Calendar of Events

A common experience of a story can bring a community together to help face its truths. Knox County Public Library is pleased to partner with Clarence Brown Theatre, Friends of the Library, Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and other agencies on The Big Read presenting A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines during Black History Month and beyond. The novel has a long history of championing social justice. Fiction has the singular ability to embody social ideas in a compelling narrative that possesses both emotional and intellectual power. A Lesson Before Dying offers a painful yet inspirational tale of institutional injustice and personal redemption. It addresses the biggest theme possible—how one affirms life in the face of death.

The Big Read will kick off at noon on February 5 at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office.

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The Big Read aims to encourage reading for pleasure and enrichment by providing citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book in their communities. The grant for The Big Read 2016 was awarded to Friends of the Knox County Public Library. A full schedule of events can be found at www.knoxlib.org/bigread.

Knox County Public Library: 500 West Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-215-8750, www.knoxlib.org

Lance Pettiford is a local photographer, graphic designer, film maker and anthropologist. He is also a good friend to the Armada family and we are thrilled to showcase his amazing photography for the month of February.

According to Lance, "In life, we seek our own way; we are all in pursuit of happiness. We want to find something that's going to make us different from the others, make our life special. We want to find a sense of life and we are testing different things just to find something that will be most important for us.; something that helps us connect to human nature on a global level. During film school I turned my interest to archaeology/anthropology, I found myself wanting to capture all things dealing with cultures, history, nature, and just people in general. Where did photography come in to the picture? Photography is the medium, which allows us to show our own point of view, sometimes helps us to understand the world we live in and to discover something new about ourselves. Photography is like a passion, sometimes it is like a deeply concealed mystery, sometimes it gives us a chance to see what is invisible, hidden deep in our dreams. It is like desire; always bringing a joy. Photography as any other medium of art evokes emotions in us, asks questions and forces us to reflect on the world around us. I believe that the photography and video are the medium in which unveils the mysteries of the world around us and more intriguing to me is the way in which it allows us to time travel. I truly believe that through photography and video that we can unveil aspects of the past that we would have never known before. That idea is what inspires me to capture the world around us."

Come out and support Lance and enjoy an amazing, hand-crafted cocktail and some delicious, scratch-made food!
Held at Armada Bar, 116 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. https://www.facebook.com/events/916819958386752/

Join your friends for an art exhibition by Saul Young at Flow. Proceeds from art sales benefit Breaststrokes all month long. Live music provided by Blond Bones and Jubal. Counter Culture espresso and coffee, cold brewed coffee, and beer on tap!

At 603 W Main St, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
https://www.facebook.com/events/1505434606428852/

Join WDVX & Visit Knoxville downtown at the Knoxville Visitor Center for First Friday Live! A FREE live show held on the first Friday of every month hosted by one of WDVX’s resident Americana music experts, Nelson Gullett.

This Friday, February 5, at 7 pm will feature Ira Wolf.

WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

Bullied and meek, a young tailor manages to kill seven flies in one blow while day-dreaming of slaying dragons. When exaggerated rumors of his skill spread throughout the village, the tailor is brought before the cowardly king and given the tasks of battling not only two troublesome giants, but also a fierce dragon. Only time will tell if he can summon the courage to prove to himself that one need not be big to be strong.

Showtimes
Sat Feb 4, 2017 | 1:00PM
Sat Feb 4, 2017 | 4:00PM
Sun Feb 5, 2017 | 2:00PM

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

The Art Market Gallery will present a member Valentine exhibit February 2 through February 28. The exhibit, themed heART 2 heART, will feature a wide variety of media showcasing the many talents of Art Market artists. Painting, printmaking, photography, clay, glass, wood, gourds, and more will explore the Valentine theme. An opening reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., February 5 during Downtown Knoxville's monthly First Friday Art Walk, with complimentary refreshments and music performed by The Accidentals. .

Owned and operated by more than 60 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; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. 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.

Tue, 2/2/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Starry Night Wine Glasses at Mind Yer P's & Q's - Farragut
Tue, 2/9/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - For the Love of Wine at Quaker Steak and Lube - Sevierville
Wed, 2/10/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Date Night - Sunset at Blue Coast Grill
Sat, 2/13/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Knoxville City of Love at Gibby's Dining and Drinks
Mon, 2/15/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Sun Moon Stars and Mars at Barley's - Maryville
Tue, 2/16/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Snowy Night at Gavino's Pizzeria and Restaurant
Wed, 2/17/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - First Snow at Carolina Ale House
Thu, 2/18/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Sunset in the Smokies at Le Noir Restaurant - Lenoir City
Mon, 2/22/2016, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Paint Your Pet at Gibby's Dining & Drinks (inside Holiday Inn)
Tue, 2/23/2016, 5:00 - 7:00 PM - Cookies and Canvas - Zebra at Imagination Forest - Powell
Fri, 2/26/2016, 7:00 - 10:00 PM - Two Lillies at Quaker Steak and Lube - Sevierville

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

The Knoxville Watercolor Society will exhibit recent works from its members at the Blount County Public Library from February 1 through February 29, 2016.

Regular hours for the Blount County Public Library M-Th, 9 am to 9 pm, and F-S 9 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 5:30 pm. Location: 508 North Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804 Library Phone: 865-982-0981
For more information about the Knoxville Watercolor Society, membership requirements and to view members' art works go to www.knxvillewatercolorsociety.com.

"Touche" a collection of Paintings, Drawings, and Photos by Jennifer Brickey at Westminster Presbyterian Church's Schilling Gallery through February 28.

6500 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone:(865) 584-3957

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 6-8 P.M. RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST—MARK HALL–AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF HAVEN HOUSE—DR. FRANCES HENDERSON

Artist Statement: Several years ago a female student was absent for just over a week. I heard nothing. This was unusual for her and when she returned I asked if she was ok. When she hesitated, I assured her I was not trying to pry but was concerned. She pulled back her upper blouse exposing a large bruise on her shoulder. She then stated, “My boyfriend at home beat me up.” After a brief talk where she assured me her father was dealing with this matter and my comments that the male should be her ex-boy friend, I began thinking about the issue of the abuse of women by men. This student was intelligent, attractive (she looked like the 19th century Gibson girl), and kind. What would motivate a male to abuse such a person? I began looking at late 19th century Victorian and Art Nouveau images of women and the Valentines that were created using many of these stereotypes.

I began working on a series of Domestic Abuse Valentines based upon these late 19th century images adapting the symbolism and wording. I created 10 wood engravings that depict these female stereotypes with the marks of abuse and the words of the abuser. The series of prints begins depicting a woman with a black eye and the words, “You Know I Love You?” The art nouveau pattern creates a bull’s eye on her body. Each subsequent image after the first depicts a woman with additional wounds and the escalating words of control by the abuser. The series ends with the last Valentine depicting a battered woman taken from the internet with the words “I’m Going To Kill You!” Labels for the exhibition give statistical information about abuse of women in the United States.

I would like to thank Dr. Frances Henderson, Associate Professor of Sociology at Maryville College for her assistance creating the labels for this exhibition.

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

Artist Reception, February 26 6pm to 8pm

The Exhibit “Bricklayer to Jeweler” by Artist Tony Henson will include abstract works by the artist. Henson live in Kingsport, TN and teaches at Walters State and VA Highlands Community College. His work has been exhibited in galleries across the south.

Artist statement – “Start like a bricklayer end like a jeweler.” – Walter Sickert

Passage is the act or process of moving through, under, over, or past something on the way from one place to another. Transition of that something is as important as the transition of color within my work. Transition from childhood to adulthood, becoming a Christian, in music it’s a segment of a composition, in nature an opening, etc. Passage has as many variations such as time, journey, death, rite of passage, passage from the Bible, a path or channel, doorway, etc. Color, music, and nature have always been the three main influences in my paintings. My love for color is the main reason I paint. I believe all art should have restrictions. Within those restrictions, you have the ability to be creative in a series and in the individual paintings. I set up strict guidelines before beginning a painting. Transition of color, contrast in color and texture, large areas of color, gradation, drawing aspect with lines, layers that create depth, movement, application of paint, starting out in a very spontaneous manner, and so on. My personal motto and a quote I have on my studio wall from Walter Sickert “start like a bricklayer and end like a jeweler” sums up my process. The organic natural expression in my art reinforces my love for music and nature. Fluid lines referring to the rivers and trails of East Tennessee against larger areas of color referring to the landscape and the sky provide a necessary contrast in each painting. Thick, intense, or dark colors indicate the landscape while the soft transitions of colors refer to the sky. The gradation of colors which is more geometric than most of the painting refers to the sunrise and sunset. The contrast between these formal concerns is crucial in my work. I am creating an experience for the viewer to be immersed in the color, expression, and texture. Painting is a celebration of seeing.

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

In this classic comedy, vulgar, egotistical “junkman” Harry Brock, along with his “dumb" but charming girlfriend, Billie Dawn, arrives in Washington to make a few “deals” with powerful political big-wigs. Increasingly embarrassed by Billie’s lack of knowledge and social graces, Harry hires an idealistic young magazine reporter to educate the former showgirl. Billie not only learns to appreciate history and politics, but along the way, discovers the depths of Harry’s crooked activities. Armed with a natural honesty and frank attitude, Billie must decide how to utilize her newfound knowledge to extricate herself from being a tool in Harry’s illegal schemes.

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