Calendar of Events

Zoo Knoxville is hosting family-friendly “Craft Bear Nights” featuring craft beers from local breweries, a food truck and an Octoberfest-inspired menu from their own chef. Craft Bear Nights are from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. each Thursday in September.

Selected craft beers from local breweries will be available for purchase all day and at 5:00 p.m. a food truck arrives and special menu items will be offered at the zoo’s restaurants. Wine, other beer selections, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase.

With 53 acres to explore, the zoo offers guests plenty of space to safely distance while enjoying the weather and wildlife. The Fuzzy-Go-Round Carousel, Zoo Choo Train, and Clayton Safari Splash will also be open, weather permitting.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, brews from Pretentious Beer Co. and Albright Grove Brewing Co. will be featured along with Captain Muchachos food truck. On Thursday, Sept. 17, Albright Grove Brewing Co. and Next Level Brewing Co. will be featured along with Penne For Your Thoughts food truck. The zoo’s special menu for both nights include an Octoberfest sausage trio, Guinness bratwurst, wienerschnitzel on a stick, three- cheese spätzle, cheeseburgers, and giant Bavarian pretzels. Visit the zoo’s web site at zooknoxville.org or the zoo’s Facebook page @zooknoxville, for updated information on featured food and drinks.

“We are trying new ways to make the zoo available and enjoyable for our guests,” said Lisa New, President and CEO. “We also want to help the local breweries who have supported us with our fundraising events. When we saw that many of our zoo colleagues in other cities were hosting evenings like this that are safe and fun, we knew we wanted to offer that to Knoxville.”

A general admission ticket is required for ages 4 and up. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Annual passholders and Circle of Friends members get free entry and parking. All food and beverage are an additional purchase and valid I.D. is required for beer and wine purchases. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at zooknoxville.org or at the front gate.

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

Pellissippi State Community College's Business and Community Services is offering virtual music classes this fall. These noncredit classes are open to the public.

Anna Uptain is teaching virtual classes in guitar, mandolin, ukulele and banjo. She is one of Pellissippi State's lifelong learning instructors who has embraced the opportunity to teach virtually. While Uptain had taught virtual private lessons prior to this year, teaching group classes over the computer has been a new experience.

Uptain is teaching six virtual classes this fall:
• Beginner Ukulele: Tuesdays, Sept. 8-Oct. 13
• Quick Pickin' Mandolin: Wednesdays, Sept. 9-Oct. 14
• Not Your Traditional Guitar: Thursdays, Sept. 10-Oct. 15

• Advanced Ukulele: Tuesdays, Oct. 20-Dec. 1
• Beginner Guitar: Thursdays, Oct. 22-Dec. 3
• Dueling Banjos: Wednesdays, Oct. 21-Dec. 2

Uptain's classes are designed to help people learn quickly. Knowing time is a luxury when juggling work and other responsibilities, her classes meet one night a week for six weeks. The key to taking a virtual class, Uptain said, is to come into the class with an excitement and willingness to learn. Uptain's classes are open to ages 13 and older. You do not need to know how to read music or have any musical background or experience.

Registration for fall classes is open now: 865.539.7167 or www.pstcc.edu/bcs

Explore the Knoxville Museum of Art’s collection of rare miniature rooms in this fascinating virtual tour. The KMA’s nine Thorne Rooms, each inspired by a different historical period, were created by Mrs. James Ward Thorne in the 1930s and 40s and were among the museum’s earliest acquisitions. You’ll get close enough to appreciate the tiniest details of these antique miniatures, and go behind the scenes to learn about the technology that illuminates and preserves these treasures. You’ll learn the fascinating story behind Narcissa Thorne’s obsessive passion for miniatures and how she created these 1-inch-to-12-inch scale models of historic interiors.

The Thorne Room collection was gifted by IBM in 1962 to the Dulin Gallery of Art, which later became the Knoxville Museum of Art. The 2007 restoration of the Thorne Rooms was made possible by the generous support of Sherri Lee in honor of Mrs. McAfee Lee.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-525-6101, https://knoxart.org/kma_events/thorne-rooms-virtual-tour/

The WordPlayers of Knoxville presents a Staged Reading of Loving, a one-act play with music, by Peter Manos.

LIVE PERFORMANCES:
Sept. 6 @ 6:30 PM – Erin Presbyterian Church (Outdoors), 200 Lockett Rd.
Sept. 11 @ 7:30 PM – Central Bearden Church, 6300 Deane Hill Dr.
Sept. 12 @ 2:30 PM – Central Bearden Church, 6300 Deane Hill Dr.
Sept. 13 @ 6:30 PM – Erin Presbyterian Church (Outdoors), 200 Lockett Rd.
Sept. 14 @ 7:00 PM – The Square Room, 4 Market Square

Actors and audience will be socially distant. Masks required indoors. Free admission. Donations appreciated.

LIVE STREAM PERFORMANCE
Saturday, Sept. 12 @ 2:30 PM EDT
If you wish to view the Live Stream, please contact us via email at wordplayers@comcast.net and we will send you a link and password.

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

Richard Loving, a white man, loved Mildred Jeter, an African American woman. Virginia state law prohibited inter-racial marriage. When state authorities found out Richard and Mildred had married, they were arrested and put on trial. In addition to a large fine, the Lovings had to leave the state or serve a 25-year jail sentence. They appealed their case. Finally, in 1967, the US Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, ruled unconstitutional Virginia's interracial marriage law.

Interweaving folk music from the Virginia hills, with the Loving’s story of romance and struggle, the play celebrates the triumph of love over prejudice and hate. (Length app. 60 minutes. Suggested for ages 13+)

The WordPlayers is a 501(c)3 theatre organization based in Knoxville, TN. Loving is sponsored by Leslie A. Hull, Attorney & Mediator and Brad Croisdale, Realty Executives.
Facebook: The WordPlayers
Twitter: @wordplayers
Instagram: wordplayers

Mary Bell is the Art Guild’s Featured Artist for September. She will be honored at the Fun and Wine reception on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the Plateau Creative Arts Center (PCAC), 451 Lakeview Drive in Fairfield Glade. Attendees should wear masks and practice social distancing. Wine and soft drinks will be served outside only, weather permitting. Free & open to the public.

Also on display is a special themed exhibit, “Women’s Suffrage Centennial.” This theme incorporates artwork (in any medium) that was inspired by the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. Achieving this women’s right-to-vote milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle, for victory took decades of agitation and protest.

Mary Bell, watercolor and pastel artist, notes that “As a realistic painter, I enjoy capturing the beauty of the world around me.” Spending most of her childhood and working life as a “Jersey girl,” Mary attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art, majoring in commercial art and then working for many advertising agencies in northern New Jersey. After her children were grown, Mary was able to devote more time to her watercolor and pastel painting, attending many workshops presented by famous artists. Seascapes, landscapes, and animals have always been her favorite subjects. Spending lots of happy times on the Jersey Shore, many of Mary’s paintings reflect her love of the ocean. In 2000, Mary moved to Fairfield Glade, where she immediately joined the Art Guild and has been an active, contributing member ever since!

The changing monthly displays at the PCAC include a wide variety of art mediums: painting, drawings, photography, ceramics, wood creations, glass mosaics, jewelry, fabric creations, card art and much more! The artwork is available for purchase.

Hours: Mon-Sat 9 AM - 4 PM. Art Guild at Fairfield Glade at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive, Fairfield Glade, TN 38558. Information: 931-707-7249, www.artguildfairfieldglade.net

Featured artists are Brenda Mills, painting and Harriet Howell, silk painting.

Hours: Tue-Sat 11 AM - 6 PM, Sun 1-6 PM
Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net

September at the UT Downtown Gallery

Large scale prints and drawings by Prince will be on display in the UT Downtown Gallery during the month of September.

The UT Downtown Gallery is open Wednesday – Friday from 11am – 6pm and Saturdays from 10am – 3pm. When visiting the gallery, please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Virtual Events
In conjunction with the exhibition, Prince will present several activities on Zoom and Instagram Live, including:
Saturday September 12: Watercolor Monotype Demonstration from the UT School of Art Printshop, 2pm.
Sunday September 13: Gallery Talk from the UT Downtown Gallery, 4pm. This event will also be broadcast from the gallery's Instagram Live. Follow the UT Downtown Gallery @utkgalleries.
Thursday September 17: Artist Lecture, 7:30pm.
See https://www.facebook.com/UTDowntown/ to register.

During his time on campus, Prince will work with faculty and students in the School of Art Printmaking Program in the creation of a large woodcut and a stone lithograph. His exhibition is co-sponsored by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and his campus visit is supported by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement and the UT School of Art.

UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-673-0802, https://downtown.utk.edu

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 4-25, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM to which the public is invited to attend at 75 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

Robert Felker and Allen Monsarrat paint recognizable subjects, drawn from the world around them, often featuring scenes of Knoxville or other travels. For both artists, the play of light in a chosen scene is a priority and highlights their adeptness within each’s chosen medium. Strong compositions draw viewers in; Felker and Monsarrat’s brush work is markedly different, providing a contrast between the two artists' unique approach to painting.

Robert Felker has a BFA in Media Arts from the School of Visual Arts, New York City where he studied painting and illustration. After seven years as a freelance illustrator, he then worked in graphic design for more than twenty years while continuing to paint for himself and do commissions. He now paints full-time, focusing on personal work for exhibition and commissions. He also pursues public art opportunities, recently completing the Clinch Avenue Firefly Mural for the City of Knoxville and the Bijou Theatre’s 111th Anniversary Commemorative Mural. Visit his website at https://robertfelker.com and follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/robertfelkerart and Instagram at www.instagram.com/robertfelker_art.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Open Wednesdays from 9 AM – 5 PM and other days (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) by appointment only. Info: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 4-25, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM to which the public is invited to attend at 75 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

To promote the awareness of Seven Islands State Birding Park as a premier birding destination, this exhibition features a selection of images from among the more than 200 species of birds that have been sighted at the Park. The photographers, Ken Jenkins, Ron McConathy, and Clay Thurston represent the finest nature/wildlife photographers in the Knoxville region, and their art is a reflection of the beauty that is on display at Seven Islands Park on a daily basis. The Park encompasses 46 acres along the French Broad River in Knox County, approximately 19 miles east of Knoxville. This peninsula of land features more than eight miles of nature trails, rolling hills, and views of the Smoky Mountains. Songbirds, hawks, and waterfowl may be seen along the meadow trails, and several old barns are a favorite refuge for Barn Owls. For more information on the Park, visit www.7islands.org.

Ken Jenkins: www.kenjenkins.com
Ron McConathy: www.aronsha.zenfolio.com
Clay Thurston: www.claythurston.com

https://www.friendsofsevenislands.com/birds-of-seven-islands-exhibit/

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Open Wednesdays from 9 AM – 5 PM and other days (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) by appointment only. Info: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 4-25, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM to which the public is invited to attend at 75 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

With these works, Tracye Sowders has endeavored to push the boundaries that encourage our Oneness with the Universe.

My work is influenced by discovery through travel geographically or mindfully. When I am able to travel, I seek the golden thread of sheer existence that binds us all to one another. I seek the silk that weaves us together with nature; I paint about the light that settles in our souls, and the idea that there is a natural touchstone for all of us. When I am able to travel, my psyche is so enriched by the diversity of cultures rich in honor, hope and tranquility. I seek the water, always, and all nature. I watch all the different souls, souls like mine that are full of wanderlust.

Tracye Burnett Sowders is a prolific painter in various media including watercolor, oils, pen and ink, alcohol inks, and oil pastels. She is also a calligrapher, hand quilter and needle worker, illustrator, and pianist. She studied art and music therapy for children on the autism spectrum at Carson-Newman University. After raising three sons, she returned to her original medium of watercolor and now exhibits regularly throughout Knoxville, Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Nashville, and parts of New England including Manhattan and Staten Island. Her original watercolors, oils and quilts are in private collections all over the United States, Australia, Canada, Scotland Wales, Ireland, England and New Zealand. She regularly participates in various festivals and exhibitions across the southeast and New England. Currently, Sowders and her husband are working on plans for a mobile art gallery. Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tracye.sowders and Instagram at www.instagram.com/TracyeBurnettSowdersArtist.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Open Wednesdays from 9 AM – 5 PM and other days (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) by appointment only. Info: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 4-25, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM to which the public is invited to attend at 75 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

Ryan-Ashley Anderson will showcase a series of pieces featuring links that are created with unexpected materials in unexpected ways.

The foundation of my work is exploration and self-expression. As a jewelry-maker and artist who loves fashion and textile design and draws inspiration from architecture and pattern, I am in a constant state of curiosity and discovery. I ask myself questions such as “how can I use this technique in an unexpected way?” and "how can I push this material further?” My mixed media jewelry incorporates pre-fabricated textiles, textile strips I have created by stitching beads together, leather, cord, rope, and metal.

Ryan-Ashley Anderson — maker, marketer, designer, and DIY instructor — is a television show host and jewelry designer at JTV for their Jewel School programming. She loves designing with unexpected materials and utilizing traditional techniques to create modern designs. She has over 15 years’ experience designing and showing jewelry, teaching DIY workshops, and designing jewelry tutorials. Before Jewel School, Anderson worked as a guest designer with Jewel, Madewell, and Bonnaroo, and she continues to pursue her passion for helping makers build their businesses by serving as a guest speaker and marketing coach at summits and conferences. In her spare time, you can find her gardening, enjoying the outdoors, cooking, taking on handy projects around the house, hanging with her precious pets, and spending time with her church family. Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ryanashleyanderson and Instagram at www.instagram.com/ryanashleyanderson.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Open Wednesdays from 9 AM – 5 PM and other days (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) by appointment only. Info: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 4-25, 2020. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00 PM to which the public is invited to attend at 75 people at a time. All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition.

David A. Johnson: The Standard Knitting Mill: A Love Letter
The Standard Knitting Mill is an old garment factory that sits empty on the west side of the Parkridge neighborhood. In its heyday, it produced one million underwear garments per week, employing over 3,500 Knoxvillians. David A. Johnson, a former photojournalist, lives just two blocks from Standard Knitting Mill and spent over three years documenting the abandoned factory and producing more than 1,400 images. His new exhibition explores the tarnished beauty of the Standard Knitting Mill.

David A. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism from the University of Texas. He worked in Arkansas and Texas for six years before returning to college to study engineering. David worked at Oak Ridge National Lab for 30 years before retiring in early 2020. Although he left professional photography years ago, David has never ceased to be fascinated by the visual world and continues to capture its beauty and mystery in photographs.

Christopher Mitchell: Film Photographs Printed from a Personal Darkroom
I believe in conversations. I often reach out to strangers because I am interested in meeting someone new. In this way, photography can act as a form of dialogue: a picture in exchange for some shared knowledge about everyday life, whether it's a conversation with a local fisherman or a beautician at a rural salon. Now, with so much interaction taking place online and mediated across great distances, I use my photography to return to a space that is rooted in real conversations happening in real places. The places I am drawn to are usually overlooked: places that people no longer frequent as much. A laundromat or a diner, a train station or an elk lodge. A version of Americana that is less about the iconic and more about ways of life that no longer exist or are on the cusp of disappearing altogether. I want my body of work to preserve an otherwise ephemeral moment, to slow down time, and, ultimately, to say, thank you for letting me take your picture.

Christopher Mitchell has had a camera in his hand from a very young age. Inspired by his father who worked with TVA as a photographer and filmmaker for 27 years, taking photos comes naturally. Raised in the era of film photography, he gravitates toward and loves spending time in the darkroom developing and printing. Over the last ten years, he has directed and done cinematography for hundreds of television episodes, earning an Emmy nomination in 2016. Visit his website at https://christopher-mitchell-ra4h.squarespace.com and follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/photographerchristopher.

The Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. Open Wednesdays from 9 AM – 5 PM and other days (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) by appointment only. Info: (865) 523-7543 or www.knoxalliance.com