Calendar of Events

“Ancestors” is a body of work that celebrates the founders of the present. Sean Clark explores a personal narrative of the forerunners that brought him to this very moment. Some of the works in the show are inspired by the legacy of Sammie Nicely and his lifelong friendship with Sean’s father Dr. Robert J Clark. This exhibit is part of the 30th annual From Africa to Appalachia celebration at Rose Center.

The Rose Center, 442 West Second North St., Morristown, TN, 37814. Hours: M-F 9-5. Information: 423-581-4330, www.rosecenter.org

Faculty and guest artist recital; Former students of tuba legend Jim Self, including Ronald Davis-faculty at the University of South Carolina, Zach Collins-faculty at Indiana University-Pennsylvania, and Alexander Lapins-faculty at the University of Tennessee perform solos composed and inspired by Jim Self.

Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, Natalie L. Haslam Music Center
Unless otherwise noted, concerts are FREE and open to the public. The Natalie Haslam Music Center is located at 1741 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, and the Alumni Memorial Building is located at 1408 Middle Drive on the UT campus. *For individual or small group performances, please check the web site or call the day of the event for updates or cancellations: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events

Novelists Allen Wier and David Madden will read as part of their reading series.

Allen Wier has published four novels, most recently Tejano, and a collection of short stories, Things About to Disappear. Late Night, Early Morning, a volume of new and selected stories, was published by the University of Tennessee Press in 2017. Wier is the recipient of the Robert Penn Warren Award from the Fellowship of Southern Writers, the John Dos Passos Prize for Literature, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to stints at Longwood College, Carnegie-Mellon University, Hollins College, the University of Texas, Florida International University and the University of Alabama, Wier taught at the University of Tennessee from 1994 to 2015 and is currently serving as the Watkins Endowed Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Murray State University.

David Madden is the author of eleven novels, two short story collections, and eight volumes of literary criticism and texts on the subject of creative writing. His most recent book, Marble Goddesses and Mortal Flesh, is a collection of four novellas published in 2017 by University of Tennessee Press. Madden began his teaching career in 1958 as an instructor in English at Appalachian State Teachers College. He spent time teaching at Centre College, the University of Louisville, Kenyon College and Ohio University. In 1968, he joined the faculty at LSU as the university’s writer in residence, a position he held for 24 years. He retired in 2008 as Robert Penn Warren Professor of Creative Writing, Emeritus. Madden is the recipient of a Rockefeller Grant, a National Endowment for the Arts Grant and his stories have appeared twice in Best American Short Stories.

The reading begins at 7 p.m. in the Lindsay Young Auditorium of the John C. Hodges Library. The event is free and open to the public; all are encouraged to attend. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to join our authors at 12:00PM that day for a Q&A and brown bag lunch in 1210 McClung Tower.

The mission of Writers in the Library is to “showcase the work of novelists, poets, and other literary craftsmen.” Some of the best voices in contemporary literature are invited to read. The series is sponsored by the UT Libraries and the Creative Writing Program in association with the John C. Hodges Better English Fund.

Stop by to see February's exhibit of Julie Fawn Boisseau-Craig's whimsical ink and watercolor paintings and block print pieces!
Her colorful work, which features many styles, will remind you that spring is just around the corner.

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

Reception Friday, February 16, 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Artists’ talks at 6:30 pm.

Alyssa Johnson
There is a power in lines on maps, in three feet of fencing full of holes, in a velvet rope or a cement block. In this power, there are also rules. This wall is okay to climb over—that wall is not. You can paint on that wall, but you cannot touch this one. These are rules Johnson wants to define—to climb into, to push until she meets an edge, to make room for one or two or more people. She hopes to set the groundwork for this delineation by isolating the walls she interacts with daily, to draw them out of their repeated normalcy and question their necessity. There are two sides to every stance—therefore, she uses both realism and abstraction. Abolishing dividers leans toward naivety, yet holding all trust in borders rings with paranoia. Her primary hope is that a wide expression of style will allow for an exploration of both ends of the spectrum, prompting us to locate where our own feet stand in relation to either ignorance or distrust.

In December of 2017, Alyssa graduated from the University of Tennessee’s School of Art with a BFA in Studio Art and a psychology minor. Her past work has been featured in Phoenix Literary Magazine and included in group exhibitions in Tennessee; most recently, she has been displaying in New Jersey. While her focus is primarily on painting and drawing, Alyssa is also serving as studio manager to a local potter in Nashville while still maintaining her own practice in her studio at home.

Brandon McBath
McBath digs for treasure -- the images -- then makes the map to it. He compares this to viewing a cluster of clouds: the mind connects it with an image, and then one sees that image in the clouds. He wants viewers to discover hidden images and be observant of his clouds. He makes large-scale scroll-esque drawings that fill the field of vision from up close or afar. Intuitive gestural lines and ink-pours create a unique matrix or “sky.” Then, as he finds images, he reinforces them and makes them more readily available to the viewer.

Brandon McBath graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2016 with a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in drawing and a minor in art history. He was raised in East Tennessee by Tammy McBath, of Tammy’s Fish and Fried Green Tomatoes, and a loving older brother. After his father’s death in 1997, his mother worked hard to support her two children. During this time, Brandon was highly influenced by the art within television, anime, and video games. This later accompanied his faith in Jesus Christ which has shaped his worldview alongside his church family at Beech Grove Baptist Church. He teaches middle school art at Concord Christian School in Farragut.

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

Join Denise of Yellow Optimist Fitness for a fun, calorie-torching workout! We'll be powering through circuits centered around High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), which has been proven to shred fat, increase metabolism, and improve heart health. You'll also learn some of the best moves for cardio conditioning, strength development, agility, flexibility, and balance. All you need is water, a mat, a towel, and your amazing body! Be sure to invite a friend! $10, cash only at the door.

To reserve your spot, visit https://www.paypal.me/yellowoptimistfitdh/10
Please contact Denise at (901) 827-2646 or denise.nichelle@gmail.com for more information. Follow her on Instagram @yellowoptimistfitness

Feb 10 & Feb 24

Reception to be held March 16, 2018 from 5-7pm.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts announces Haiku / by Hand, a dual exhibition of works by Nicole Jacquard and Harlan W. Butt displayed in the Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery.

Nicole Jacquard explores themes of memory, ornamentation, and the souvenir through her mixed-media jewelry work. She uses materials such as upcycled fabrics, thread, enamel and a variety of metals to reference the dichotomy of the handmade versus the mass-produced. Jacquard questions how an object with one supposed purpose can transcend its own function when nostalgia and personal meanings are attached.

Harlan W. Butt combines vessels with poetry as a way to explore humankind’s relationship with the natural world. His vessels, made from copper, silver, bronze and brass, reflect the sensory experience of the natural landscape. Butt conveys the beauty and mystery found in nature through his use of plant and animal imagery with a keen attention to color texture. The vessels are accompanied by haikus written by Butt, which record the unique human experience of being fully present in the wilderness.

Together, the works of Jacquard and Butt create a compelling dialog about what we choose to take away from our individual experiences. Be it a tangible memento with which we project a specific memory of place, or the memory itself, used as inspiration to create something new.
Nicole Jacquard is currently Area Head and an Associate Professor at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and was the President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths from 2015-2017. She received her first MFA from the University of Michigan in 1991, and her second in 1995 while on a Fullbright Scholarship to Australia at RMIT University in Melbourne. In 2004, Nicole returned to RMIT and completed her Ph.D. in Fine Arts. Nicole was awarded a second 2017-2018 Fullbright Scholarship to Scotland. See more of Jacquard’s work on her website, www.nicolejacquard.com.

Harlan W. Butt maintains a studio in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. He has been creating work for over 40 years in metals and enamel, specializing in vessels. Harlan was a Regents Professor of Art at the University of North Texas, where he retired in 2017 after teaching for 40 years. He served as Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park in 2010 and at the Grand Canyon in 2014. He will be an Artist-in-Residence at Acadia National Park in the summer of 2018. See more of Harlan’s work on his website, harlanwbutt.com.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Celebrate women in art at Pellissippi State Community College! The free exhibit will showcase regional female artists who work in processes that use metal, including forging, casting, welding and assemblage. Works in the show range from large-scale abstract assemblages to intimate cast iron garments and figurative bronze castings.

A reception to meet the artists -- Allison Baker, Caroline Covington, Jacqueline Fisher, Cassidy Frye, Holly Kelly, Stephanie Loggans, Erica Mendoza, Marisa Mitchell, Karly Stribling and Erin Tucker -- will be 3-5 p.m., Feb. 5.

"Fe" is curated by Covington, who is also a faculty member at Pellissippi State. "The chemical symbol for iron is 'Fe,' and one of the basic classifications of metal is whether or not it contains iron - whether it is ferrous or non-ferrous. Thus, 'fe' is an elemental component of all of these works, as is being female," Covington said. "Each artist brings her own conceptual presence to the show. Metal has endless possibilities; so does our definition of femininity," she added.

Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Bagwell Center Gallery hours: M-F 10-6:30. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

Check out the full festival schedule and details here: http://tennesseestage.com/2018/01/05/new-play-festival-2018/

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

Swimming Upstream by Rich Rubin - A love story, complicated by science and political ramifications – who says politics makes strange bedfellows?
Saturday, 2/3 10:00 am Bearden Branch Library
Monday, 2/12 6:00 pm Fountain City Library
Sunday, 2/25 2:00 pm Lawson McGhee Library

Amazing Graces by Lea McMahan - A weekend getaway for five women – cousins and friends – in Gatlinburg, TN, with barely enough food but plenty of wine goes off the deep end when two armed gunmen crash the party.
Saturday, 2/3 2:00 pm Fountain City Library
Saturday, 2/17 2:00 pm Bearden Branch Library
Saturday, 2/24 2:30 Lawson McGhee Library

Indian Giver by Michael Reiman - A wry dramedy about an organ donor whose own failing body drives him to do the unthinkable – sue to get his donated organ back!
Saturday, 2/10 2:00 pm Bearden Branch Library
Saturday, 2/17 2:00 pm Fountain City Library
Saturday, 2/24 12:30 pm Lawson McGhee Library

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

Join us for a show opening featuring the work of Kristen Wasik.
Opening - Fri Feb 2, 6-9 PM

She is a senior BFA candidate in the School of Art at the University of Tennessee. Her most recent work is informed by minimalism in which gesture and abstract forms construct a sense of meaning. When not in the studio, Kristen enjoys traveling, exploring the Smoky Mountains, and learning how to embrace being human.

Rala, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com/

We’re excited to introduce our newly renovated upstairs gallery space, used to exhibit and highlight the artwork of Knoxville’s local artists. We’ll host a different local artists’ work each month for you to enjoy!

Join us for our Bijou Art Gallery Grand Opening at First Friday, February 2nd, 4-7pm.

We're thrilled to be featuring Artist Katy Smith. Art has long been a part of Katy Smith’s life. From a young age her mother, grandfather and grandmother were all major art influences while growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee. She primarily works with oil paint, acrylic paint, pencil, ink, and collaged paper. Drawing from her own memories and experiences she manages to take intangible thoughts and turn them into concrete images. She hopes to create an almost chaotic dream world where the memories flood both the mind and eye, and trigger a sense of nostalgia in the viewer.

Each image in this series represents a specific moment in time, and by obliterating or slicing up the image it allows the distortion of a memory to occur, much like our own minds tend to do. All people have memories that have affected them throughout their lives and each of my paintings represents a specific memory for me.

Katy is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a BFA in painting and drawing and a minor in art history: www.katycarrollsmith.com

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-522-0832, https://knoxbijou.org/art-gallery/

The WordPlayers of Knoxville will tour Walk, Don’t Ride! in the East TN area throughout the month of February. The first public performance is Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Fountain City UMC, 212 Hotel Rd. in Fountain City. Public performances are free and no reservations are required. For more information and a full schedule of public performances, please visit www.wordplayers.org or call 865.539.2490.

Public Performances
Feb 2: Fountain City UMC, 212 Hotel Road, Knoxville, TN 37918, 7:00 PM
Feb. 3: Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E M L King Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37403, 2:00 PM
Feb 13: Emerald Academy, 220 Carrick Street, Knoxville, TN 37921, 5:30 PM
Feb. 17: Oak Valley Baptist, 194 Hampton Rd, Oak Ridge, 37830, 4:00 PM
Feb. 19: Walters State-Greeneville, 6:00 PM
Feb. 20, Walters State-Morristown, 6:30 PM
Feb. 25, Fifth Ave. Baptist, 2500 E 5th Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914, 4:00 PM

“Walk, Don't Ride – A Celebration of the Fight for Equality” by Peter Manos is a presentation of drama and song depicting events that helped shape American freedom. Events included are: The Montgomery Bus Boycott, The Nashville Lunch Counter Sit-ins, and The Greyhound/Trailways Freedom Rides. For some, those events are part of a powerful personal experience. For some, they are part of a seemingly distant history. And perhaps for others, they are unfamiliar. But without a doubt, a couple of generations ago, those events changed the course of America.

This project is funded under an agreement with the TENNESSEE ARTS COMMISSION and sponsored by New City Resources. “Walk, Don't Ride” is an example of the best kind of “edu-tainment,” and has been booked in eight different counties and fifteen different venues, including middle schools, colleges, and churches.

For more information, please call 865-539-2490 or visit www.wordplayers.org.