi's art will be featured for the month of November.

Local Nostalgia is a collection of work that highlights a few nostalgic moments reflecting Christi's own experiences. It is intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia or feeling in the viewer through the use of local themes, bold complimentary colors and expressive brush strokes. Christi uses a very action oriented process with mixed media on wood support to create interest, depth, texture, movement and vintage flair.

Friday, November 6th, 2015 through the end of the month, Opening Reception: Friday November 6th, 2015, 6pm to 9pm
Admission: Free
Bliss Home 29 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902
Facebook: Bliss Home Event • Christi Facebook Page

Rala is proud to present Brian Pittman, aka The Cathedral Guy, as our November First Friday artist. Brian works as an architect, however, his long time passion for drawing imaginary cathedrals has made him an established part of the arts community. With no preconceived notion of the finished product, Brian illustrates his cathedrals using only a basic grid and a fountain pen. Even his frames have an interesting relationship with the image: "I start by finding old, used frames in rummage sales and flea markets. I like using old frames as the format that guides my drawing. I cut the paper to fit the frame instead of the other way around."

We invite you to stop by this Friday, November 6th, from 6-10 pm, to meet Brian and view his latest work. Come show your support for one of Knoxville's favorite local artists! You can also check out his brand new Knoxville Skyline T Shirt carried exclusively at Rala and available in our online store.

RALA, 323 Union Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-7888, http://shoprala.blogspot.com

Brad Robertson has painted all his life. Born and raised in the coastal town of Mobile, Alabama, his earliest inspiration was the landscape—the indigenous pines and oak trees, and the waters of Mobile Bay. The coastal landscape is still a major source of inspiration for Robertson.

Robertson earned his B.F.A. in Graphic Arts at Auburn University. During his time in college an art professor nurtured the foundation for what would eventually become Robertson’s career as a professional painter, encouraging his unique ability to work with color and texture to create depth, complexity and expressiveness. Robertson has become an award-winning artist with collectors throughout the United States.

Please join us for an opening reception Friday, November 6 from 5-8 p.m.

The District Gallery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: M-F 10-5:30, Sa 10-4. Information: 865-200-4452, www.TheDistrictGallery.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of traditional woodenware from Slovenia presented by the Ribnica Handicraft Centre with support from the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, DC and the Slovene Consulate in Knoxville. The exhibition of bowls, buckets, spoons, sieves, and other objects will be displayed in the Balcony gallery of the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from November 6-25, 2015. The opening reception on Friday, November 6, is free and open to the public from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

The Ribnica Valley lies in the southeast of the middle-European country of Slovenia. Wooden utensils and pottery have been the major products of Ribnica for perhaps 1,000 years thanks to the area’s abundant forest and clay resources. Until recently, nearly all people in the valley were engaged in agriculture, but many earned a major part of their living by means of their skills in making and trading useful household items of wood and clay. Sieves are products that can't be finished at home and then carried to the market; they simply take too much space. A much simpler solution was found by Ribnica crafts-people perhaps as early as five centuries ago: they packed side rims and bottoms separately and carried everything on their backs. When they sold a sieve, they finished it on the spot. Peddlers travelled from one fair, farm, or village to another, looking for buyers. Realizing that other wooden products would sell well too, they started exchanging goods with other local craftsmen. Soon they were able to complete their packs with all kinds of objects, trading those as well. The name 'kroönjar' came from the packs they carried ('kroönje' in the Slovenian language means “tree-top”). The peddlers carried these packs, as tall as two men, on their shoulders; the packs functioned as a portable display of everything that was for sale. Visible from a distance, the packs advertised the peddlers' purpose without a need for words. Sieve-making, in combination with the privilege to move freely across wide territories trading in woodenware and clay vessels, had an enormous economic and spiritual impact on average inhabitants of the Ribnica Valley. The traders brought back innovative ideas to the villages. Ribnica also gained notoriety as a center of humor, because to gain and retain customers, the peddlers were accomplished jokesters and raconteurs. To this day, Ribnica villagers are thought to be natural comedians.

The exhibition of traditional woodenware from Slovenia will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street for the month of November. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and special hours November 6-8. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit www.theemporiumcenter.com.

The Birdhouse Bird-Feeder Gallery/Cafe announces their November exhibition "Community Gardening." The exhibition opening will be on First Friday, November 6th from 6-9, in conjunction with and followed by the Labor Day Sunflower Project Winnowing party 6 - midnight.

On the second Sunday in November, November 15th, Angelia Rateike will be presenting her work on Community Gardens in Knoxville: Insight into Challenges Facing Community Garden Initiatives. So... don't put away your tools just yet!

The Birdhouse Bird-Feeder Gallery/Cafe, 800 N 4th Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: http://birdhouseknoxville.com, birdhouseknoxvillegallery@gmail.com

Recent works by painter Nelson Ziegler and jewelers of the Art Market Gallery will be featured during the month of November. In addition, fine crafts by members juried in this year to the 33-year-old cooperative will be on display in the front part of the gallery. An opening reception for both shows will begin at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 6, during Downtown Knoxville’s monthly First Friday Art Walk, with complimentary refreshments and country music performed by Robert Heck on guitar accompanied by box drum/canon base.

Featured artist Nelson Ziegler, of Sevierville, paints in oils and watercolors. His award-winning works have been honored in many notable national juried exhibitions, among them the National Arts Club, Salmagundi Club, and the Copley Society, and are in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. The member jewelry artists featured are Roger Kroll, Jennifer Lindsay and Kathy Bradley, all of Knoxville; Kathy Seely of Oliver Springs; and Sissy Caldwell of Maryville. They use various techniques, working with fine metals, semiprecious stones, beads – many hand-made, and other items to create one-of-a-kind pieces to wear. The new members for 2015 are Johnny Glass of Rockford and Jon Richey of Knoxville for glass art; Phil Monroe of Loudon for metal sculpture; and Knoxville residents Jeannie Grivetti for gourd art, Julia A. Malia for fiber wear and Nancy Rowland-Engle for jewelry.

wned and operated by 65 professional regional artists, the Art Market Gallery, at 422 South Gay St., is a few doors away from Mast General Store and next to Downtown Grill & Brewery. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday; and during November and December, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. 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. For more information, call 865-525-5265, or visit artmarketgallery.net or facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping this year with savings on fall and holiday items, books, toys and much more during the McClung Museum Store’s Annual Holiday Sale. The entire store will be 10% with sale table discounts up to 75%! Also check out our new stock from local artists including handmade wooden pens, unique jewelry, prints and pottery. Some exclusions will apply. Sale items available while supplies last.

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

Nov 2 Homeschool Tuesdays Spring Registration and Winter Wonderlabs Registration Opens
Nov 6 Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2
Nov 7 Saturday Science Connections 11:30-1:30 FREE with admission
Nov 9 Muse Mondays 10-11am FREE with admission
Nov 10 Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2
Nov 13 Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2
Nov 14 Saturday Science Connections 11:30-1:30 FREE with admission
Nov 16 Muse Mondays 10-11am FREE with admission
Nov 17 Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2
Nov 20 Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2
Nov 21 Saturday Science Connections 11:30-1:30 FREE with admission
Nov 23 Muse Mondays 10-11am FREE with admission
Nov 24 Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2
Nov 27 STEAM Sprouts Fairy Tale Engineering, 10 AM, $4, Knoxville Skies, 4:30, $2,
Nov 28 Saturday Science Connections 11:30-1:30 FREE with admission
Nov 30 Muse Mondays 10-11am FREE with admission

The Muse Knoxville, 516 N. Beaman Street, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-594-1494, www.themuseknoxville.org

Steve Foster was born and raised in Blount County. After spending his college years at the University of Tennesee, he returned to his home where he currently lives with his wife and three children.

The Denso Gallery is open 9am-6pm.

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Fountain City Art Guild Annual Holiday Show and Sale - opening reception and exhibit. Also showing: "Oil paintings by the Students of Aurora H. Bull". Opening Reception, everyone welcome, Friday, October 30, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM.

Exhibit viewing hours: Tu, Th 9-5; W, F 10-9; most Saturdays 9-1

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

David Durbak, Pellissippi State faculty member, international speaker and exhibitor, and recipient of numerous ADDY awards, presents his personal work.

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