Calendar of Events

Join the Fun! While the traditional fair is not happening this year, the fair fun will continue!

On Friday, Sept 11th we will be offering a Fair Food To-Go event from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the area which is usually Kiddieland. We have 5 great local food vendors that will be participating.

On Saturday, Sept 12th the Junior Dairy show will be held at the barns. In addition, the state cornhole tournament will be going on in Patriot Circle beginning at 10:00 AM. Fair Food To-Go will also be offered from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

The Cotton Candy Classic 5K Virtual Edition will be held how until September 20th. Here is a link to sign up regardless if you are a runner or not: https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Knoxville/CottonCandyClassic. The Cotton Candy Classic directly supports the Fair Foundation, so please sign up and spread the word. When you sign up, you get a really neat t-shirt!

On Friday, Sept 18th we will be offering a Fair Food To-Go event from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the area which is usually Kiddieland. We have 5 great local food vendors that will be participating.

On Saturday, Sept 19th the Junior Beef show will be held at the barns. Fair Food To-Go will also be offered from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

Please check on the Fair’s website for other great events. We will also be offering a virtual Fair everyday day on the website with segments from the Marvelous Mutts, how to grow the perfect vegetable, and others.

During fair week, we will be sharing ag facts, fair trivia, virtual competitions, and more! Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/tnvalleyfair and https://www.tnvalleyfair.org/p/about/2020-fair-events

It's time for the second performance in our Virtual Concert and Lecture Series. Today, we have organ lecturer Edie Johnson performing the Finale from Symphony No. 1 by Louis Vierne.

To view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9QUFE6d4uU

These videos will also be available on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.
https://www.facebook.com/UTKSOM
https://www.instagram.com/utksom/

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

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/

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