Calendar of Events

Knoxville Children’s Theatre will present Annie, Jr., a version of the classic Broadway show “Annie,” specifically adapted for children and families. The play will be performed April 1 - 17, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sundays at 3 PM.

The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved, award-winning musicals. Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Annie JR. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

The script is based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” from the Tribune Media group. The original Broadway production was produced by Mike Nichols, from a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. The play is produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com.

Free exhibition is partnership of Gerdau, Dogwood Arts and UT Sculpture Program. Sculptures created by eight University of Tennessee art students that incorporate materials provided by steel recycler Gerdau will be on public display at the Knoxville Convention Center. “The Art of Recycling” sculpture exhibition celebrates April’s National Recycling Month and a partnership among Gerdau, Dogwood Arts and the University of Tennessee Sculpture Program. The sculptures will be unveiled in a public ceremony Friday, April 1, at 10 a.m.

In February, Gerdau’s Knoxville steel mill opened its scrap yard to the students, along with John Powers, UT assistant professor of sculpture. The group selected more than two tons of discarded metal and steel, provided free of charge by Gerdau, and gained inspiration for new works of art. “I am delighted that our students again have the opportunity to participate in this wonderful experience,” said Powers, who has worked with the project since 2014. “We appreciate Gerdau’s generosity and hospitality. The access and support they provide are key to this event’s success. The students’ creative juices are flowing, and they are eager to reveal their works to the public.”

The partnership always has resulted in new works of art, but 2015 was the first time it culminated in a public art exhibition. The Knoxville Convention Center remains an enthusiastic supporter of the project.

Participating UT students include Shane Coe, Will Evers, Brian Hoppers, Erica Mendoza, Marisa Mitchell, Patty Tinsley, Charlie Waddle and Anna Weible.

For more information, contact: Scott Bird at 865-544-0088 or sbird@moxleycarmichael.com

A CBT-Commissioned World Premiere by Rob Caisley; directed by Calvin MacLean. At the Lab Theatre

“Rob Caisley’s writing is brilliant, witty, and insightful…” New Jersey Stage

Suppose someone is overly generous to you…offering something you couldn’t possibly repay. Do you reject their generosity and risk offending them? Or do you accept the gift and then stew over what might be demanded in return? We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s better to give than to receive.” But what dark secrets may be camouflaged by our human need to share with others? This CBT-commissioned satire ventures into this territory with wit and bite, observing the contemporary anxieties between those with means and those with hopes, dreams and disappointment.

Clarence Brown Theatre / Carousel Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com. For tickets: 865-974-5161, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

Recent works by ceramic artist Lisa Kurtz and photographer Dennis Sabo will be on display March 29, 2016 through April 30 at the Art Market Gallery. An opening reception for the featured artists will begin at 5:30 p.m., April 1; with complimentary refreshments and music performed by Matt Tillery.

Lisa Kurtz has been a functional potter for over 37 years. An award winning ceramic artist, she is a clay professor at Cleveland State in Cleveland, Tn., where she teaches hand building and wheel throwing. After getting her Masters Degree in clay at the University of Louisville, Lisa set up her first studio in the eclectic Highlands neighborhood in Louisville, Ky. and named her business Highland Pottery. She has been an exhibiting member of many professional guilds, boards and galleries. Her work has been featured and is shown in galleries and juried fine arts and craft shows across the US and is in many private collections nationally and internationally. Lisa throws and hand builds her clay pieces and often integrates the two methods to create her functional pottery, sculpture and clay wall art.

Dennis Sabo is an internationally honored photographer specializing in contemporary abstract, landscape, and seascape photography. His award-winning work has appeared in various publications and institutions, among them National Geographic, NOVA, PBS, Canon, Hilton Hotels and the Anthology of Appalachian Photographers. Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a wonderful time to be in the park and Dennis’s photography has transcended that seasonal experience into a magical fairytale of color, light, textures, and patterns. His interpretation is further refined by his choice of medium and processing; preserving images by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets. These metal prints reveal vibrant colors with breathtaking luminescence while maintaining archival quality.

The Art Market Gallery is a unique gallery in Knoxville because it is owned and operated by more than 60 of the best professional artists in our regional area. It is located at 422 South Gay St. and is conveniently located just 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. Parking is in the abutting garage and on the street and 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.

Bliss Home is pleased to present new artwork by Knoxville artist, Lindsey Teague, for April's First Friday! Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, April 1st from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided and Lindsey's art will be featured for the month of April.

Lindsey Teague graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a BFA in Graphic Design in 2009. She is a freelance graphic designer with over 7 years of experience in the design field. She has worked with clients on every level from billion dollar corporations to first time small business owners. She volunteers her photography skills, which have been awarded by AIGA, by teaching inner city children photography workshop classes. She gives back to her community and various non-profit organizations by donating art, design work, and photography. She uses her spare time to refine her fine art work which has been showcased in over 12 First Fridays in the Knoxville area and will be presented in the Dogwood Arts Festival this spring.

Lindsey's April exhibit is inspired by what is meaningful in her life such as the people, places, and the history of this scruffy little city by the river. Lindsey's art process begins with taking photographs then she vectors the images down and prints them on wood boards. Along with an interesting texture, the wood carries an organic tone which is representative of the surrounding natural landscape. Each board is stained with an acrylic based paint to add a little vibrancy and contrast.

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

History, Food, & Fun! Enhance your time in Historic Downtown with Knoxville’s Award Winning, Original Tour! Enjoy a complete Knoxville experience in just a few hours – enjoy tastings of specially selected dishes from some of Knoxville’s best new and iconic restaurants featuring local, regional, Southern & Appalachian cuisine; add pairings of beer from local and craft breweries, wine flights, craft cocktails, Tennessee whiskey, or even moonshine; hear the history of the city and notable buildings. A must for locals and visitors!

Reservations Required. Purchase Tickets at www.knoxvillefoodtours.com or call 865-201-7270.

Blount County Public Library has been selected to be one of nine sites in the nation to host Discover Earth: Our Changing Planet, a national traveling exhibition exploring the fascinating world of earth science.
Discover Earth: Our Changing Planet explores Earth’s ever-changing physical and biological systems using stunning media and interactive experiences. Earth science topics in the exhibit include topics such as short and long-term time changes, the differences between weather and climate, and what it means to be a steward of our amazing planet.

The exhibition will be displayed at the library from February 3 through April 29. Blount County Public Library will also offer a related series of public events to bring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming to children, teens and adults.

The Grand Opening and kick-off event will be on Saturday, February 6, at 2 p.m. Mike Maslona, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ranger, will give a presentation “National Park Service – 100 Years Old” describing the mission of the National Park Service, in its 100th anniversary year, to conserve over 400 diverse park units throughout the United States and their rich natural and cultural history while also providing for their enjoyment unimpaired for future generations.
Among other presentations during the exhibit will include “Reporting the Weather” by WATE-TV meteorologist, Matt Hinkin, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. “The Natural History of Southern Appalachia” will be presented by Dr. Paul Threadgill, Biology Professor at Maryville College, on Monday, February 29, at 7 p.m. Other programs will be announced soon and will be available on the library website at www.blountlibrary.org or on calendars or call 865-982-0981.

When visiting the exhibition, plan to spend at least one to two hours or plan several visits. Because there are many interactive exhibits, plan sufficient time to explore the numerous topics and sciences.

The exhibition is free and open to the public during library hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Discover Earth: Our Changing Planet was developed by Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL), the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office, the Lunar and Planetary Institute and the Afterschool Alliance. Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, where services are an example of your tax dollars at work for you.
For further information about library programs or services, call the library at 982-0981 or visit the Web site at www.blountlibrary.org .

The Knoxville Museum of Art is proud to present the first-ever exhibition dedicated to the history and legacy of the groundbreaking artists who worked and exhibited together in the fifties and sixties and eventually became known as The Knoxville 7. The KMA-organized exhibition features more than 60 works culled from the museum’s extensive holdings, augmented by loans from collectors around the region.

The brash, ambitious artists who exhibited together as The Knoxville 7 shared the common visual language of Abstract Expressionism, producing what are likely the first abstract art works in East Tennessee and establishing a foothold for modern art in the region. In the early 1950s, C. Kermit “Buck” Ewing, first head of the University of Tennessee’s art department, recruited a group of young artists—initially Carl Sublett, Walter Stevens, Robert Birdwell—who exhibited actively in Knoxville and throughout the Southeast. While Sublett and Stevens shared an exclusive interest in the landscape as a point of reference for their abstractions, Birdwell and Ewing often found inspiration in urban settings and the human figure. Sometimes they exhibited as a foursome and other times as The Knoxville 7 with fellow artists Joanna Higgs Ross, Richard Clarke, and Philip Nichols. This important exhibition brings into focus a richly productive period in the art history of the region and also attests to the depth of the museum’s growing holdings of works by Knoxville 7 artists.

The opening for the exhibition is Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 6 to 8pm with a short program at 6:45pm.

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

Maya: Lords of Time explores the time-ordered universe through the Maya’s intricate calendar systems and investigates how their history and culture followed a rhythm set by the motion of heavenly bodies. Learn the story of how divine kings used their control over the calendar and its grand public rituals to assert their power.

With award-winning interactives, numerous full-sized monumental replicas, and many Central American artifacts, visitors can trace the rise and fall of the Maya kingdoms and follow how ideas of time and the calendar changed before and after the Spanish conquest.

This exhibition also explores how those long-standing beliefs can still be found in Mayan regions today.

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

Cost - $10

Mondays & Wednesdays - Drum Classes (5:45-6:30 PM) and Dance Classes (6:45-7:45 PM)
Saturdays - Drum Classes (1:30-2:15 PM) and Dance Classes (2:30-3:45 PM)

At 748 N. 4th Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Info: indigenousvibes15@gmail.com or ifaa2012@gmail.com

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