Calendar of Events

Free admission. Each reading will include a discussion session afterwards with the cast, director and audience and, when possible, the playwright. Readings:

+ Dracula: Down for the Count by Mary Lynn Dobson - A comic retelling of the Dracula story. Think, “Young Frankenstein” meets Count Dracula.
+ Okra by Bill Raulerson - A comic caper set in backwoods Louisiana with a little magic, a few ghosts, and a very inept police force.
+ The Senator’s Wife by C. Robert Jones - When politics and family collide, they can both end up a little worse for wear.
+ When Blackbirds Sing by Gayle Greene - A lifetime prison sentence on a questionable conviction leaves a woman who was more a victim in her own to right to desperately seek a connection with a daughter she never knew.

Upcoming dates:
February 23: 6:00 pm Okra, Farragut

February 25: noon Okra, Lawson McGee
2:30 Dracula, Lawson McGee

February 26: 1:15 Senator’s Wife, Lawson McGee
3:00 Blackbirds Sing, Lawson McGee

Tennessee Stage Company: 865-546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com

The Knoxville Museum of Art announces an exciting new exhibition, Virtual Views: Digital Art from the Thoma Foundation. This electronic media exhibition is presented in conjunction with the 2017 Big Ears music festival. Drawn from the extensive Chicago-based collection of Carl and Marilynn Thoma, Virtual Views explores the growing importance of electronic new media in contemporary art as seen in the work of artists who are pioneers in the use of LEDs (light-emitting diodes), LCD (liquid crystal display), and computer-driven imagery. The exhibition features nine electronic works comprised of synthetic materials and powered by digital technology, yet the rhythms and patterns of its imagery are derived from nature. The featured artists include Jim Campbell, Craig Dorety, John Gerrard, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Alan Rath, Daniel Rozin, Björn Schülke, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Leo Villareal.

Virtual Views is organized by the KMA and presented in conjunction with the 2017 Big Ears Festival March 23-26.

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

From domesticated cats to mythic symbols of divinities, felines played an important role in ancient Egyptian imagery for thousands of years. Now, 80 items from the Egyptian holdings of the Brooklyn Museum will be on view in "Divine Felines". Likely first domesticated in ancient Egypt, cats were revered for their fertility and valued for their ability to protect homes and granaries from vermin. But felines were also associated with royalty and deities. Combining a lion's body and a king's head, sphinxes guarded temple entrances and provided protection as temple objects. The ferocious goddess Sakhmet, depicted as a lioness or lion-headed woman, and the goddess Bastet, represented as a cat or a cat-headed woman, together symbolized the duality of feline nature — caring yet dangerous. The male leonine gods Bes and Tutu were popularly worshiped as protectors of fertility, health and fortune.

Exhibition programming, all free and open to the public, also will include:
• A lecture on mummification in ancient Egypt by scholar Bob Brier, co-sponsored by the East Tennessee Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.
• Two free family fun days—"Purrs from the Past," 1–4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and "To Kitties' Health," 1¬–4 p.m. Saturday, March 25.
• A stroller tour for caregivers and infants through four-year-olds, "Kitties and Toddlers," at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27.
• A lecture on cat behavior by Julie Albright from UT's School of Veterinary Medicine at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19.

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

Tori Mason Shoes is pleased to present original music and new art from local artist, Robert Thompson, for February and March First Fridays! This is the first time Tori Mason Shoes will feature an artist who is displaying new works while serenading first Friday attendees with original compositions, ragtime and Bach.

Tori Mason Shoes, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, February 3, 6-9 PM and again on Friday, March 3, 6-9 PM. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided and Robert's art will be featured for the months of February-March. Half of all proceeds from sale of his art will be donated to the Love Kitchen.

Robert Thompson was born and grew up in Kansas City; however, he has called Knoxville home since 1981. Thompson worked as a lawyer for nearly 30 years but now has the time to try other things. Active in A1 LabArts, South Doyle Neighborhood Association, and Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals. Artist's Website: http://t3andp.wixsite.com/artist-painter

Tori Mason Shoes, 29 Market Square, Knoxville. https://www.torimasonshoes.com/

See artwork by Beth Meadows of With Bear Hands and featured artist Sarah McFalls opening Friday, February 3, 5-7 PM in the With Bear Hands Gallery at Magpies. Refreshments provided! All artwork will be for sale.

846 N. Central Street, Knoxville. 865-673-0471, www.magpiescakes.com

Join us for a First Friday Event on Friday, February 3rd from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with an exhibit and sale by River Rock Studios. Our featured artists are Karen Briggs and Jeff Lane of River Rock Studios. Come and see the beautiful fiber works of Karen and the unique wood turned & ceramic art collaborations by Karen and Jeff. Hope to see you!

Woodworker ~ Jeff Lane
Fiber and Pottery ~ Karen Briggs

Knoxville Arts & Fine Crafts Center, 1127 Broadway Suite B, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-523-1401, www.cityofknoxville.org/recreation/arts

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans

Local gal Amanda is a thrift store-country music-honky tonk-glam enthusiast who turns all of that vintage inspiration into one of a kind ceramic pieces. Her textures are reminicent of peeling paint on old buildings, maps, vintage fabrics and antique glass. She uses a variety of tools, stencils, and glazes to create these funky designs. We are very excited to feature Amanda as our February First Friday artist. She's got all sorts of fabulous new designs for us, and we think y'all are going to love them! Don't miss this event! It will be our last First Friday at 323 Union before moving to the Old City.

Opening Fri, Feb 3 at 6 PM

We will close on Monday February 27th to start moving and reopen in the Old City on March 3rd for First Friday.
RALA, 323 Union Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com/

The UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to announce Intersections, an exhibition of glass works from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, on display at the gallery during the month of February. Ball State University Glick Center for Glass opened in fall 2011. This relatively new program has grown with the support of fellow educators and artists. Joining Ball State University in this exhibit are, artist Jonathan Chapman, Professor Kristin Thinking from the University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point, and Professor Eoin Breadon from the University of Wisconsin River Falls. It is through the intersections of Ball State University's students and their mentors that this program thrives.

Please join us First Friday February 3, for an opening reception with the artists from 5-9pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Free admission! UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: W-F 11-6, Sat 10-3. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown

Broadway Studios and Gallery presents "Divergent and Bloom," with art by Sam Artman and Lisa Luterno. Sam Artman (Knoxville) is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist. Although he works in various media, Sam is probably best known for his uniquely stretched canvases that give a 3 dimensional effect to his paintings. He uses contemporary popular realist artists for inspiration. His work has been shown in the Arcade Building and 113 Gallery. After holding a series of blue collar jobs, Sam now concentrates on art and has been commissioned for large murals throughout the area.

Lisa Luterno (Knoxville) has recently shown her work at The Bird Feeder Gallery. Her work is an exploration of the maturation that takes place during young adulthood where, through various romantic twists and turns, one learns to love one's friends and oneself at a deeper level than previously thought possible. She uses the female form as her symbolic and re-occurring subject matter and the colorful, graphic imagery is multi-layered using acrylic paint and India ink. She also uses intuition and self-exploration to create complex autobiographical narratives in her work. She is a graduate of the College of Communications at UT.

Exhibit opens "First" Friday, Feb. 3rd at 5pm-9pm. Parking is on site and light refreshments and beverages will be served.

Broadway Studios and Gallery, 1127 Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Hours: Thurs-Sat, 11-7. Information: 865-556-8676, www.BroadwayStudiosAndGallery.com

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 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/