Calendar of Events

Opening reception April 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; artists’ talks at 6:30 p.m.

COMMA (COMe Make Art) is a plein air art group that has met weekly in the summer at University of Tennessee Gardens since 2004. Founders were art teachers Gay Nell Gray and Cheri Jorgenson. They are joined in this exhibit by members and retired art teachers Judy Jorden, Shelley Mangold and Owen Weston; current art teachers Caitlyn Seidler and Jackie Wright; and teaching artist Nancy Campbell. COMMA members' artwork is either created in or inspired by images from the gardens. Each artist works in a preferred medium, whether color pencil, pastel, watercolor, acrylics, photography, clay or mixed media. Some work is created on site in the gardens, and some is created in the studio using sketches or images from the gardens. The artists are inspired by the beauty and diversity of the UT Gardens and the friendship and camaraderie they share.

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

By Steven Dietz, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and William Gillette
Directed by Patrick McCray

Winner of the 2007 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Play

The world's greatest detective has seemingly reached the end of his remarkable career when a case presents itself that is too tempting to ignore: The King of Bohemia is about to be blackmailed by a notorious photograph, and the woman at the heart of this crime is the famous opera singer, Irene Adler. With his trusted companion, Doctor Watson, at his side, Sherlock Holmes pursues first the case, and then the affections of Miss Adler—and in doing so, marches right into the lair of his longtime adversary, that malevolent genius of crime: Professor Moriarty.

In this spirited, fast-moving and thoroughly theatrical adaptation, Steven Dietz presents Holmes at the height of his powers—surrounded by all the elements that fans of his exploits have come to expect: danger, intrigue, wit, humor and surprise. "The game is afoot, Watson—and it is a dangerous one!"

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Instructor Kay List has found that although there are many fun art classes available, and they are certainly worth the enjoyment they bring to the participants, some budding artists are more serious about learning to paint and desire a more comprehensive class. Serious is also FUN! Kay’s "Beginning Drawing and Painting" class is designed just for you. For adults and High School students. The goal of the class is to bring the student to the point where he/she has enough beginning skills to continue working and practicing thereby improving their skills over time. Maximum class size is 6 students. $150 for six 2-hour classes.
CLASS SCHEDULE FOR 2017:

(Thursday evenings 7-9 PM): April 20 – May 25
June 8 – July 13
August 3 – September 7
September 21 – October 26

(Monday evenings 7-9 PM): June 5 – July 10
July 17 – August 21
September 18 – October 23

About Kay List: Kay majored in art at a 2-year college in California in 1963 and 1964. While married and raising 2 children Kay continued to paint, practicing her skills. In 2001 Kay began to paint on a consistent basis building a body of work before opening Envision Art Gallery in 2015. Kay currently is concentrating on showing and selling her work and starting oil painting classes. She was accepted into the November 2016 Artsclamation! Exhibition, is a member of the Arts and Culture Alliance of Knoxville and 2017 President of Tennessee Art Association in Knoxville TN. A new studio has been constructed for the purposes of continuing her work and hosting her art classes.

At 4050 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37919 in the Bearden Art District. Website: www.kaylistart.com; www.envisionartgallery.com. Phone: 865-742-1882

Adapted by Mark Brown. From the Novel by Jules Verne.

“Bursting with imagination, this exuberant whistle-stop tour through Verne is a trip worth making.” The Stage

The intrepid Phileas Fogg with his loyal valet, Passepartout, voyage from Victorian London through the Indian subcontinent, to Asia and across the Pacific to America on a wager that he will return in precisely 80 days. Literally, a theatrical tour-de-force.

Pay What You Wish Preview night on April 19

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

Theme : South of the River, Live, Work, Play
We seek to recognize local South of the River Artist, and while preference will be given to South Knoxville Artists, all local artists are welcome to apply. The show will Open April 16th with a reception May 12th 5-8 p.m. for Vestival, and officially end on May 13th. Approximately 25 – 35 pieces will be selected for display in the historic marble showrooms.

Candoro Marble Arts & Heritage Center, 4450 Candora Drive, Knoxville, TN 37920. Information: 865-577-0078, www.candoromarble.org

Arrowmont invites you to view works by Mary Ruden – The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage “Artist of the Year." Join us for the opening reception on April 12, 5:30-7 PM. Bring your family and friends and enjoy an evening of art, live music and refreshments. Live music will be performed by “Pistol Creek Catch of the Day” – a local bluegrass band comprised of Edward Harper, Bill Cabage and Carl Gombert. Admission is free.

The exhibition showcases Mary Ruden’s sculptures, prints and drawings depicting natural subjects such as orchids, wildflowers and butterflies. Her work is inspired by her Welsh roots and her travels to Europe. The exhibition is on view in the Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mary Ruden, sculptor and mixed-media artist, creates outdoor and collectible art. She received her BFA from University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida and has taught art and design classes for over eight years. Her work is displayed in two state parks, various government buildings and at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. to honor the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service. Mary is an active member of the Knoxville Arts and Culture Alliance and exhibits her work throughout the southeastern United States. For more information about Mary and her work, visit: www.maryruden.com.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Exhibiting April through June will be Nashville based painter Catrina Long. Join us for a First Friday Artist's Reception on April 7th from 5:30– 8:00.

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

By day, Casey Fox is the celebrated manager of Library Fund Development for the Knox County Public Library. Featured as one of the Knoxville News-Sentinel’s “40 under 40,” Fox gets kudos for her fund-raising efforts, particularly a capital campaign to help digitize the library’s historic archives. But when she’s not busy contributing to the Library’s mission, Fox has a secret identity, and it’s one that Tomato Head has proudly unveiled and put on public display in our Market Square restaurant. Casey Fox is also a photographer.

Now through May 1st, Fox presents her first solo exhibit in our downtown location. Titled “Landscaped,” the exhibit features a collection of images that Fox captured over the last 7 or 8 years but without intending to create a series. Fox says it was only after the fact that she realized that not only did she have enough shots for a show, she had also uncovered a style: “I was just looking back through my pictures and realized, ‘oh this is what I do’. I remember sitting on the couch once lookin

"Landscaped", an exhibit of photographs by Casey Fox will be on view at the downtown Knoxville Tomato Head Restaurant from April 3rd to April 30th, 2017. The exhibit will then display at the West Knoxville Gallery Tomato Head from May 2nd to June 5th, 2017. Tomato Head, 12 Market Square (865-637-4067) and 7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 172 (865-584-1075), in Knoxville. http://thetomatohead.com

Art in Public Places Knoxville (AIPPK), now in its 10th year, is a featured presentation of Dogwood Arts. In partnership with the City of Knoxville, Art in Public Places Knoxville is a juried exhibition of large-scale sculptures created by exceptional local, regional and national artists. The 2017-2018 Exhibition will feature up to twenty sculptures in downtown Knoxville, the McGhee Tyson Airport, and Oak Ridge as juried by Knoxville-based sculpture artist John Douglas Powers.

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

The Art Gallery at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will present work by Oak Ridge artist Eun-Sook Kim from March 10 through early May. The exhibition will also feature work by the artist’s students: Betsy Smith, Will Doran, Cathleen Cottrell, and Peggy Teague. A gallery opening talk and reception will be hosted at the church on Sunday, March 12, at 12:15 p.m. The public is invited.

Although my primary medium is ceramics, I consider myself a painter first. Through brushwork, I feel harmony with nature. Like a speck in the landscape of a classic Chinese painting, I am infinitely small, yet essential in nature. Interweaving different strands from different cultures and countries, my art reflects the multicolored pattern of my life,” said Kim.

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Free and open to the public, Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm. and Sunday 9:30 am to 1 pm. For more information call (865)483-6761.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is exhibiting new works in Un//known by Artists-in-Residence – Grant Benoit, Richard W. James, Maia Leppo, Austin Riddle and Emily Schubert. Community members are invited to view the exhibition and attend the reception on April 7, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Un//known showcases work in a range of media including functional and sculptural ceramics, fiber, mixed media, jewelry and collage. This cumulative exhibition features work made during the artists’ 11-month residency.

+ Grant Benoit is a mixed media artist interested in narrative, place and memory. He received his MFA in printmaking from Southern Illinois University and his BA from Spring Hill College. Grant utilizes techniques from ceramics, printmaking, and textiles in his installation and sculptural pieces to explore notions of memory. www.grantbenoit.com
+ Richard W. James received his MFA in ceramics from the University of Kansas and his BFA from University of Tennessee, Martin. His figurative sculptures explore childhood experiences and psychological narratives by combining clay, found objects and textiles. www.richardwjames.com
+ Maia Leppo is a metalsmith and jeweler. Maia received her MFA in metals from SUNY New Paltz. Studying first in Biology and Community Health at Tufts University, Maia incorporates those interests and research into her jewelry and body adornment pieces. www.maialeppo.com
+ Austin Riddle received his BFA in ceramics from University of Utah. Influenced by the forms and colors of mass-produced domestic objects from mid-century America, Riddle’s pieces are one-of-a-kind. He uses a variety of clay construction, glazing and firing techniques. www.instagram.com/austinriddlepottery
+ Emily Schubert graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art with BFA in fiber and textile art. She has spent the past several years studying and working in the art of puppetry and performance. Drawing from mythology, folktales, memories, and personal experience, Schubert creates work that make sense of our existence by giving form to our collective fears, sorrows, and desires. www.emily-schubert.com

In the Sandra J. Blain 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

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