Calendar of Events

After a three-year hiatus, the cult holiday classic, “The Santaland Diaries,” adapted by Joe Mantello from the essay by humorist and best- selling author David Sedaris, and starring David Brian Alley as Crumpet, returns to the Clarence Brown Theatre’s Carousel Theatre November 14 – December 9, 2018.

A Pay What You Can Preview performance will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14. At the Friday, Nov. 23rd performance patrons wearing an Ugly Sweater will have the opportunity to be selected for a picture with Crumpet on Santa’s chair. A talk back will take place Sunday, Nov. 25 following the matinee, and the Open Captioned performance is Sunday, December 2. The production, which is for mature elves only, will have start times of 2:30 pm for the matinees and 8:00 pm for the evening performances. It will be performed without an intermission and will include smoke.

Based loosely on Sedaris’ real life experience, “The Santaland Diaries” tells the tale of a struggling actor in New York City who out of necessity takes seasonal work as Crumpet the Elf in Macy’s Department Store’s Santaland Village. The comic holiday adventure chronicles Sedaris’ humiliation, frustrations and ultimately his hopefulness all told though his masterful sardonic wit.

David Sedaris made his National Public Radio debut on December 23, 1992 when he read his essay titled “Santaland Diaries” on the show “Morning Edition.” Since his successful debut, Sedaris has gone on to publish multiple bestselling books including “Barrel Fever,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Let’s Talk Diabetes with Owls.” He also has been a frequent contributor on NPR’s popular radio show “This American Life,” all of which has contributed to his reputation as one of America’s preeminent humorists. Sedaris’ story was adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello and premiered on November 7, 1996 at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City.

The 2015 production was directed by Jeff Stanley. Calvin MacLean will direct this year’s remount.
Clarence Brown Theatre, 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

Reception: November 9, 6:30 – 8:00 PM - Free and open to the public.

Exhibit viewing hours: Hours: Tu & Th 9-5, W & F 10-5, 2nd-4th Sa 10-1. Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartcenter.com

Stop by Ijams to check out Sherry Boettcher's diverse body of work in November! Boettcher captures everything from people and animal portraits to still life and landscapes in a variety of media, including watercolor, ink and pencil. You'll appreciate the variety in her lovely pieces, as well as her knack for capturing the vibrancy of each of her subjects.

More events at http://ijams.org/events/. 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

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra string quartets are visiting our libraries this fall! Each performance combines children's literature with classical music, sound effects, and hands-on learning. Free and open to the public.

Schedule:

November 6 @ 4 p.m. | Farragut Branch
November 28 @ 11 a.m. | Karns Branch
November 30 @ 10:30 a.m. | Powell Branch
December 4 @ 10:30 a.m. | Sequoyah Branch
December 5 @ 10:15 a.m. | Bearden Branch
December 12 @ 11 a.m. | Halls Branch

https://www.knoxvillesymphony.com/education-community/story-time-performances/

Solo exhibition of recent artworks by Jennifer Stoneking-Stewart, an artist based in Morristown. www.stoneking-stewart.com

Opening reception Mon Nov 5, 4-6 PM

Closed Nov 21-25 for Thanksgiving break

Omega Gallery at Carson-Newman University, Warren Art Building, corner of Branner & S. College Streets, Jefferson City, TN 37760. Gallery hours: M-F 8-4. Information: www.cn.edu

Beck presents the exhibition, I Have a Voice: Tennessee’s African American Musical Heritage, opening November 2, 2018. The exhibition, organized by the Tennessee State Museum, gives a snapshot of Tennessee’s rich African American musical heritage and its influence on worldwide musical genres.

The Volunteer State has been the birthplace of some of the most influential music in the world, from the Beale Street blues clubs in Memphis, to the R&B scene on Nashville’s Jefferson Street and the jazz in Knoxville’s Gem Theatre. The history of African American music follows the hardship of slavery in America. American slaves adapted their African ancestors’ music to hand clapping, singing, the fiddle and the African–derived banjo.

Expressing their sorrows from bondage, and joy for their ultimate deliverance, these enslaved persons found an original, musical voice sung in their spirituals and folk music. This voice has left a monumental cultural stamp on American music, including blues, ragtime, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and soul music. In turn, this music has influenced and enriched music around the world.

The exhibit introduces viewers to many famous Tennessee music legends — Bessie Smith, who was nicknamed the “Empress of the Blues;” B.B. King, often referred to as the “King of the Blues;” Grand Ole Opry star DeFord Bailey; and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Tina Turner. The exhibit gives visitors a chance to hear the voices of the many Tennessee African American men and women who made their mark on American music from ragtime to Motown.

Visitors can view YouTube videos of various performers and musicians featured in the exhibition on their smart phones or tablets through the use of QR-coded links. Educators who are interested in teaching about Tennessee’s African American musical heritage will be provided with curriculum-based educational lesson activities.

http://www.beckcenter.net/museum-exhibit-s/

Beck Cultural Exchange Center: 1927 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915. Hours: Tu-Sa 10-6. Information: 865-524-8461, www.beckcenter.net

Paintings and Relief Constructions by Joe Letitia

Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM, Friday 9 AM to Noon.
6500 Northshore Drive
865-584-3957
www.wpcknox.org

A reception will take place on Friday, November 2, 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.

Eric Buechel was born and raised in New Jersey. His artistic abilities emerged early in life, and he was fortunate to learn many of his skills from his father, Ernest J. Buechel, Sr., who was a talented artist himself as well as a master ship-modeler. Buechel spent much of his youth absorbed in studying the great masters, often taking trains into New York City as a youth to spend hours in the museums. After high school, he attended the DuCret School of Art in Plainfield, New Jersey. He had the opportunity to study with Dr. Furman J. Finck, an official presidential portrait painter, author, and Dean of DuCret at that time. He learned much of his incredible detail from Dr. Finck. Buechel later transferred to Broward College in South Florida where he earned his degree in fine art. He soon went to work in Manhattan and began his career as an illustrator and later as an art director.

Artist Statement: My work focuses on sharing my vision of beauty found in the familiar and ordinary. A walk in nature, an outing to a local café, the face of a loved one: these are the things that bring me joy. Capturing those memories on canvas and sharing those memories brings me even greater joy. Memories are filtered through an emotional lens which can be seen through the differing styles of my work which lends a different feel to each piece. The goal of my art is to share these reflections and memories through a vision on canvas and bring the viewer to a place within their own memories of joy and happiness. After all, our lives are filled with ordinary events which we all have in common. Art should be beautiful; I unapologetically strive to share beauty.

To learn more about Eric Buechel, please visit www.ericbuechel.net/emporium.

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, November 2, 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.

The Arrowmont Experience, in its third year at the Emporium, will feature work by Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts’ current Artists-in-Residence: Sasha Baskin, Alyssa Coffin, Everett Hoffman, Stephanie M. Wilhelm, and Kari Woolsey. The Artists-in-Residence Program provides early career, self-directed artists time, space and support to experiment and develop a new body of work in a creative community environment. Each year, five artists of different media are selected for the eleven-month program, which begins mid-June and continues through late May of the following year. Arrowmont’s artists-in-residence will showcase works made using a range of media. The current Artists-in-Residence include:

+ Sasha Baskin, who is focused on the integration of analog and digital weaving processes, including ikat, natural dye processes, hand-controlled damask, hand-manipulated glitch, and computerized weaving; from Ridgefield, CT: www.sashabaskin.com
+ Alyssa Coffin, interdisciplinary artist from Providence, RI: www.alyssacoffinart.com
+ Everett Hoffman, whose current work examines everyday material debris reconstructed within the complex narratives of identity, gender, and sexual desire; from Southwest Idaho: www.everetthoffman.net
+ Stephanie M. Wilhelm, pottery and ceramics; from Manchester, MD: www.stephaniemwilhelm.com
+K ari Woolsey, functional pottery and ceramics; from Boca Raton, FL: www.kariwoolsey.com

To learn more about Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, please visit www.arrowmont.org.

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, November 2, 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.

This exhibition features an array of work by the Artists in Residence at Broadway Studios and Gallery (BSG): Sheila Chesanow, Anne Freels, Jessica Gregory, Paula Johnson, Kathleen Kinney, Mariclair Tan, and Cynthia Tipton. BSG is located 1127 N. Broadway in North Knoxville and is a co-op of ten artists working in studios under one roof. They hold monthly exhibitions, operate a retail store, and offer private lessons. The Artists in Residence include:
• Sheila Chesanow, artistic photography
• Anne Freels, cornhusk dolls and natural materials
• Jessica Gregory, acrylic, oil, and watermedia paintings
• Paula Johnson: stained glass and pysanky (Ukrainian eggs)
• Kathleen Kinney: fiber art
• Mariclair Tan: sculpture and religious art
• Cynthia Tipton: oil paintings

To learn more about the artists, please visit https://www.broadwaystudiosandgallery.com/artists

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, November 2, 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.

Desiderio Manresa Bodipo, artistically known as Mene Manresa, was born on the island of Annobon (Equatorial Guinea). From an early age, he studied drawing, painting and ceramics at the Hispanic-Guinean Cultural Center in Malabo. He became part of the Monte Alen project where he was able to expand his skills as an artist along with professional artists from Spain.

Mene Manresa has participated in several artistic competitions in Equatorial Guinea and has won several awards. He expanded his knowledge in graphic design, sculpture, animation, and in entertainment (circus), however he is most recognized for his paintings. In 2011 he did a cultural exchange tour in the U.S. funded by the NGO EG Justice. During the tour, his paintings were shown in several universities and at Highlander Research & Education Center. Manresa is inspired by everyday factors of his environment, and he interposes them in an abstract and modern-realistic world. His work is unique with vivid colors that impact viewers at first sight and help them navigate his world of imaginary composition. For this exhibition, he is presenting new paintings with hopes that viewers can connect with him in his world of modern creativity.

To learn more, follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/menemanresa.

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, November 2, 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.

This exhibition features acrylic paintings containing macabre and adorable elements. Kacey Chumley is a writer, Illustrator, and blogger from Tazewell, Tennessee. This is her first solo exhibition.

To learn more, please visit www.xoxartdesigns.com or www.facebook.com/KaceyChumleyyy.

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.