Calendar of Events

Did you make a New Year’s resolutions to get more exercise or spend more time outdoors? The UT Arboretum Society can help with both! In 2018, the UT Arboretum Society is now offering a monthly hike on the third Saturday of each month.

The first hike will be Saturday, January 20th. This is a great winter occasion to spend some quality time outdoors and to learn about the UT Arboretum’s trails.

This hike will be held the third Saturday of every month and will be led by Arboretum staff or a member of the UT Arboretum Society. The hike will begin at the parking lot of the UT Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge at 9:00 a.m. This is approximately a one-hour fun, short trail hike. Participants are asked to wear clothes appropriate to the weather and boots or good shoes for outdoor walking. This is a free program offered by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society. To learn more about this hike or the UT Arboretum Society, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org. For more information on the program, call 865-483-7277.

Between 2006 and 2009, an international team of historians, archaeologists, and geographers traveled to France to rediscover and document where Fentress County-native Sergeant Alvin C. York made his heroic stand. In the Footsteps of Sergeant York, a traveling exhibition from the Museum of the American Military Experience, showcases this groundbreaking research and allows visitors to retrace the steps of one of America's best-known military heroes.

Through the new interactive exhibit, the East Tennessee Historical Society invites you to step back into the the trenches of WWI, to hear the sounds of war, view clips of the film on York's life, see items from the York home along with other interesting artifacts, and experience the front line that made the man from Pall Mall, Tennessee an international superstar.

In the Footsteps of Sergeant York will be on display in the Rogers-Claussen Feature Gallery at the East Tennessee History Center. The exhibit and corresponding programming is presented in partnership with the Museum of the American Military Experience, Tennessee State Parks, The Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation, the University of Tennessee's Center for the Study of War and Society, and the Knox County Public Library.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

Flying Anvil Theatre kicks off 2018 season with Mary’s Wedding, an epic love story set during the first world war. Love, hope and survival are the themes in Stephen Massicotte’s play, Mary’s Wedding, the first offering of an eight-show season by Flying Anvil Theatre.

The award-winning play follows Mary and Charlie from their awkward meeting in a barn during a thunderstorm across the prairies of Canada and the horrific battlefields of the first world war. Up and coming playwright Stephen Massicotte spins a breathtaking saga about young lovers who must surrender their fate to the uncertainties of their tumultuous times – a testament to the power of memory and hope that lingers like a remembered dream.

“It’s a simply gorgeous play,” director Jayne Morgan says. “Beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful, all at the same time. “

The show stars UT students Emily Helton and Parker Jenkins. Lighting design is by Jon Chemay, with soundscapes by Mike Ponder. Steve Krempasky designed the set, which includes a logging sawbuck that doubles as horse. “The actors use this massive piece of logging equipment to simulate riding,” Morgan explains. “There’s something thrilling about it – they really manage to make you believe they are mounted on a draft horse or charging into a battle, saber drawn. It’s wonderful theatrical magic.” Critics have raved about the play, saying it “recalls the grand passion of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights.”

Flying Anvil Theatre, 1300 Rocky Hill Road, Knoxville. Information: 865-357-1309, www.flyinganviltheatre.com

Knoxville Children’s Theatre, with assistance from Gannett Newspapers, will present 14 live performances of the hilarious fairy tale mash-up, “Whatever Happened to Little Red Riding Hood?” The show features Red Riding Hood and Granny, along with Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Rumplestilskin, and other characters from the world of The Brothers Grimm.

The live stage play will be performed January 19 through February 4:
Fri., Jan. 19 at 7 PM, Sat., Jan. 20 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sun., Jan. 21 at 3 PM
Thurs., Jan. 26 at 7 PM, Fri., Jan. 27 at 7 PM, Sat., Jan. 28 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sun., Jan. 29 at 3 PM,
Thurs., Feb. 1 at 7 PM, Fri., Feb. 2 at 7 PM, Sat., Feb. 3 at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sun., Feb. 4 at 3 PM.

Red Riding Hood was supposed to be at Granny’s at 3 PM, but the little girl never showed up. Granny turns detective and goes on a search. The old lady manages to find half the characters from the world of The Brothers Grimm, including Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, and Rumplestilskin. But whatever happened to Little Red Riding Hood?

This funny play features hilarious new takes on some of the world’s most familiar stories. Chock full of puns, sight gags, and jokes, the play is sure to delight fairy tale fans of all ages! The play is performed by 14 talented young actors, from ages 9 to 14. KCT Producing Director Zack Allen directs the production from his own original script. Maryville Junior High student Eric Magee is the stage manager. KCT is East Tennessee’s leading producer of plays for children and families.

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

"Ebony Imagery XVII" - a Mixed Media Exhibition by African American Artists from Tennessee;
"Travelogue: Colma, California's Religious Stained Glass" - photographs by Nicole Ferrara; and
"Selections from the Permanent Collection" - featuring International Artists including Henri Matisse, Karl Appel, Salvador Dali and many others.

Opening Reception: Sunday Afternoon, January 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Gallery Talk at 4:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public. Bring your friends and family!

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

Join us for the opening day of our Winter Farmers' Market on January 13th!

Most vendors are located indoors in two fellowship halls, with food trucks outdoors in the parking lot. Farmers across East Tennessee are extending their growing seasons using greenhouses, high tunnels, and row covers, among other methods. Thanks to these hardworking farmers, you'll have a variety of fresh produce to choose from! As always, vendors at our market will offer an array of quality meat, eggs, honey, baked goods, and handcrafted items. Just like last year, we'll have Power of Produce (PoP) Club at each market, offering kids' activities led by educators from Beardsley Community Farm, The Center for Urban Agriculture, the YMCA Community Giving Gardens, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, The Muse, Ijams Nature Center, UT Gardens, and more! At each PoP Club, we'll offer a fruit or vegetable for kids to taste. Every participating child between the ages of 2 and 12 will get $5 in PoP Bucks to spend at the market!

The market will be held every other Saturday, 10am to 2pm, at Central United Methodist Church in the Historic 4th and Gill Neighborhood of Knoxville. Nourish Knoxville: 865-805-8687, https://nourishknoxville.org/

Opening reception on Fri Jan 12, 6:30-8 PM with awards announced at 7 PM. Free and open to the public.

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

Dennis E. Perkins, in association with Zack Allen and Caroline King, will present three rarely-performed short plays by renowned playwright Samuel Beckett. Catastrophe, Come And Go, and Footfalls will be performed at The Hive near downtown Knoxville.

The production will be performed Fri., Jan. 12, Sat., Jan. 13, Sun., Jan. 14, Thurs., Jan. 18, Fri., Jan. 19, and Sat., Jan. 20. All performances begin at 7 PM.

For a man of notoriously few words, Samuel Beckett has inspired more scholarly publications than any other 20th century dramatist. Winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize for Literature, "for his writing, which - in new forms for the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation," Beckett’s plays distill and condense language, character and scene to an absolute minimum. Beckett’s work consists over 20 full length plays, as well as several anthologies of poetry and short works of drama. Footfalls, an almost ghostly confabulation on memory, features Caroline King and Carrie Thompson. Come And Go is often considered Beckett’s most perfect play. Three childhood friends meet and talk about and talk around certain aspects of their lives. The play contains only 121 words that are woven into and repeated in 3 segments of 7 lines each. The play is performed by Caroline King, Biz Lyon, and Carrie Thompson. Catastrophe is often described as Beckett’s only overtly political play as it was commissioned for a night of support for playwright Vaclav Havel, who would later be named the first president of the Czech Republic. A Director and his Assistant put the final touches on a dramatic presentation which consists only of a man who Beckett calls “The Protagonist.” The cast include Kevin Collins, Tyler Gregory, and Biz Lyon.

The Hive, 854 N. Central Street, Knoxville. Info: Call Dennis Perkins at 865-216-1844 or e-mail at Mr.perkins@live.com

JOIN US FOR A RECEPTION ON Thursday, January 11, 6:30 - 8:30 PM in the Ewing Gallery featuring work by Dana DeGiulio, Ezra Tessler, Clare Grill, and Caitlin Cherry

The presence of acclaimed artists—who have lived and worked in major cultural centers across the country—enhances the educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University of Tennessee School of Art. With daily contact over the course of a full semester, resident artists develop a unique relationship with the student body which complements the creative stimulation offered by guest lecturers and the School of Art’s faculty. Representing diverse ethnic, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds, these resident artists introduce another layer of candor and a fresh artistic standard for the students who, though early in their formal art studies, are beginning to develop their own perceptions, skills, and theories in connection with the making of art.

Although the resident artists present slide lectures during their stays, it is access to their works of art that is highly anticipated and valued by both the students and the faculty. Therefore, the Ewing Gallery has sponsored group exhibitions of these artists since the inception of the Artist-in-Residence Program in 1982. Currently held every two years, this exhibition provides a continuing dialogue between artist-teacher and student. The A.I.R. Biennial also offers our general university and regional community an opportunity to experience a provocative and often challenging exhibition of contemporary art.

NEW WORK BY ELEANNA ANAGNOS
Eleanna Anagnos (born Evanston, IL 1980) is a New York-based artist and curator. Her work explores the nature of human perception and aims to elicit a physiological response where subjectivity, phenomenology, and the conscious act of seeing are addressed. She has received awards from Yaddo; BAU Institute; The Anderson Ranch, The Atlantic Center for the Arts and The Joan Mitchell Foundation. For the past four years Eleanna has been a Co-Director at Ortega y Gasset Projects, an artist-run gallery and curatorial collective located in Brooklyn, NY.

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

January's exhibit features Rikki Taylor Pottery and The Poetry of Nature. Rikki's colorful, patterned pottery juxtapose perfectly with Katharine's gorgeous, detailed nature photographs.

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

While ancient Roman coins usually display emperors, a surprising number depict female members of the imperial family, particularly empresses. Coins are powerful propaganda used to advance political ideals and reinforce social mores. Closer observation of these coins reveals a tension between Roman society’s expectations for women and the reality some created for themselves.

In ancient Rome, women had no formal political role and were not allowed to vote or hold public office. They were expected to devote themselves to their family and oversee the domestic sphere. Depictions of goddesses on coins highlight this feminine ideal. Women who stepped outside gender norms, especially empresses who gained informal power, were seen as a threat to social and political order. Julia Domna is one such woman. She exerted political influence over two consecutive reigning emperors—her husband, Septimius Severus, and son, Caracalla—and jump started a dynasty of influential imperial women from the East.

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

Broadway Studios and Gallery presents Misty Tippens in her show ‘Vision’ as their January artist. Misty is completely self-taught with the help of YouTube videos. She uses pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, alcohol ink and other media along with gold leaf accents to create her work. She states: “Life motivates me. I love doing portraits because I see a story in everyone. I enjoy trying to capture a bit of that story and emotion in my work.”

Capture is an understatement. Misty’s work is masterful in technique, which rivals schooled artists in the style of realism. The works speak of an unconditional love through life’s power source where the images depicted feel as if they are almost breathing.

Show opens January 5th, in First Friday, from 5pm-9pm. Parking is on site and refreshments will be served.

Broadway Studios and Gallery, 1127 Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Hours: Thurs-Sat, 10-6; Sun-Wed by appointment (or when the "open" sign is turned on). Information: 865-556-8676, www.BroadwayStudiosAndGallery.com