Calendar of Events

Monday, June 29, 2020

East Tenn PBS: Virtual Screening of The Vote: Upping the Ante

Category: Film, Free event and History, heritage

Hosted by East Tennessee PBS and 2 others
Monday, June 29, 2020 at 7 PM – 9 PM

East Tennessee PBS, the East Tennessee Historical Society & Every Woman Vote invite you to an advanced screening of The Vote: Upping the Ante (45 minutes) and post-film discussion with Hannah Rexrode & Amy Gibson.

Register here: https://ovee.itvs.org/screenings/pjdxk

“The year is 1917, some six decades since the famous women’s rights gathering at Seneca Falls. It was at this moment, on January 10th, that the fiery provocateur Alice Paul turned her back on decades of polite patience and politics-as-usual and threw down the gauntlet at the very gates of the White House. A dozen suffragists assembled just before ten o’clock, bearing the colors of the National Woman’s Party and banners addressed to the president. Regarded as the most militant move made by the suffragists by the Washington Herald at the time, the demonstration drew considerable media attention as the movement attempted to break years of political stalemate.”

Jubilee Community Arts: Laurel Theater videos & radio

Category: Classes, workshops, Film, History, heritage and Music

While all public activities at the Laurel have been canceled until further notice including dances, concerts and church services, please enjoy videos on their YouTube channel which include concerts, dance lessons, and more! https://www.youtube.com/user/LaurelTheater/videos

The historic Laurel Theater is a regional, community cultural center dedicated to preserving and presenting the traditional arts of the Southern Appalachians. The Laurel Theater is owned and operated by Jubilee Community Arts.

Tune in to 91.9 FM WUOT on Saturdays at 9 PM for "Mountain Jubilee" and 89.9 FM WDVX on Sundays from 5-11 PM for "Sunday Jubilee"!

YWCA Knoxville: 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge

  • June 19, 2020 — July 17, 2020

Category: Festivals, special events, Free event and Health, wellness

The challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership.

You will be presented with challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. This is an exciting opportunity to dive deep into racial equity and social justice. We hope you will join us on this journey and we can’t wait to get started!

Originally developed by Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. and Debby Irving, this 21-Day Challenge has been adapted by organizations across the country. It is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership.

Anyone can take part in the YWCA 21-Day Challenge. Participation in an activity like this helps us connect with one another, discover how racial inequity and social injustice impact our community, and identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.

Participants will be prompted daily with challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experiences and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us discover how racial and social injustices impact our community, motivates us to connect with one another, and inspires us to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.

This is an exciting opportunity to dive deep into racial equity and social justice. We hope you’ll join us and accept this challenge.

Each day (Monday-Friday) starting on Friday, June 19 through Friday, July 17 you will receive an email prompting you with a daily challenge. Please make sure you've signed up for the challenge! https://ywcaknox.com/21-day-challenge-sign-up/

Arts & Culture Alliance: Arts in the Airport Spring 2020

  • June 10, 2020 — October 1, 2020

Category: Exhibitions, visual art

Enjoy the 44 works by regional artists, as juried by Jim Scarsella.

The current exhibition (juried by Jim Scarsella) will be on display from June 10 - October (end date TBA) 2020. View and purchase artworks at https://www.knoxalliance.store/product-category/airport-22. Thank you for your support of our local artists!

The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) present a semi-annual exhibition entitled “Arts in the Airport”. This juried exhibition was developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in the area. The selected art features contemporary 2- and 3-dimensional artwork and is exhibited in the secured area behind McGhee Tyson Airport’s security gate checkpoint for six months at a time. Approximately 35-40 works comprise each exhibition. Work is normally available for viewing only by visitors flying in or out of the airport.

Tomato Head: Mineralscapes and Natural Patterns: Art Photography by David G. Liles

  • June 8, 2020 — August 7, 2020

Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

"I create art through photographic imagery. Inspiration comes from the natural world, specifically colors and patterns. Much of my work starts out as pictures of rocks, minerals, and fossils. I seek a different viewpoint, and many of the images are abstractions, and open to viewer interpretation".

On exhibition Downtown from June 8 to July 7 and at the West location from July 8 to August 7.

Tomato Head, 12 Market Square (865-637-4067) and 7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 172 (865-584-1075), in Knoxville. http://thetomatohead.com

Oak Ridge Art Center: Through the Lens 6 and Permanent Collection

  • June 8, 2020 — July 11, 2020

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fine Crafts and Free event

Through the Lens 6: New Directions in Print Photography and Selections from the Permanent Collection.

As in all programs right now, we are following the guidelines set forth by the State of Tennessee and the City of Oak Ridge and are practicing social distancing, utilizing masks, limiting the number of people in the building, and cleaning and sanitizing throughout the day.

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

The Emporium Center: Arts & Culture Alliance Summer Members Show

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fine Crafts, Free event and Kids, family

The Arts & Culture Alliance is proud to present a special Summer Members Show featuring new works by local artists in the Greater Knoxville area. The fresh mix of two- and three-dimensional works created within the last two years encompasses a wide variety of media such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, fine craft, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, and more from artists who are all individual members of the Arts & Culture Alliance, which serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. Membership is open to all, and information may be found at www.knoxalliance.com/join-renew. Most of the works in the 2020 Members Show are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

A reception is tentatively scheduled for First Friday, July 3, from 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to attend at 100 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to follow social distancing guidelines and other recommendations given by the Knox County Health Department, the City of Knoxville, and Knox County.

Individual members of the Alliance participate locally and regionally in gallery exhibitions, art festivals, sculpture trails, weekend shows, studio tours, and public murals. Some of the members are full-time artists, while others have day jobs and create on evenings and weekends. Some Alliance members include art professors with the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Carson-Newman University, Maryville College, Pellissippi State, Roane State, and Walters State. Others are teachers within Knox and surrounding county’s elementary, middle and high schools. Some Alliance members teach classes privately or through community classes with the Appalachian Arts Craft Center Fountain City Art Center, Knoxville Arts & Fine Crafts Center, Knoxville Museum of Art, and Oak Ridge Art Center. Many of the artists have working studios in their own homes, while some are part of studio collectives such as The Emporium Center, The Vacuum Shop, 17th Street Studios, Mighty Mud, Studio 2515, Broadway Studios & Gallery, and Knoxville Community Darkroom.

The Summer Members Show will be on display throughout the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville from June 5 – July 31, 2020. Gallery hours are currently Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed July 6 for the holiday. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

UT Gardens, Knoxville: Dazzling Dogwoods: A Garden Art Exhibit

  • June 1, 2020 — September 30, 2020

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Free event, Kids, family and Science, nature

The silhouettes created for the 2020 summer “Dazzling Dogwoods: A Garden Art Exhibit,” are on display at the UT Gardens, Knoxville. All the pieces will be available for purchase at an auction that will be held in the fall. The auction will be the last phase of an art project designed to promote community participation and artist collaboration as well awareness and support for the UT Gardens.

https://tiny.utk.edu/DazzlingDogwoods

37 local amateur and professional artists creatively interpreted this year’s dogwood theme by painting or embellishing large-scale plywood dogwood silhouettes in two sizes. Artists had the option to create either a large or small form or a pair. The works have been installed throughout the UT Gardens and will be on display throughout the summer. In the fall, these beautiful, one-of-a-kind dogwood silhouettes will be sold to the public at auction.

HoLa Hora Latina: Virtual Exhibition by Becky Chaffee

Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

HoLa Hora Latina Presents a Virtual First Friday Exhibit for the month of June 2020 featuring artist Becky Chaffee

Please view exhibit at www.holahoralatina.org

Artist, Becky Chaffee
During Covid times, Ms. Chaffee has been making masks “to order”, and donating earnings. Last month, she was presented an award for this work from the “Appalachian Community Fund”. “Perfect for Covid Times”, Becky has recently compiled her “music lesson” art to publish a book for music students emphasizing having fun and good practice habits. Profits for the month of June will go to HoLa Hora Latina. See “Have Fun with Your Music” reviews on Amazon including one from Knoxville’s own Fay Adams, TMTA 2016 Music Teacher of the Year.

Becky’s work is a fusion of fun and education. She likes the idea of inspiring children. To accomplish this, she uses brightly colored folk art sprinkled with humor in both illustrations and captions. Sometimes she gets side-tracked with purely humor. Because she loves requests, her subject matter has expanded from the large music collection to science and reading concepts, community, cats and dogs, wild animals, yoga, beer, weddings and holidays. Most of this virtual exhibit is slated for her 2nd Music Book, to be titled “Passion for Practice, a Mindful Music Odyssey”. Her art is mainly created with acrylics on canvas, though she enjoys incorporating mixed media. Her large collection of Music lesson art (cards and prints) come from listening to her children’s classical and jazz violin and piano lessons for many years, then her own flute lessons after her children left for college. (Both her kids, now young adults, currently practice their instruments for their own pleasure.) The science and reading concept cards come naturally as she has engineering degrees from UC Berkeley and Cornell University, and her daughter is Deputy Director of the Los Angeles Reading Partners Program.

Prior to painting, Becky created fabric music purses in the shape of musical instruments, calling her little violin purse, a “Violette”; then adding grand piano, guitar and ukulele purses. Art has become Becky’s soul. Cheerful and brightly colored, it is sold as a book, cards, prints, educational place mats, a coloring book, stickers, purses and pillows. Thru her company, MusicTeacherGifts.com (aka Violettes by Becky), Becky raises funds for music education causes. Becky holds an Annual Youth Composition Competition for ages 10 thru 18 and has distributed $1,000s in funds and prizes to youth. She has just completed her 7th year of the competition.

Becky’s work is sold in the Nashville Symphony, Brevard Music Center and San Francisco Symphony Gift Shops, Legends Gift Store in Nashville, The Maltz Jewish Heritage Museum Gift Shop in Ohio, The Knoxville Visitor Center, Knoxville Soap and Candle and music stores across the country. Send a note of your purchase from the month of June either from Amazon or Becky’s website to casahola@holafestival.org for HoLa Hora Latina to be credited with profits.

Ijams Nature Center: Opening Quarry Swimming Area, Paddling Rentals

  • May 28, 2020 — December 31, 2020

Category: Festivals, special events, Kids, family and Science, nature

Ijams Nature Center has opened the swimming area at Mead's Quarry in phase two of the City/County reopening plan, which went into effect May 26.

River Sports Outfitters (RSO) began offering paddle rentals on the lake Memorial Day weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Rentals will close due to inclement weather and will be announced on the RSO Facebook page at @RiverSportsOutfitters.

The Ijams Outpost, which offers concessions, beer and other items, will mirror RSO hours. Restrooms at the quarry remain open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Visitor Center restrooms and limited-contact gift shop/concessions purchases continue to be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All restrooms will close for short periods at set times each day to allow facilities to be cleaned and sanitized. During those times, the front lobby of the Visitor Center also will be closed.

Navitat is open Monday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are by appointment only.

You are encouraged to wear masks when entering the Visitor Center and while passing other people on the grounds. Ijams remains committed to the health and safety of visitors and staff, and will be evaluating reopening policies, procedures and hours; changes may be implemented at any time. www.Ijams.org or call 865-577-4717.

Knoxville Swing Dance Association: Virtual Disdancing

  • May 20, 2020 — July 29, 2020

Category: Dance, movement

Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM

While we can't meet in person on Wednesday evening, we'll be hosting a weekly zoom room starting around 8 pm on Wednesdays.

Most nights we'll just be hanging out, and sometimes we'll do something like have a theme or activity night or watch a live stream concert.

To avoid the "Zoom bombing" that's been occurring we won't be posting the link publicly. Message Aliceann Talley or one of the other organizers for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2608912812682374

Zoo Knoxville: Now Open

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Kids, family and Science, nature

Zoo Knoxville is reopening to the public on Monday, May 18, with carefully planned protocols to ensure the safety of their guests, staff and animals. The zoo closed to visitors on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In accordance with the City of Knoxville and Knox County COVID-19 Reopening Phase 1 plan, Zoo Knoxville is open for passive outdoor use only, which means no indoor areas or interactive experiences like rides and animal encounters can be offered at this time. Playground areas, including the splash pad, will also remain closed in this phase.

To control the number of guests in the zoo daily, advance purchase timed entry tickets are required. Circle of Friends members and annual passholders will continue to receive free admission but will be required to make a reservation online for a timed entry on a specific date.

The zoo has added more than 30 additional hand sanitizing stations throughout zoo grounds and restaurants have modified their ordering and delivery systems to minimize contact.

Zoo Knoxville asks all guests to take the safety of other visitors, zoo staff and the animals seriously by following CDC recommendations:
• Wearing a mask or face covering
• Washing your hands and using hand sanitizer stations throughout the zoo frequently
• Maintaining 6 feet of physical distance between groups
• Using ground markings and directional signs to maintain safe distancing in areas where people may gather
• Staying home if you are sick or in a high risk group

To show appreciation for the outpouring of care and support during the closure, Zoo Knoxville will be offering tickets at a reduced price of $14.95 for adults and $11.95 for children ages 4-12 and seniors over 65. Ages 3 and under are free. The zoo will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. beginning May 18, 2020. Tickets and entry times can be purchased and reserved online.

Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-637-5331, www.zooknoxville.org

1 of 2