Calendar of Events

What sounds do you associate with different types of weather? The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will perform “Cloudy with a Chance of Music” for more than 3,800 elementary students as part of the Very Young People’s Concerts next week. There are three performances which are excellent photo and video opportunities. Both 9:30 a.m. performances are sold out!
• Wednesday, January 25 at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville (9:30 & 11:00 a.m.).
• Thursday, January 26 at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville (9:30 a.m.)

Music Director Aram Demirjian leads the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in THREE concerts specially designed for young people as a part of the KSO’s Education & Community Partnerships offerings. Joined by Rebecca Sweet, local meteorologist from WBIR-TV Channel 10, students will explore how music can represent different kinds of weather with members of the KSO and interactive elements. These Very Young People’s Concerts are performed for audiences of young children from Knox County and surrounding counties including Anderson, Blount, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon and Sevier.

Tickets and information: 865-291-3310, http://www.knoxvillesymphony.com/education-community/very-young-peoples-concerts/

Knox County Public Library, in partnership with The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee, announces a Books Sandwiched In mini-series about diversity. Beginning the series will be Sam Venable, Columnist, Knoxville New Sentinel, discussing Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance is widely considered to have provided important insight into the "invisible middle" or "white underclass" brought to light in the recent election. The book garnered a top spot on best seller lists from New York Times to Amazon. “Hillbilly Elegy is a compelling, personal and often painful look at a family dynamic long unseen--and then either ignored or mismanaged--in 20th and 21st century America,” Venable said. In Hillbilly Elegy, a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, tells his story of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town. In the telling, he offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America’s white working class, a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like from first-hand experience.

In the East Tennessee History Center auditorium, 601 South Gay Street. Books Sandwiched In is a series sponsored by the Friends of Knox County Public Library. A light lunch will be available for the first 30 attendees. Information: (865) 215-8700 or eellis@knoxlib.org

Laura Pierpont focuses on the storytelling of photography. The East Tennessee native creates a narrative while documenting the world both as it is seen and unseen. Her latest work, Interiors is inspired by the quietness Pierpont discovered while trotting throughout the stimulating streets of New York City.

We are thrilled to have photographs of Laura Pierpont enliven our walls at Market Square through February 5th and The Gallery from February 7th to March 6th.

We’ve always believed our local art community should be celebrated – that’s why we host a monthly rotating showcase of talented work of regional artists. Tomato Head, 12 Market Square (865-637-4067) and 7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 172 (865-584-1075), in Knoxville. http://thetomatohead.com

The 2017 Farragut Primary Schools Art Show, sponsored by the Town of Farragut, opens Monday, January 23, at Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive (across from the Farragut Branch Post Office). The show will feature the work of talented students from Farragut Primary School, St. John Neumann Catholic School and Concord Christian School. A reception honoring the young artists and their work is 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.

The art show and reception are free and open to the public. Town Hall is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Lauren Cox, special event and program coordinator, at lcox@townoffarragut.org or 865-966-7057.

"The Greatest" - forces influential in their field, by Ted Richards
Opening reception January 22, 2-4 PM

At Rarity Bay Community Activities Center, 150 Rarity Bay Pkwy, Vonore, TN 37885. Gallery hours: M-F 9-4.

The 18th Sevier County Biennial Juried Exhibition is a mixed media art exhibition that recognizes and fosters skills and talents of the artists and craftspeople who call the rich region of Sevier County home. Community members are invited to view the exhibition and attend the opening reception and presentation of awards on Friday, January 20, 6-8 pm.

The Biennial’s juror is Teri Alea, executive director of Tennessee Craft in Nashville, Tennessee. Teri leads a statewide craft organization which provides support, guidance and professional development for craft artists across the state. Twice a year, Tennessee Craft organizes craft fairs that showcase more than 200 artists that showcase beautifully handcrafted objects made in Tennessee and across the nation.

Participating Artists: Clifford Aldrich, Diane Aldrich, Ann Armerding, David Barnhart, Robert Batey, Dana Cohen, Debra Lovvorn Belvin, Lynn Corsi Bland, Bob Bolinger, Judy Bolinger, Vickie Bradshaw, Rebecca Buglio, Frank Bulman, Tammy Bulman, Lisa Canfield, Lisa Walk Dixon, Susan Edwards, Anne Fontaine, Frances Fox, Carol Galyon, Jill Greene, Bill Griffith, Jeff Hale, Buie Hancock, Peggy Haupt, Mary-Louise Hunt, Charlotte Iverson, Ewin Jenkins, Bev Gwinn Jones, Alice Anne Kellogg, Barbara Lauritzen, Maia Leppo, Iryna Lialko, Anita Miller, Christina M. Moore, Velma Orrick, Amber Anne Palo, Doreen Prakshot, Otto Preske, Claudette Pridemore, Austin Riddle, Patsy Rodriguez, Mary Ruden, Kathryn Rutherford, Sharon Schoenfeld, Jean Shamblin, Mike Shults, Kelly Sullivan, Tatiana Tikhonova, Debi Veranth, Victoria C. Walker, Andrea Wilson and Nelson Ziegler.

In the Arrowmont Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public. 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

You are invited to view new works by Arrowmont’s Artists-in-Residence – Grant Benoit, Richard W. James, Maia Leppo, Austin Riddle and Emily Schubert. Marking the mid-point in their 11-month residency, Okay responds to their emotions after the Gatlinburg wildfires. “We were incredibly lucky – it is going to be okay and life will roll on,” says Grant Benoit.

In the Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public. 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

Annual FCAC Theme Show, “Just Imagine,” open to all artists in all media. Opening reception Fri Jan 20, 6:30-8 PM. Free and open to the public. Local artists have entered watercolors, jewelry, oil paintings, mixed media, mosaic tableaux, and hand-made books, each entry judged on the basis of how well the artwork illustrates the theme.

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.fountaincityartcenter.com

The Town of Farragut Arts Council presents painter Bonnie Anders as the featured artist for March. Located in Farragut Town Hall, the exhibit includes scenes from Anders' travels with her husband. She took up painting after retiring from teaching middle school 15 years ago. Her love for color inspired her to purchase paint and brushes, and she was "hooked" after her first project - a still life of a bowl of vegetables on her kitchen table.

Farragut Museum, 11408 Municipal Center Dr, Farragut, TN 37934. Hours: M-F 8 AM - 5 PM. Information: 865-966-7057, www.townoffarragut.org/museum

Pellissippi State Community College invites the community to "Views of the Big Nothing," a free art exhibit at the Bagwell Center for Media and Art Gallery. "Views of the Big Nothing" features painted works by Brandon Smith joined by physical ropes and metaphorical sculptural works by Travis Townsend.

A reception to meet the artists takes place 3-5 p.m., Jan. 17.

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

Since 2005 Lee Benson, professor of sculpture and ceramics at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee has worked with his wife Betty, and later their four children, Zach, Aaron, Mary, and Sarah to make sculpture and public works. They work mainly in mixed media, the earth, stone, timber, wood, clay and 24k gold producing large-scale architectural forms as well as figurative, narrative monoliths. Residing across the country, they maintain five studios.

The Bensons have produced works from New York City to Australia and have had wide public recognition. They have also recently developed a relationship with Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity International to use materials used in their sculptures to be repurposed into homes throughout the community.

Also featuring ARTIST LECTURE: LEE BENSON - Thursday FEBRUARY 9th, 7:30PM, ROOM 109, A+A BUILDING - RECEPTION IMMEDIATELY TO FOLLOW IN THE EWING GALLERY

Common Lineage: The Bensons will close at 3PM on Friday, February 10.

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Ewing Gallery Hours: M-W and Fri: 10-5, Thu 10-7, Sun 1-4. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

With the love of art and entertainment it's no wonder that a bottle or two of wine would get involved to create Wine and Canvas! Awesome local artists, great customer service and beautiful surroundings make for an amazing experience that you don't find anywhere else. Sipping your favorite wine or cocktail, letting your inner artist out to create a masterpiece and maybe breaking into song throughout the night is what we have planned for you! Leave your cares at the door and dive in to the paint party! Best part - you take your artwork with you and leave the clean up behind! Local artists in each city inspire and Instruct Wine and Canvas customers step-by-step to create their finished masterpiece. Each location hosts many events monthly with a different featured painting each night. With our step-by-step instruction method customers without a stroke of painting experience are at ease.

Upcoming events:

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