Calendar of Events

Tennessee Stage Company kicks off its 26th annual New Play Festival with Staci Swedeen’s House Rules, directed by Tom Parkhill. The Knoxville-based writer’s play will premiere at the Historic Southern Railway Station. Swedeen’s play is the first of seven new plays appearing in this year’s festival. House Rules was selected from dozens of submissions for its outstanding writing. Swedeen’s play is about two brothers who confront the intertwined nature of hatred and love and learn that all truths kept silent become poisonous.

The New Play Festival presents un-published, un-produced plays for their worldwide premiere. Tennessee Stage Company accepts new play submissions throughout the year from all over the United States. In October, the company selects which plays it will produce from the submitted works.

Performances: Thu, Fri, Sat at 8 PM and Sun at 3 PM

Historic Southern Railway Station, 306 West Depot Street, Knoxville. Info: 865-546-4280 or www.tennesseestage.com

Pellissippi State Community College hosts local and regional artists Soon Ee Ngoh, Denise Stewart-Sanabria, and David Underwood in an upcoming exhibit in January and February. "Represent: Explorations in Realism, Image and Illusion" is on display in the Bagwell Center for Media and Art, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

A reception to meet the artists takes place 3-5 p.m., Jan. 19.

The exhibit takes a look at the meaning and use of realism and representation in two-dimensional art. The participating artists' different approaches include photography, observation, and realism as a springboard for conveying different moods, meanings, and concepts. "Represent" studies mimesis, or the imitation of nature, as a doorway into thoughts on the modern condition, the nature of representation, the fallibility of perception and human nature, among other themes.

The exhibit is free. 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

Beginning Jan. 18, the Farragut Museum will feature a new special exhibit - "The Farragut Farmers." This exhibit will be on display through May 27, 2016.

As late as the early seventies, the Farragut area was a sprawling rural community dotted with beautiful farmlands. This exhibit will feature artifacts related to farming in the area, photographs of barns and landmarks, and information about the Farragut Schools and their agricultural background. Specific artifacts on display include a barn door from the former Spencer Smith Farm off Smith Road (current site of Smithfield subdivision), a corn sheller with a large rotary handle, and a milk crate from the former Russell Dairy.

The Farragut Museum is committed to preserving the heritage of its East Tennessee community and features a remarkable collection of artifacts from the area, including an extensive collection of the personal belongings of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, first Admiral of the U.S Navy and hero of the Civil War. Housed in the Farragut Town Hall located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive, the museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers free admission. For more information, visit www.townoffarragut.org/museum, like Farragut Museum on Facebook, or contact Museum Coordinator Julia Barham at jbarham@townoffarragut.org or 966-7057.

Mixed media in the voices of Fictional Characters Anna Grace Tollett and Pearlie Bean, by Ghost Artist - Anne Powers, author of "Smoke from Small Fires".

Anne Powers is a multimedia artist who resides on the Rockwood side of Watt's Bar Lake . In past adventures she was the head of Roane State's Computer Art and Design program and the RSCC Art Department, the recipient of national awards in watercolor and digital media, taught digital media for five summers at Stanford University, and authored a book on 3D animation which is used worldwide. Examples of her work in traditional and digital media can be seen on her website at www.ANNIEMEDIA.com.

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is exhibiting interactive art in Touch, Arrowmont’s biannual National Juried Exhibition, on view in the Sandra J. Blain Gallery.

The opening reception scheduled for Friday, January 22, has been cancelled due the forecast of inclement weather. Community Classes will run as scheduled, however, Saturday Children's Classes are cancelled.

The first rule of museum etiquette is: Do Not Touch The Art! The artists showcased in Touch push the boundaries of a distance-based artistic environment. Touch acknowledges that traditional craft forms are rooted in the idea of functionality and are created to be handled. Jewelry structures respond to the bodies on which they are worn. Domestic vessels are produced for use in the daily ritual of preparing and sharing a meal and textiles are designed to provide comfort and warmth when they are worn. The works selected for this exhibition reflect high levels of craftsmanship and incorporate touch in innovative ways.

The exhibit showcases 52 works by 35 artists in a range of disciplines. The artists include: Fumi Amano, Missy Graff Ballone, Josh Bass, Sarah Rachel Brown, Heather Buechler, Marcelyn Bennett Carpenter, Sunyoung Cheong, Yu-Chi Chien, Erika Diamond, Alicia Dietz, Annie Evelyn, Yael Friedman, Reagan Furqueron, Jeni Hansen Gard, Magda Gluszek, Holly Hanessian, Karen Hardy, Lucy Holtsnider, Katie Hudnall, Lauren Kalman and Kipp Bradford, Joshua Kosker, Kirk Lang, Kathleen Little, Meg Mitchell, Lyndsay Rice, Jina Seo, Suzanna Scott, Linda Tien, Kurt Treeby, Tonya Vance, Kimberly Winkle and Dukno Yoon.

Touch: Interactive Craft’s juror is Emily Zilber, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s first Ronald L. and Anita C. Wornick Curator of Contemporary Decorative Arts.

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

A theme show open to all area artists. Also showing: Knox Co. Student Show TBA.

Opening reception on Fri, Jan 15, 6:30-8:00 PM. Free and open to the public.

Exhibit viewing hours: Tu, Th 9-5; W, F 10-5; Sat 9-1. Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

The Athens Area Council for the Arts announces Gospel Quilts: A Quilt Concert by Karen Malone showing a variety of handmade art quilts by Karen Malone, local artist and musician, at The Arts Center. The exhibit is available for viewing January 5 – February 12, 2015 at The Arts Center, 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee.

Karen Malone is a former music instructor who teaches piano and is the Music Director for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Athens, TN. She earned a Bachelor of Art in Music Education from St. Leo University in Florida; a Master of Music in Education from Florida State University, and completed doctorate coursework at the University of Southern California.

Her "Stitched Collage" style of stitching leaves abundant room for experimentation and expression. Inspiration is welcomed through prayer, scripture, family, friends, music and other art forms. Other inspiration includes The Gees' Bend quilt artists and various art quilters. A native of Florida, Karen now resides along the Tennessee River.

Malone will give an exhibit tour for 2016’s first Arts on the Side Tuesday January 5 at noon for another of AACA’s monthly outreach program that invites the public to enjoy the arts during the lunch hour. Arts on the Side is free and open to the public.

The exhibit opening reception is Friday, January 15, 2016 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Malone will be on hand to informally discuss her work. The reception includes light refreshments and is free and open to the public. After the reception, the Black Box Concert Series continues with Daddy Mack Blues Band at 7:30 pm in the Sue E. Trotter Theater. Tickets are $15 adult and $8 student. The Black Box Concert Series is sponsored by Tennessee Wesleyan College and Financial Guidance Partners.

Athens Area Council for the Arts: 320 North White Street, Athens, TN, 37303. Info: 423-745-8781, www.athensartscouncil.org

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 14, 5-7 PM in the Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture

The presence of acclaimed artists—who have lived and worked in major cultural centers across the country—enhances the educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University of Tennessee School of Art. With daily contact over the course of a full semester, resident artists develop a unique relationship with the student body which complements the creative stimulation offered by guest lecturers and the School of Art's faculty. Representing diverse ethnic, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds, these resident artists introduce another layer of candor and a fresh artistic standard for the students who, though early in their formal art studies, are beginning to develop their own perceptions, skills, and theories in connection with the making of art.

Exhibiting Artists: Molly Zuckerman-Hartung, Aliza Nisenbaum, Caitlin Keogh, Dominic Terlizzi

Gallery hours: M-F 10-5, Sun 1-4. Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

January 11, 6-9 PM: Cold Country Road - Waterfront Bar and Grill - Maryville
January 12, 7-10 PM: First Snow - Quaker Steak and Lube - Sevierville
January 14, 6-9 PM: Whimsical City - Original Copper Cellar
January 18, 6-9 PM: White Flowers - Gibby's Dining & Drinks (inside Holiday Inn)
January 19, 6-9 PM: Blue Willow - Le Noir Restaurant - Lenoir City
January 25, 6-9 PM: **SPECIAL EVENT** Birch Tree Wine Glasses - Blue Coast Grill
January 26, 6-9 PM: Apples - KaTom Restaurant Supply - Kodak
January 27, 6-9 PM: Silent Snowfall - Carolina Ale House
January 28, 6-9 PM: A Touch of Winter - Tellico Village Yacht Club - Loudon
January 28, 6-9 PM: Local Brew - Casual Pint - Farragut
January 30, 5-9 PM: **SPECIAL EVENT** Paint Your Pet - Off Leash K9 Training - Alcoa ($45)

Classes are $35 unless otherwise noted. Wine & Canvas: Knoxville, TN, 865-356-9179, http://www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

Opening reception January 8, 6 PM. The first 20 attendees will receive a complimentary print! 20% of all sale proceeds will benefit the Sevier County Food Ministry.

Ronda and her family moved to Sevierville from New Jersey. She works in mixed media and her pieces cover many subjects and styles.

Held at Armada Bar, 116 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-801-1036 or www.facebook.com/twistedstixartstudio

Recent paintings and drawings of Hannah Harper: www.hmharper.weebly.com. She is a graduate of the School of Art at East Tennessee State University. Her paintings are mostly based on subconscious of the human experience using the split of under and over water as a metaphor.

Opening reception on January 8, 5:00-9:00 PM. Door-front parking is free. All ages are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Broadway Studios and Gallery, 1127 Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Gallery hours: Thu-Sat 11-7, Sun 11-3. Information: (865)556-8676 or www.BroadwayStudiosAndGallery.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission are pleased to present the second annual Gallery of Arts Tribute. This juried exhibition, developed to recognize local artists and honor the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be displayed at the Emporium Center. Works included in the exhibition will feature African and African American artists in the Greater Knoxville area as well as works that pertain to the themes of Unity, Community, Love, Reconciliation, Social Justice, and Civil Rights. “The Emporium is delighted to be included in this distinguished and important event,” says Liza Zenni, Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Alliance. “We look forward to seeing the work that will honor Dr. King and his legacy.”

The exhibition will be on display in the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. An opening reception will take place on Friday, January 8, from 6:00-8:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday, January 17, 3:30-6:30 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, January 18, for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.