Calendar of Events

Drawings by Herb Rieth

Herb Rieth creates mixed media work that touches on the nature of signification and sets up rich narratives. His work has been shown at The Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati’s UnMuseum, the Mississippi Museum of Art and solo and group shows in twenty three states. He has previously taught painting, drawing and design full time at University of Alabama, Mississippi State University and Ohio Northern University.

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

You're Invited to Grist's 10th Anniversary Issue Launch & Art Exhibition on February 3, 7-10 PM.

A Tennessee Exphrasis Project with featured artists Aaron Cowan, Jana Harper, Alan LeQuire, frank d. robinson, jr., Vadis Turner, Christina Renfer Vogel, Kelly S. Williams, and Jessica Wohl; and featured writers Earl Sherman Braggs, George David Clark, Kate Daniels, Jamey Hatley, Lydia Peelle, Jamie Quatro, Adam Ross, and Sandy Solomon.

Literary readings by Earl Sherman Braggs & Adam Ross at 7 PM on February 3.

At The Central Collective, 923 N. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. For more information, email gristeditors@gmail.com or visit http://gristjournal.com

The 39th annual Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show provides visitors the chance to shop hundreds of retailers and manufacturers exhibiting products, offering services and advice on interior design, home improvement, gardening, and more. Stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens to inspire you and have the opportunity to talk with the designers. Make your home and garden dreams a reality! http://www.dogwoodhouseandgarden.com

Friday, February 3 10:00am-6:00pm
Saturday, February 4 10:00am-8:00pm
Sunday, February 5 11:00am-5:00pm

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

The Tennessee Stage Company NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: World Premier Production of Found Objects by Marilynn Barner Anselmi. Does the truth always set us free? When a mother and daughter attempt to deal with the accidental death of their son/brother, the truth may keep them from healing.

Thursday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm.

The show runs at the Historic Southern Railway Station, 300 W Depot Ave. Tennessee Stage Company: 865-546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com; on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/381801198822452/

I am pleased to announce my one man show at Maryville College. My large scale contemporary artwork will be on display for the month of February. There will be a reception held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 2nd at the Denso Gallery at the Clayton Center for the Arts located at:
502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, Tn. 37804

With featured artist Synthia Clark throughout the month!

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

By John Patrick Shanley.

From the Tony and Academy Award winning playwright of “Doubt” and Moonstruck.”

Filled with beautiful language and set in the rural hills of Ireland, this romantic comedy reminds us that – early or late – love always arrives on time. Farmers Anthony and Rosemary are clueless when it comes to love. To find it, they will have to overcome a land feud, family rivalries, and their own fears about romance.

Pay What You Wish Preview night on February 1

Clarence Brown Mainstage, 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 pipe maker Ron Smith and artist Carl Gombert will be on display. An opening reception for the featured artists will begin at 5:30 p.m., January 6, during Downtown Knoxville’s monthly First Friday Art Walk, with complimentary refreshments, and music performed by Carl Gombert.

Ohio native Carl Gombert started taking painting lessons at the age of 14 with money he earned delivering newspapers. He completed a BFA in Drawing from the University of Akron and an MFA in Painting from Kent State University. “I love pattern. I love decoration, and I love sparkle. These hand stamped works rely on radial structure to explore complexity and pattern arising from the application of simple rules.” He has exhibited widely and his work is in numerous museum, collegiate, and corporate collections. Since 1993 has taught painting, drawing and art history at Maryville College in Tennessee.

Ron Smith's fascination with pipes began with the hours he spent at the Iwan Ries Pipe Shop in Chicago, a regular stop following his frequent visits to the Art Institute only a block away. Following retirement he received formal training under American Pipe Maker, Tim West in 2014 and at the 2014 International Pipe Makers' Seminar in Chicago under the guidance of such masters as Lee von Erck, Rex Poggenpohl, Mike Butera and Jeff Gracik. His freehand pipes are hand shaped, each one a unique creation. Although a fan of the Danish freeform style, he often adopts more classical shapes in his productions and in most pieces attempts to bring out the grain of the briar to bring out the material's natural and often hidden features. His pipes and pens are forms of functional art.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Th & Sa 11-6, Fri 11-9, Su 1-6. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net or www.Facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery

The Knoxville Museum of Art announces a new contemporary exhibition, Outside In, by Jered Sprecher. Sprecher lives in Knoxville and is a professor with the University of Tennessee’s School of Art. He enjoys a growing national reputation as one of the leading representative of a generation of contemporary painters dedicated to the exploration and revitalization of abstraction. He describes himself as a “hunter and gatherer,” pulling his imagery from such disparate sources as wallpaper, graffiti, architecture, cut gemstones, and x-rays.

Preview reception: January 26, 5:30-7:30 PM

Outside In reflects the dynamic range of Sprecher’s recent practice in terms of format, scale, imagery, and process. It also includes several new works configured in a provocatively informal manner designed to reference a space that is central to human domestic life since the dawn of time: the living room. The Study (2013), for instance, depicts an abstracted frontal view of a fireplace entrance defined in broad horizontal strokes in an icy palette that presents the original image in a strange new light. The painting reflects the artist’s examination of parallels between ancient domestic traditions in which the fireplace was a mesmerizing light environment that in contemporary life has been replaced by the ubiquitous digital screen.

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 Farragut Museum has unveiled its next special exhibit, "Fashionably Late." This exhibit features a variety of clothing and accessories that are in the Farragut Museum Collection and two items on loan from Farragut Museum committee members. All of these items are indicative of fashions that would have been worn in this area.

One of the highlights of the exhibit is an original John Pico John (Mr. John) hat on loan from Museum committee member Carolyn Sinclair. John's clients included female fashion icons like the Duchess of Windsor, Gloria Vanderbilt, Lauren Bacall and Joan Crawford. Vivien Leigh wore one of his creations in "Gone With the Wind," as did Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

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 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 about the museum or the exhibit, please visit www.townoffarragut.org/museum.

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 Knoxville Association of Bridge Clubs is offering an in depth, 17 week course on Duplicate Bridge, with a focus on learning the modern “2 Over 1” bridge system. Taught by certified instructors, these lessons are a fun and informative way to learn the basics of modern bridge. The cost is $5 per lesson (the first 2 lessons are free). Two class sessions are offered. The first begins Sunday, January 22nd at 1:30 pm. The second begins Tuesday, January 24th at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to attend either or both weekly sessions. Bring a partner or, if not, we will provide one for you.

Classes will be conducted at the Knoxville Bridge Center, located at 7400 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville TN 37919. Contact Jo Anne Newby at (865} 539-4150 or email KnoxvilleBridge@gmail.com.