Calendar of Events

When: Opening reception Aug. 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; artists’ talks at 6:30 p.m.

Katharine Emlen: The Poetry of Nature, or Macro Stories from the Bracken around Us
Emlen says that if she were only one inch tall, this is the world she’d see. The flowers would tower above her head, water drops would become a place to sit, and every blade of grass would turn into a slide. She would dangle from her knees off tendrils of wheat and crawl inside blossoms to take a short sleep. She never intends to photograph what something actually is; instead, she hopes to capture a “story.” Her photography is not altered in any way. Emlen is a freelance creative specializing in writing and photography. She has a degree in anthropology from U.T. Knoxville and vocational training in media, productions and design. She wrote her first story, “Birthday Game Run,” at age 16 about growing up in Nakuru, Kenya, and followed it with “Bioluminescence,” later published in Denali Magazine. Her written work been featured in The Ithaca Times and Smart Gardening, read over the air and turned into video shorts. She is the author of the children’s book Believe and the creator of the Affirmation Chant Magnets used by Caesar Milan on “The Dog Whisperer.” Her love of photography began with a small pocket-sized camera, perfect for putting underneath mushrooms and inside flowers. Her early work was “macro-story” focusing on reflections in water drops, bends in tendrils, patterns in ice … tiny worlds accompanied by poems, which she exhibits under the title, The Poetry of Nature. Upon her return to Knoxville, her photographic work expanded to include architecture, landscapes and cityscapes, with a macro approach. Her work has been shown at Arts in the Airport, the National Juried Art Show, the Knoxville Photo Show, Arts Emporium Member’s show and the Clayton Center for the Arts. In her free time Emlen is a closet ethnomusicologist and spent seven years hosting the Sounds Global radio show on 91.9 KRVM. www.kemlenphotography.com

Lisa Discepoli Line: The Brown and the Green
What sorts of conversations are possible between timeless nature and objects common in our modern world? Nature returns again and again, like the green grass, but it also consists of the brown and dried, old-age or endurance. Sometimes it speaks of freshness; sometimes it speaks of decay. How do these two principles work together? How do they need one another? These paintings are an exploration of these questions about the natural world and our place as humans in it. Line is a resident of Sevier County, Tennessee. She received a B.A. from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and continued to study painting at the University of Tennessee and at its affiliate, The Arrowmont School in Gatlinburg. Her work in oil painting uses scale, pattern, color and texture to investigate themes of time, motion and the cycles of nature. http://www.lisadline.com

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery hours: M-Th 10-5, Su 10-1. Information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

The District Gallery presents: Terra Madre: Women in Clay
Opening reception: Friday, August 19, 5-8 p.m. The show continues through September 10.

Terra Madre: Women in Clay is a group show featuring the work of an eclectic group of women ceramic artists living and working in the metro Knoxville area.
Through their diverse approaches to clay, Terra Madre seeks to encourage excellence in ceramic art, to promote clay artistry in the surrounding community, and to form a supportive creative network for its members. Comprised of over 35 artists, the group shows work as a collective two to three times annually. Their work is also exhibited individually throughout the country and can be found in galleries, small businesses, craft shows, and in private and public collections.

We are pleased to present Terra Madre as they return for their second exhibit with The District Gallery, showcasing a dynamic compilation of ceramic artwork ranging from functional to sculptural, traditional to whimsical. Please join us opening night for a special evening of fine craft, food, and drink.
The show will be on display August 19 through September 10. The District Gallery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. For more information, please visit our website, TheDistrictGallery.com, or call (865) 200-4452.

A live theatre version of the famous adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, especially adapted for young people and families. The play will be performed August 19 through September 4, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sundays at 3 PM.

To fulfull his dream of becoming a soldier, young d'Artagnan heads for Paris and into romance, intrigue and adventure. On the way, he meets a secret agent, confronts a mysterious swordsman, rescues the beautiful Constance, and ultimately joins The Three Musketeers in their fight against an evil Cardinal. When d'Artagnan learns of a plot to destroy the queen, he accepts the chance to prove himself worthy of Constance and of the uniform of a musketeer. With The Three Musketeers, he declares: "All for one and one for all."

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

The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church invites the community to an exhibit of the diverse works of art created by Knoxville artist Suzanne Jack. The artist and former art educator graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Art Education. She later earned a Master's Degree in Art Education at the University of Tennessee. Her work has been exhibited at Vanderbilt and Ohio State University Clubs, the Renaissance Center in Dickson, TN and the 18th International Pastel Exhibition in Seattle as well as numerous other locations. Gallery showings include Cumberland Gallery in Nashville, Blue Spiral Gallery in Ashville, Art Access of Bexley, Ohio and Art Market Gallery in Knoxville. To learn more about the artist go on line to www.suzannejack.com.

The exhibit is free. Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. The ORUUC Gallery is open Monday – Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm. and Sunday 11 am to 12:30 pm. Info: (865) 483-6761.

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture Store at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is hosting a back-to-school sale through the end of the month. The sale will feature items at up to 70 percent off the original price. Museum members and UT students will receive an additional 10 percent off all purchases, including jewelry, toys, books, scarves and more. All proceeds from the store support the museum's free educational programs, which reach thousands of university and K-12 students in East Tennessee and across the region each year.

Museum admission is free, and the museum and museum store's hours are 9 a.m–5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sundays. Free two-hour museum parking passes are available from the parking kiosk at the entrance to Circle Park Drive during the week. Free parking is available on the weekends. Free public transportation to the museum is available via the Knoxville Trolley Vol Line. Info: Kimberly Pack, store manager (865-974-6750, kpack2@utk.edu) or http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

Townsend Visitor Center will exhibit "Art of Native Plants" to honor the centennial of the National Park Service. The exhibit will run 8/16/2016-08/28/2016 and will feature botanical illustration, sculpture, quilts and more. The exhibit will highlight plants used for medicinal value, ones used for food, tools and dyes and plants which are endangered species.

Townsend Visitor Center, 7606 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN. www.smokymountains.org.

Get out and see some live music!
Open Chord Music, 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Information: (865) 281-5874 or http://www.openchordmusic.com/live-music-venue

New Paintings by Michael Giles

O’Brien Art Gallery, Roane State Community College, O’Brien Building, 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, TN 37748. Information: www.roanestate.edu/art/gallery

There's A Lobsta' See Here! By Land or by Sea, a lively collection of painted paper collage by Lesley Eaton, will be on view at our Market Square location until September 4th. Lesley curates, cuts, arranges and glues colorful papers to shape her happy collages, like this crusty crustacean. Her most recent collection incorporates peppered paper - large sheets of paper that at one time provided a surface to catch all of her spills and splatters. https://pepperedpaper.wordpress.com/

The Tomato Head, 12 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902. Phone: (865) 637-4067, www.thetomatohead.com

Featuring 30 paintings from members of the Knoxville Watercolor Society who live in and around Knoxville. Members are juried into the KWS. The Knoxville Watercolor Society was formed in 1963 to educate its members, as well as the community, to the understanding of watercolor as a significant art form. In this exhibit you will view watercolors by members of the KWS, many who have achieved regional and national acclaim.

The public is invited to an exhibition reception on August 7, 2-4 PM.

Free admission! 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

As we continue to celebrate our 200th year, Church Street invites you to join us each Sunday in August as local author & historian Jack Neely explores the history of Knoxville. The church will be open for tours from 1-2:30 p.m., followed by the lectures at 2:30 p.m. There is no charge for the event. Topics are below:

August 7- Architecture
August 14-Literature
August 21- Immigration
August 28- Music

We hope you will join us! At Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley St, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. https://www.facebook.com/events/765603446875802/

Join us for a memorable tour of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Sam Venable. 2 Days Only, Saturday August 6 and Saturday October 15.

All tours depart from the GSM Heritage Center,Townsend, TN at 9:30 am.
Tour is 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Tours will run "rain or shine"

Join author, columnist, humorist and naturalist Sam Venable on a trip from the Heritage Center to Newfound Gap, via the Little River valley, Metcalf Bottoms,
a brief swing through Elkmont and then over to the Sugarlands and up the mountain
to the site of FDR's famous speech when the park was dedicated. Sam's tour will highlight points of interest along the way, especially as they relate to the forests, fish and wildlife of the park. In addition, he will discuss the life and career of
an old family friend who was born and raised in the Sugarlands.

A fifth-generation Southern Appalachian, Sam Venable is a retired columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. He majored in forestry and wildlife management at the University of Tennessee. He is the author of 12 books, including the acclaimed "Mountain Hands: A Portrait of Southern Appalachia" as well as the whimsical "How To Tawlk and Rite Good." Sam regularly entertains audiences as a standup comedian, often featuring mountain heritage themes.

$60 per person. Advance reservations required. Call 865-448-8838 for reservations
Mon - Fri 10 am - 5 pm
Limited to 17 Guests per Tour.

Tours depart from the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, 3/4 mile east of traffic light at the Highway 321 and 73 intersection towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM. Information: 865-448-0044, www.gsmheritagecenter.org