Calendar of Events

Ce Nitram Sacul is the story of a woman in crisis. Disturbed by the violence and insensitivity around her, she turns to her “Womantor”, her “touchstone”, for advice. The unusual circumstance, which provides both tension and humor is the fact that the “Womantor” has been dead for more than twelve years. The play, a modern theater ritual rich in music and language, is both a celebration and a call to action. This contemporary “Praise Poem” to the women who mentor us, is grounded in the idea that the greatest tribute is action carried forth. Learn more about the play here: https://www.carpetbagtheatre.org/

Showtimes
9/13, Thursday - 7:00 p.m.
9/14, Friday - 7:00 p.m.
9/15, Saturday - 7:00 p.m.
9/16, Sunday - 4:00 p.m.

Tickets: Early Bird General Admission - $20.00
Students/Senior/Military Discount - $18.00
Group Discount of 10 or more - $15.00

At the Flying Anvil Theatre space, 1300 Rocky Hill Road, Knoxville, 37919. Carpetbag Theatre information: 865-544-0447, www.carpetbagtheatre.org

Hosted by Monroe Area Council for the Arts. Come and paint the beauty that is East Tennessee. A cradle of creativity, Tennessee is known for its contributions to arts, science, technology, and social justice. Words and music have interpreted our rich culture: Sequoyah’s writing system, books by remarkable authors and the music by memorable singers/musicians.

WHAT IS “PLEIN AIR”? It is a French term for painting in the outdoors. Monet, van Gogh and Renoir are examples of famous painters who painted “en plein air”.

Thursday September 13 8am-5pm
Friday September 14 8am-5pm
Saturday September 15 8am-12pm

PAINTING CHECK-IN: Saturday September 15 8am-2pm
AWARDS RECEPTION: Saturday September 15 6pm – 8pm

http://monroearts.com/

Now in its third year, the 3-day festival features a selection of world-class ecdysiasts from across the nation and beyond to the Bijou and various other venues throughout the city. This year's selection of festival headliners include The Burlesque Hall of Fame's 2004 "Miss Exotic World" Dirty Martini (New York, NY), self-described female-female impersonator and infamous burlesque host World Famous Bob (Austin, TX), and regionally renowned performers Dangrrr Doll (Raleigh, NC), Evelyn Vinyl (Nashville, TN), and May Hemmer (Sanford, NC). Also featured in the weekend of events are emcee Blanche DeBris (Las Vegas, NV) and returning guest The Bishop of Burlesque (New York, NY).

The weekend experience also includes an educational component with various classes and workshops available to festival attendees and the general public.

MARBLE CITY SHOWCASE, THURSDAY, SEPT 13 • 8PM
THE EDGE | 18+
The first of four performance showcases presented at the festival features a mix of both regional and national entertainers hand-picked to whet your appetite for the weekend to come.

THE BURLESQUE BARNBURNER, FRIDAY, SEPT 14 • 8PM
THE CONCOURSE | 18+
The second of four performance showcases presented at the festival will demonstrate diverse interpretations of the striptease archetype, ranging from the traditional to the unexpected, performed mostly by artists from the surrounding states. This showcase features regional headliner Evelyn Vinyl (Nashville, TN) and is hosted by World Famous Bob (Austin, TX).

THE LATE NIGHT NERDLESQUE REVUE, FRIDAY, SEPT 14 • 11PM
THE CONCOURSE | 18+
The third of four performance showcases focuses on burlesque inspired by pop culture and "nerd" fandom. See striptease talent disguised as your favorite characters from Star Trek to Sesame Street. This showcase features headliners Dangrrr Doll (Raleigh, NC) and May Hemmer (Sanford, NC).

ROCKY TOPLESS, SATURDAY, SEPT 15 • 8PM
BIJOU THEATRE | 18+
The final performance showcase of the weekend features a line-up of nationally-known, award-winning performers covering a wide spectrum of talents and styles. This world-class cast includes 21st Century Burlesque Magazine’s #2 Most Influential Burlesque Figure of the Decade, Dirty Martini (New York, NY) and is hosted by Blanche DeBris (LasVegas, NV).

http://www.smokymountainburlesquefest.com

Join Knox County Public Library and Humanities Tennessee for an informative series to include trivia, voter registration, presentations, a panel discussion, and a film screening. All events are free and open to the public. For more info and the full schedule visit our webpage.

Sessions include:
• Constitution Day Trivia
• Electoral Anomalies with Jack Neely
• Why Aren't You Voting? An Interactive Conversation
• Does Every Vote Count? Voter Rights & the Disenfranchised
• Hacked. How Safe Are Our Elections? Mechanics of Voting
• Democracy & the Free Press Panel Discussion
• Money & Politics: The Complicated Truth of Peddled Influence
• Globalization, 'Globalism' and the rise of nationalism in Europe and North America
• Gabriel Over the White House (1933)
• When Democracy Worked: Passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Choose Civility: How to Talk Politics & Still Be Friends

https://www.knoxlib.org/calendar-programs/programs-and-partnerships/democracy-and-informed-citizen-symposium

Opening Sep 9, 2-4 PM, free and open to public with light refreshments.

About The Rose Quilt Guild: Our quilt guild is a group of 60 - 70 women who meet on the third Tuesday of every month at the Rose Center in Morristown. Our goals are education and skill-building, friendship, and community service. We invite you to join us! We offer a workshop to members each month. We sponsor the annual quilt show. Recipients of our donation quilts include community organizations in Morristown, TN and the surrounding Lakeway Area. http://www.rosecenterquiltguild.com/

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

Digital Photograms by David Luttrell and pottery and small sculptures by Patricia Herzog

David Luttrell describes his work as “digital photograms.” He uses found objects and flora from his gardens to make compositions that are them exposed or scanned up to 30 minutes without the benefit of an aperture.

Patricia Herzog is exhibiting her functional, decorative glazed pottery as well as “alternative fired” small sculptures (Warrior Queens) that have Greek and Mesoamerican influences.

Westminister Presbyterian Church, 6500 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: M-R 9-4, F 9-12. Info: (865) 584-3957 or www.wpcknox.org

A unique exhibition by HoLa Hora Latina member artists celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month - one exhibition, two venues!

Opening Fri Sep 7, 5-9 PM at the Emporium

Then, on display at the Knoxville Museum of Art from Sep 19 - Oct 15 in the Kramer Education Center. Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tu-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Information: 865-335-3358, www.holahoralatina.org

Recent works by painter George Rothery and woodturner Gordon Fowler will be featured throughout September at the Art Market Gallery. An opening reception for the artists, including complimentary refreshments and live music by The Accidentals, will begin at 5:30 p.m. on September 7th, during Downtown Knoxville’s monthly First Friday Art Walk. The show will feature George’s marine-themed acrylic paintings, and Gordon’s wooden bowls, platters and hollow forms.

George Rothery: THE ARTIST AND NOW A WRITER—George Rothery is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a major in Marketing. After serving in the US Air Force, discharged with the rank of Captain, George became professionally involved with art when he opened galleries in Knoxville, Tennessee that became art exhibition centers for the surrounding area for the next 22 years.
After another career in manufacturer representation (Rothery Associates), George became a professional maritime artist. He picked up brush and canvas to create oils and acrylics reminiscent of the sailing and boating he loved growing up on the New Jersey shore, and later on the South Carolina coast. His paintings are in private and corporate collections from Massachusetts to Florida and from the Carolinas to Texas. He has been in many national juried shows, and his work has appeared in: American Artist, The Complete Painters Handbook, Workshop, Life on the Water, Homes and Living, and a number of newspaper articles.

Gordon Fowler: I make bowls, platters, and hollow forms from wood using a woodturning lathe. I find the wood on roadsides or friends tell me about a tree they cut down. I get a kick out of “recycling” these logs that would otherwise go to a landfill or a fireplace. Most of my work is twice-turned. That means I cut the logs with a chainsaw, rough turn it, let it dry for at least six months, then turn it again to its final thickness. Making round things is inherent to the lathe, and I’m inspired by the symbolism and symmetry of circles. I’m influenced by texture, patterns, and contrasts found in nature. I strive to create pleasing forms combined with exquisite grain patterns.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Th & Sa 11-6, Fri 11-9, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net

Broadway Studios And Gallery’s presents ‘Abstraction,’ an abstract art competition. ‘Abstraction’ is an art competition that will showcase abstract art from artists located in Knoxville and the surrounding areas. All media will be presented and awards will be given to the best pieces.

The show will be presented to the public on First Friday September 7th from 5-9pm. Prizes for the winners will be given at 6pm.

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

First Friday Reception, September 7th, 5-9PM

The UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of work by Ben Seamons. Ben received his MFA in Painting from the University of Tennessee in 2012. He passed away in 2016, and this exhibition is in celebration of his life.

"My recent paintings depict human figures that arise out of a painting process that sets the subject matter and the paint on a collision course. The use of gestural abstraction in relationship to the figure conjures unanticipated moments where figures are caught in metaphysical experiences. The figure and the gesture emerge and dissolve, they co-evolve with their meaning, recognizing each other as counterparts. They become embedded or hidden within layers of paint that are deposited over time. The paint is the medium that transmits a kind of psychic reality and elicits themes of boundary dissolution: between material and spirit, the body and space; between the violent and the ecstatic, the concentrated and the diluted."
-Ben Seamons, on his final body of work

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

A reception will take place on Friday, September 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM as part of First Friday activities downtown to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork.

Yumee Eun’s inspired art grew from long hours of deep meditation and prayer. Her small sketches and poetry grew with her visions in the form of large canvas paintings with acrylics, oils, plasters, mud, and charcoals. She is constantly growing and discovering new ways to recreate the different realms of her visions and inspirations. Her artistic style is described simply as an all-encompassing poem of life. Her art embraces life in a deeply spiritual and soulful way. In a time where people are less creative and more structured, and art classes are nothing more than directing people to paint “perfect” pieces in order, her hope is that those who view her work will see her invitation to bravely explore themselves and create something uniquely individual.

While some may describe Eun as a budding new artist, her creative vision is fueled by years of dedicated soul searching and meditation, and each piece of art carries deep wisdom and spirit that was developed over years of searching for her own identity in this world. Eun’s work challenges and invites others to find the freedom of mind found in her inspired pieces. “There is always a space for one to retreat to in my art,” she says. “I would like others to have that place for enlightened peacefulness as well.” Inspired by the works of Indian artist and poet Rabindranath Tagore, and Siddhartha novelist Herman Hesse, her artwork and poetry reflect their pathos as well as her own internal struggles into thoughtful awakened images of growth and beauty. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/YumeeEunArt/.

On display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Information: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com.

A reception will take place on Friday, September 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM as part of First Friday activities downtown to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view the artwork.

Artist statement: Food can be devoured for physical consumption or an object can be devoured with the eyes. The term denotes a kind of all-consuming appetite that you feel from within. Devouring is not about mere sustenance but fulfills other primal urges. Often times these urges can leave us with a love/hate relationship with food after having succumbed to our food cravings. I started my career studying Culinary Arts and became interested in the health and nutrition of our bodies. After experiencing significant declines in my own health, I have come to believe wholeheartedly in the adages “you are what you eat” or “let food be thy medicine”. I have regained my health through food, but not without cost. There are plenty of others in my situation, finding ourselves gluten free, dairy free, additive free, sugar free, low carb, keto, paleo, and on and on. This body of work explores the double-edge sword that food represents in our culture. On one hand, it’s a very community based affair that can bring people together and can celebrate our various cultures, but there is also a very dark side concerning the effects of poor nutrition and overeating that is plaguing our society. An alternate meaning of the term devour means to consume destructively. For me, and many others, this is what happens if we indulge in the wrong foods for our bodies. This work represents my daily experience where I am surrounded by enticing and appealing food that I cannot enjoy physically. It can be a visual sensory experience but cannot be experienced beyond that.

Ericka Ryba is a local, Knoxville-based potter. She earned an AAS in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales in Charleston, SC and a BFA in studio Art and MS in Art Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She currently teaches art full time at Coulter Grove Intermediate School in Maryville and has a ceramics studio inside Mighty Mud in North Knoxville. Ryba’s pottery is available at various markets and shows in the region. Recently, she was the recipient of a 2019 Ann and Steve Bailey Opportunity Grant. For more information, visit https://www.instagram.com/erickaryba.

On display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Information: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com.