Calendar of Events

The Hammer Ensemble, Flying Anvil Theatre’s performance wing dedicated to social justice issues, will present The Pall: In the Shadows of Human Trafficking January 21–23 in partnership with Freedom 4/24, a national organization that aids victims of human trafficking. The Pall focuses on the plight of those forced into sex and labor trafficking, a global issue unfolding as close as the next interstate exchange.

The Hammer seeks to embody the essence of Bertolt Brecht’s comment: “Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.” The Pall was developed by the Hammer Ensemble and co-written by John F. Ferguson and Linda Parsons.

By donation only, all proceeds go to Freedom 4/24 in coordination with Run 4 Their Lives, a 5k run/walk on January 27 to raise awareness and funds to bring sexually exploited women and children into freedom. http://www.freedom424.org/knoxville-tn/

Performances are January 21–23, Sunday–Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Flying Anvil Theatre, 1300 Rocky Hill Rd, Knoxville 37919. Call 865-357-1309 for more information. Adults only.

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

Part of the Chamber Music Series of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association's 73rd season!

Frisson is an explosive group of rising stars who are the best and brightest of the recent graduates from such top music schools at Juilliard, Curtis and Yale. Led by Artistic Director and virtuoso oboist Thomas Gallant, the musicians were chosen through auditions in New York City and the group already has a busy tour schedule across the United States. Frisson showcases a myriad of rarely-performed masterworks and the core group of 9 musicians expands and contracts into a variety of ensembles featuring violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn.

The group will perform Mozart’s Quartet in F Major for oboe and strings, Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin, and additional music by Villa-Lobos, Martinu, Svante Henryson, and August Walter. The artists will give a pre-concert lecture at 3:30 PM in the Pollard Auditorium.

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association is a proud participant in the Penny4Arts program. All students, 18 & under, may attend any Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, or Chamber Music concert for free during the 2017-18 season. General admission is $25; a discounted young adult ticket (ages 19-29) is available for $10. Seating is limited for this performance; advance reservations are recommended. Tickets are available at www.ORCMA.org or by calling (865) 483-5569.

Join us in our 38th season for a series of three recitals by three internationally acclaimed pianists. Programs will include classic and contemporary offerings for all audiences.

In the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall in the University of Tennessee’s Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, 1741 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville 37996. Tickets/information: 865-408-8083 or www.youngpianistseries.com

Opening Reception: Saturday, January 20, 8:30pm - til*

C For Courtside is pleased to present its inaugural exhibition, "A Half Note Familiar." The show will include the works of its founding members Lynne Ghenov, Joshua Bienko, John Powers and Rubens Ghenov along with four artists specifically selected by each C for Courtside Directors. Mirroring the intentions of the space itself, "A Half Note Familiar” seeks to consider work from inside and outside the region in a way that contributes to and influences broader contemporary dialogues.

* In solidarity with justice seeking peace minded artists and creative individuals across the world, we are participating in an International Day of Art Action on the one-year anniversary of the United States Presidential UNauguration. We join Laurie Anderson (the brainchild of The Day of Art Action) in our intentions, seeking to unite, connect and celebrate a spirit of love, peace and understanding based in the simple hope that artistic production symbolizes.

Lynne Ghenov has selected Melissa McGrath's work due to the approximation of their praxes and content. Melissa’s work is a response and reflection of a consistent trauma and disaster that has occurred in the landscape where she was raised inscribed on paper through fire. Lynne uses ledger gridded paper salvaged from her parents’ home office acquired after her mother’s death, wherein memory organically and symbolically investigates itself in form within the confines of the stoic gridded structure.

Joshua Bienko’s selection of Eleanor Ray sits in the attraction to slippages that can occur between works. What at once might appear quiet and tragic, holds the potential to become loud and humorous, and vice-versa. Though a dissimilarity may seem obvious at first, they also, perhaps surreptitiously and subtly begin to harmonize more than contrast, operating in cahoots as it were, in a psychological and physical interior space.

John Powers and Kim Faler are engaged in parallel explorations of systems, pattern, sub-pattern, language and personal narrative. Their shared interest in small, potentially mundane moments, rubs against evocations of the unseen forces and glacial timelines that frame our world. Their included works here variously address the passage of time, energy exchange, collapsed narratives and the veil separating the familiar from the anonymous.

Lastly, Rubens Ghenov here compeers his work to that of Claudia Peña Salinas’. Both of Latin American descent (Brazilian and Mexican respectively), their work strangely resides akin to the geometric abstraction of Central and South American artists, though the impetus here may emanate elsewhere. A specific coloration and insertion of memorabilia and objects are inherently present in both, forging an architectonic of the personal mired in the historical and the fictive.

C for Courtside is an artist-run curatorial project space located just north of downtown Knoxville. Founded in the fall of 2017 with the intentions of facilitating multiple creative activities, the Directors (John Powers, Joshua Bienko, Lynne Ghenov and Rubens Ghenov) will work to add to the exciting artistic development and momentum already at foot in the Southeast. In addition to exhibitions, C for Courtside will host artist lectures and guest speakers, live performances, pop-up shows, experimental theatre, justice seeking organizations in need of a place to meet, and other situationist aligned activities. Each endeavor will aim to extend the space of the gallery beyond its physical limitations, while fostering a community based in and on the exigencies of art-making. The launch of the space has been made possible in part by the support of Ann and Steve Bailey Opportunity Grant.

C for Courtside Gallery, 513 Cooper Street, Knoxville, TN 37917
Info: cforcourtside@gmail.com

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 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

Part of the 2017-18 "Best of Theatre Knoxville Downtown" Season!

By Ken Ludwig. In the madcap comedy tradition of Lend Me a Tenor, the hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s.

At the moment, they're playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York with five actors. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George's dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a visit from their daughter's clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they're actually performing, caused by Charlotte's deaf, old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George's body.

"Moon Over Buffalo packs more comic genius onto the stage than anything in recent memory!"
– USA Today

"Ken Ludwig is one of those rare contemporary playwrights who thinks in terms of old-fashioned knockabout farce, and that's something to be cherished."
– The New York Times

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