Calendar of Events

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

Select Saturdays: January 9th & 23rd, February 6th & 20th, March 5th & 19th, April 2nd & 16th

Nourish Knoxville’s 2016 Winter Market, held in the Historic 4th and Gill neighborhood, will host farm & food vendors selling pasture-raised meats, eggs, winter produce, honey, baked goods, coffee, artisan foods, and more by vendors from the Market Square Farmers’ Market. Outside, food trucks will be serving up lunch from locally sourced ingredients.

At Central United Methodist Church, 201 East 3rd Avenue, Knoxville, TN. For more information, contact Nourish Knoxville: info@nourishknoxville.org or (865) 805-8687

Saturday mornings from 10:30am-12:00pm, come to this FREE class and brush up on your improv skills!

At The Birdhouse, 800 N 4th Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917. Info: karlalanhess@gmail.com
http://birdhouseknoxville.com/about-we/regular-programming/improv-comedy-class/

Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, February 5th, from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided and Starr's art will be featured for the month of February.

Ocean Starr Cline was born in San Francisco and raised in Alabama on an 11 acre farm. She moved to Knoxville almost 10 years ago after finishing her BA and MA in English Literature at the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. After arriving in Knoxville, she immediately began showing and selling her work on Gay Street as well as Gatlinburg, in addition to her nationwide internet based sales. Cline is a self taught full-time artist. She has been painting for over 20 years. Her inspirations come directly from her experience living on a farm in the country and her education in English Literature. Many of her paintings are heavily textured, which causes them to change through the day as the light passes through a room. Cline's January exhibit focuses on ideas of identity and the mix between the faces we would show to the world and the ones we hide even from ourselves. https://www.etsy.com/shop/OceanStarr

Bliss Home, 29 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-329-8868, www.shopinbliss.com

Knoxville Zoo is offering “Buy One, Get One Free” admission tickets Dec. 1, 2015, through Feb. 29, 2016, during Kroger BOGO Days.

“It may come as a bit of a surprise to our guests, but winter is a great time to visit the zoo,” said Lisa New, President and CEO of Knoxville Zoo. “We’re lucky to have many days of mild weather, and most of our animals enjoy being out and active on those days. Our red pandas and river otters are especially lively this time of year.” On days when the temperature drops below 40 degrees, some animals will be moved indoors, but visitors can still see many favorites, including elephants, gorillas, penguins, chimpanzees and reptiles, in their indoor viewing areas. A December trip to the zoo may even include a visit with Santa Claus, too, when the Pilot Flying J Wee Play Adventure indoor play area hosts Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village will offer visits and photo opportunities with Santa as well as holiday-themed crafts Dec. 3 through 6 and 10 through 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day. Half-price admission tickets can be purchased at the zoo ticket window during regular zoo hours and online at knoxvillezoo.org. Discounted admission tickets must be used by Feb. 29, 2016, and cannot be combined with any other promotion, discount, or coupon.

Knoxville Zoo, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

Native genius. Boy artist. These and other descriptors were often applied to Lloyd Branson, who grew from a precocious sketcher on his family’s East Tennessee farm to an accomplished artist best known for portraits of Southern politicians and depictions of early Tennessee history. For the first time, Branson is the subject of a major retrospective, which chronicles his life, works of art, and legacy as one of the most influential figures in Knoxville’s early art circles. Please join us in celebrating Branson’s life and art!

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

Where: Downtown Knoxville and McGhee Tyson Airport
When: April 4, 2014-March 20, 2015
How Much: Free

Art comes in all shapes and sizes. We invite you to experience some of the larger variety with Art in Public Places, an annual event featuring large-scale outdoor sculptures in Knoxville’s downtown public spaces and also at McGhee Tyson Airport. These larger scale pieces are thought provoking and awe-inspiring.

By displaying these works outdoors, we celebrate not only the art of sculpture but Knoxville’s natural beauty during this year-round outdoor exhibition.

The exhibition presently on view, an interesting and inspirational collection of works by sculptors from across the nation, was selected and awarded by noted sculptor Kenneth M. Thompson. Kenneth holds a Master of Liberal Studies in Sculpture from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Siena Heights College, in Adrian, MI. While many of his sculptures are in Ohio and Michigan, Thompson’s work can be seen in other states. He has done 41 pieces of public sculpture across the country. Ken has been making sculpture for over thirty years out of his car-dealership-turned-studio in Blissfield, Michigan. From this facility he operates Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Galleries as well as Midwest Sculpture Initiative, which provides exhibitions that feature outdoor sculpture. Fourteen shows are planned for next year, he says. He also serves or has served on numerous arts-oriented boards.

The Art in Public Places Knoxville program, the 2015-2016 year being its 9th is a featured presentation of Dogwood Arts in partnership with the City of Knoxville Public Art Committee. The 2014-2015 Art in Public Places Knoxville Co-Chairs are Bart Watkins and Jason Brown.

To purchase a sculpture, please call [865] 637.4561.

Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

Ijams Hallway Gallery Presents: The Artwork of Broadway Studio and Gallery Artists

This month's Hallway Gallery shows off the amazing collaboration of the artists of Broadway Studio and Gallery. Bright, colorful, and diverse- you won't want to miss out on seeing the first group showing of these talented artists.

More events at http://ijams.org/events/. Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Call for Visitor Center hours. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

This 30-minute documentary, filmed and produced by Jupiter Entertainment, begins in 2009 as Richard Jolley began work on what would become "Cycle of Life, Within the Power of Dreams and the Wonder of Infinity".

Every Saturday & Sunday at 3 PM.

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

The Salvage Shop is a program of Knox Heritage, accepting donated historic building materials to prevent these valuable items from going to the landfill. These items are re-sold to benefit Knox Heritage. All donations are tax-deductible.

619 Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. Shop Hours: Wed-Fri 12-5pm, Sat 10am - 3pm. Information: 865-523-8008, www.knoxheritage.org

Ramsey House was built in 1797 by Knoxville’s first builder, Thomas Hope, for Francis Alexander Ramsey. The structure is significant for original interior and exterior architectural features and its period decorative art collection. The Ramsey Family was one of the first families to settle the Knoxville area. They played vital roles in developing civic, educational and cultural institutions. Colonel Francis A. Ramsey was one of the founding trustees of Blount College, now the University of Tennessee. One of his sons, Dr. J.G.M. Ramsey authored an early history of the state, The Annals of Tennessee. Another son, William B.A. Ramsey, was the first elected mayor of Knoxville.

Tours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm (last tour at 3:00pm)
Info: 865-546-0745, 2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914. www.ramseyhouse.org