Calendar of Events

Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gallery hours: M-R 8:30-5, Fri 8:30-4, Saturdays call ahead. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Celebrating our first season in the new "Old City Performing Arts Center" in downtown Knoxville's Old City! Our 2019-2020 inaugural season will include three productions: The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph's Baby [December 11-22, 2019], Constellations [March 4-15, 2020], and Sweat [April 22-May 3, 2020].

THE UNUSUAL TALE OF MARY & JOSEPH'S BABY: AN ORIGINAL FOLK MUSICAL - DECEMBER 11-15 AND 18-22

Written by Tennessee-based award winning recording artist Don Chaffer and NYC-based playwright Chris Cragin-Day.

The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby dares to take the classic story at its word. There really is a pregnant virgin. There are shepherds, angels, foreign dignitaries (a.k.a. wise men), a ratty extra room/stable at an inn, and a maniacal, bloodthirsty dictator whose menacing shadow hangs over everything. And obviously, it’s a comedy. Seriously it is. With a racially diverse cast, a exciting new set, and an emphasis on simple storytelling, The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby surprises virgin-believing and non-virgin-believing audiences alike, engaging this oft-told story with a sincerity and humanity that bursts with imagination and wonder. The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby received its first production at the New York City International Fringe Festival under the direction of River & Rail Co-Founder Amelia Peterson**.

Old City Performing Arts Center, 111 State St. Knoxville, TN 37902
https://www.riverandrailtheatre.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/buy-tickets-launch-a-season-river-rail-theatre#/

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra presents the KSO Q Series at The Emporium Center for classical music Wednesdays! Single tickets are $18 in advance/$20 at the door.

This concert features a one-hour performance by the KSO Principal String Quartet and the KSO Principal Woodwind Quintet and tickets include lunch.

100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Tickets and information: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

The 35th Anniversary of Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice featuring Will Ackerman, Barbara Higbie, Todd Boston with special guest Mia Pixley

Celebrate the winter solstice and its warm traditions with a concert of original and traditional acoustic music drawn from the multi-platinum selling Winter Solstice series as well as their many solo releases. Windham Hill founder and Grammy-winning guitarist, Will Ackerman, and Grammy Award-nominated singer, fiddler, pianist, and songwriter Barbara Higbie, guitarist Todd Boston and cellist, Mia Pixley come together to lead joyous holiday concerts.

William Ackerman founded Windham Hill Records in Palo Alto in 1975. The label’s audiophile recordings were a run-away success with critics and audiences alike. Musicians including Michael Hedges, George Winston, Will Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, Barbara Higbie and Darol Anger and their group Montreux, Liz Story, Mark Isham, and Tuck and Patty quickly became internationally recognized. Also, the name “Windham Hill” became synonymous with the best in acoustic music in the 1980s and 90s. For that reason, Windham Hill’s 10 Winter Solstice compilation recordings, selling in the many millions, “changed people’s conceptions of seasonal music” (John Diliberto, Echoes radio show host). Finally, the Winter Solstice Concerts bring the music of Windham Hill full circle, 40 years after it was originally conceived on the Stanford campus.

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

DAVE BARNES
PRESENTS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
WEDNESDAY, DEC 11 • 8PM

At Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com, www.ticketmaster.com

HOME FREE
DIVE BAR CHRISTMAS
WEDNESDAY, DEC 11 | 8PM

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com

At Cherokee Country Club
Dec 11 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Announcing the annual Holiday Sparkles & Spirits! – a gala evening to benefit The Joy of Music School. On Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. supporters of the School gather for a unique holiday event at Cherokee Country Club, Knoxville, Tenn.

Experience the warmth of a holiday gathering, children’s voices and get a head start on gift-buying for loved ones—all for a great cause. Bid on unique items in arts & culture, travel, food & wine, home & garden, and more.

The evening is highlighted by a brief performance from students of the School. Holiday songs will fill the Cherokee Ballroom, played and sung by talented students studying in our program. What better way to witness the results of the Joy of Music School’s efforts than to experience a live performance?

A silent auction will be held throughout the night, with a live auction culminating the evening.

Semi-formal attire. The event includes heavy hors d‘oeuvres, wine and cocktails.
Joy of Music School, 1209 Euclid Avenue Knoxville, TN 37921. Information: 865-525-6806, www.joyofmusicschool.org

Stop by and check out the Knoxville Community Darkroom during our open studio hours from 6pm-7pm on Wednesday, December 11th.

The Knoxville Community Darkroom, 126 Jennings Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. www.theknoxvillecommunitydarkroom.org

Wednesday, December 11, 6:00-9:00PM at Elkmont Exchange,
745 North Broadway, Knoxville, Tennessee 37917.

Earth Talk at Elkmont will be at the Elkmont Exchange Brewery, the second Wednesday of every month @ 6 p.m. onwards. And it'll be about all things "Earthly" and ecological.

Earth Talk will be a chance for folks to go even deeper: deeper conversations about what sustainability might look like here in the Tennessee Valley and in the broader world, more ideas and hopes and dreams about how we can create a truly sustainable economy, a more sustainable society, and not just environmental well-being, but flourishing and restoration, for all of the beautiful life on this Earth that we all call home.

Anybody with a keen interest in sustainable living and environmental-related topics is welcome, but I'd like to especially invite the following:
- Business owners, and people wanting to start businesses
- Farmers, gardeners, landscapers, or aspiring people in these fields
- People involved in Renewable energy, appropriate technology, natural building, and other techniques.
- Folks looking to increase neighborhood and community connections: meet people to trade seeds with, get firewood, share the use of land, get advice
on raising livestock, crops, irrigation, etc etc. The more neighborly connections the better.
- Anybody at the intersection of where Restoring our Planet and the Tennessee Valley in particular meets Building a Sustainable Economy (whatever that might look like).

Whether you just want a chance to chat casually with some like-minded souls over some beers, or you've got some specific intentions, this is a place for you.
Hope to see everybody there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/425679895014492/

Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for Austin Bradford Friday, Dec. 6 from 6-9 pm.

Austin's passion is photography and he specializing in landscapes and portraits.

Please join us for some amazing photos, light refreshments and of course great coffee!

Awaken Coffee is a live music venue, espresso bar, craft beer & wine bar and organic restaurant in the heart of downtown. Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

Hours: Mon-Thu 7 AM - 9 PM, Fri 7 AM - 10 PM, Sat 8 AM - 10 PM, Sun 2-8 PM
(865) 951-0427 or https://www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

Please join us for an opening reception on Friday, December 6 from 5-8 p.m. Meet the artist, explore the gallery’s holiday collections, and enjoy seasonal fare. The show will be on display through January 4.

A moment of quiet can make all the difference. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, we invite you to join us in taking a moment to pause and appreciate the quiet moments in Joe Parrott: Across the Valley. Through an unparalleled depth of experience, Parrott’s richly painted landscapes render our common understanding of light and darkness, high points and low valleys.

Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday 10-5:30, Saturday 10-4

The District Gallery & Framery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 200-4452 or www.TheDistrictGallery.com

Reception on Friday at 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Dogwood Arts, 123 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

December First Friday at Dogwood Arts will feature work by Chrysalis, a group of nine local female artisans working in sculpture, painting, woodwork, stone carving, and more! Participating artists include: Kathy Slocum, Lisa Ruttan Wolff, Gay Morton, Sheila Rauen, Linda Peterson, Nan Jacobsohn, Barb Bewernitz, and Pat Culbertson.

The exhibition will be on display in the Dogwood Arts Gallery (123 W Jackson Ave) from Friday, December 6 - Friday, January 3rd. An opening reception will be held on Friday, December 6th from 4:30-8:30PM. (Gallery Closed: December 23rd-27th and January 1st)

Gallery Hours: M-F / 9AM-5PM

CHRYSALIS: Chrysalis is a group of nine women craft-artisans and artists. They first got together in 2006 to exchange creative energies and offer support to each others artistic endeavors. Their name derived from the fact that they had all been dedicated artists and had all experienced interruptions to their flow of creating. In finding each other, they found their work and energy to create reemerging, new ideas blossoming, and a support that also enveloped their personal lives. In 14 years they have lost sisters and found sisters. Some have changed mediums, learned new creative processes to add to their work, or expanded into additional avenues of creating, growing not only as artists but as strong women and steadfast friends. It's a unique group, whose work when gathered together, inspires not only each other, but those that come to see it.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2550089981888289/