Calendar of Events

On Demand: April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17

By Chelsea Marcantel

“In a word, dazzling…”

Prepare to have your face melted by Shreddy Eddy, Golden Thunder and the reigning champ, D Vicious, at the National Air Guitar competition! Nina, a real guitar player, enters the competition thinking it will be a cinch to take the championship. She soon discovers she has a lot to learn. A tribute to good friends, killer rock classics, and the joy of letting go.

Broadway On Demand purchase and viewing: https://clarencebrowntheatre.com/airness-2021/

UT students will receive an email to their UT email address on April 1st with the promo code to obtain their free ticket to view Airness on Broadway On Demand.

The Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture is pleased to present the first group of three MFA Thesis Exhibitions. In partial fulfillment of their graduation requirements, students pursuing the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree are required to mount a solo exhibition of work. These exhibitions take the form of small groups of students presenting concurrent solo exhibitions in the Ewing Gallery.

April 8 – 15, 2020
Erin Wohletz
Quynh Nguyen
Kate Clark

The Ewing Gallery is open Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm. Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

On behalf of the entire Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission we would like to welcome you and invite you to join us for our Upcoming Commemoration. In 2021 we will observe our 39th Annual King Week Celebration. Our 2021 theme, A LEGACY OF RIGHTEOUS PURPOSE: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUALITY - A MUST REALITY, is attributed to the Dream and the Dreamer who affirmed, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars".

Since 1982, the MLK Commission has been organizing a special celebration each year for the Knoxville area to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The weeklong celebration focuses on providing education and leadership training for adults and youth and promotes reconciliation through peaceful conflict resolution. Part of the celebration also includes stories of racial struggles with emphasis on non-violence, equality, and love.

We have a sundry of MLK activities to celebrate the national holiday on Monday, January 18, 2021. We invite you to join us for as many events as your schedule will allow:

Wednesday, January 13 (Via Zoom) - INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE
Monday, January 18, 2021 (Via Zoom) - COMMUNITY FORUM – OAK RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL PEACE ALLIANCE
Saturday, March 27, 2021 - TEACHER IN-SERVICE TRAINING
Thursday, April 8, 2021 (TBD) - LEADERSHIP EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM, LEADERSHIP/AWARDS LUNCHEON
April 11, 2021 (TBD) - MEMORIAL SERVICE
Sunday, April 17, 2021 (TBD) -YOUTH SYMPOSIUM
Sunday, April 18, 2021 (TBD) - NIGHT OF THE ARTS TIRBUTE/KSO
June 19, 2021 (TBD) - MLK PARADE & JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

http://www.mlkknoxville.com/2021-mlk-list-of-events/

Thursday, April 8 at 6:00 pm

Harry Ijams (1876-1954) was a talented commercial artist, who during his career captured many aspects of Knoxville life in his artwork. Although known for the nature center that bears his family name, he was also a regional naturalist, conservationist, and an advocate for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ijams’ connections were remarkable, including the Tennessee School for the Deaf, Boy and Girl Scouts, and the conservation movement both here and in the mountains. . Through recently-discovered examples of his artwork plus vintage photographs and newspaper accounts, Paul James will present a fresh look at Harry Ijams’ life and work.

Register for these online programs at: https://knoxvillehistoryproject.org/events/

Union Ave Books and Choice Health Network Harm Reduction welcome Robert Gipe to present his newest novel Pop. Robert will be joined in conversation by Lesly-Marie Buer, author of RX Appalachia. This free virtual event takes place on Thursday, April 8th @ 6:30pm (Eastern) on Zoom. You MUST register at the following link to attend.

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtfuCorz0uG9XE5_cbAfV0ZagaeeTf3OcQ

In the tradition of Gipe’s first two novels, Pop’s Appalachia is full of clear-eyed, caring, creative, and complicated people struggling to hang on to what is best about their world and reject what is not. Their adventures reflect an Appalachia that is overrun by outside commentators looking for stories to tell about the region—sometimes positive, sometimes negative, but almost always oversimplified.

Robert Gipe lives and works in Harlan County, Kentucky. Pop is his third Ohio University Press novel. His first, Trampoline, won the 2016 Weatherford Award for Appalachian novel of the year. His second novel, Weedeater, was a Weatherford finalist. For the past thirty years he has worked in arts-based organizing and is the founding coproducer of the Higher Ground community performance series. He has contributed to numerous journals and anthologies, is a playwright, and is currently a script consultant on a forthcoming television show based on Beth Macy’s Dopesick.

Lesly-Marie Buer is an activist and public health practitioner at Positively Living/Choice Health Network in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her work on substance use and harm reduction has appeared insuch publications as Boston Review, the Journal of Appalachian Studies, and North American Dialogue. Her book, RX Appalachia: Treatment and Survival in Rural Kentucky, focuses on women's encounters with substance use treatment in rural Central Appalachia.

Small groups of 35 people or less may make a reservation for an unguided group visit during museum hours - admission is always free.

Current hours: Wed-Sun 1-5 PM
Special arrangements may be made for school groups between 10 AM - 12:30 PM

Ask for one chaperone for every 15 students. More info: https://knoxart.org/kma_events/museum-tours/

In the Art Studio, class size and/or open studio gathering size is limited. All people inside the PCAC building should wear face masks and practice social distancing!

Open Studio – Come enjoy our studio space. The studio may be used every day during operating hours when no other class or event is scheduled. Members and guests are both welcome, $5

TUESDAY, APRIL 6
Smorgasbord Class: “Mobius Flower Earrings,” with George Gallant. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Cost is $20 for both members and guests. Number of students: minimum is 4, maximum is 8.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13
Paint Along with Sam Hill, watercolor demonstration class, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Cost is $20 for AG members or $25 for guests. Students should bring their own watercolor supplies. Number of students: minimum is 4, maximum is 9.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15
“Chain Maille Jewelry, the Ripples Bracelet,” with George Gallant. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Registration and materials cost (including a $25 materials fee) is $55 for members or $60 for guests. Number of students: minimum is 2, maximum is 6.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16
“Watercolor 101, for Beginners,” with Vera Bogle. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Registration and materials cost (including $5 materials fee) is $35 for members or $40 for guests. Number of students: minimum is 4, and maximum is 8.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20 (in person at the Plateau Creative Arts Center and also on Zoom)
Monthly Members Meeting: 9:30 a.m. In-person attendance will be limited due to social distancing.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21
Project Discussion, a bi-monthly artwork review session. Assess the artwork of participants and/or selected artwork in the gallery. The facilitator is John Anderson. 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. FREE and open to the public. Bring your artwork or just observe the session.

THURSDAY, APRIL 22
“Wire-Wrapped Natural Stones and Shells,” with Susan Smathers. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Registration and materials cost (including $5 materials fee) is $35 for members or $40 for guests. Number of students: minimum is 4, maximum is 8.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
Life Drawing, with Dena Whitener, 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. A live model will be available for artists to sketch. Bring your sketch pad, media of choice, and camera to capture the pose. Cost is $5 model fee.

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

Instead of our usual large event downtown, Chalk (Your) Walk will take place on neighborhood sidewalks, driveways, and community spaces all across Knoxville from April 3rd - 12th! The competition is open to individual artists and families throughout Knoxville and the surrounding counties (100 mile radius of Downtown Knoxville).

The first 500 artists/families who register for the event will receive a free 48-count box of Koss Chalk Pastels to create their artwork! Everyone can participate in the event by chalking at home and sharing your work on social media, but you must register online by Friday, April 2nd in order to be eligible for awards. A panel of judges including civic leaders, professional artists, and art educators will review the submissions and award cash prizes and free art supplies to select artists in each age division.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://www.dogwoodarts.com/chalk-your-walk-registration

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

We are excited to announce Pippin Long as our featured artist for the month of April! All paintings are one of a kind originals, and prints of the works will be available as well. Please join us for the show opening and to meet Pippin from 6 to 8pm.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we will be limiting our capacity to 6 customers at a time and requiring masks covering the nose and mouth be worn inside at all times. Thank you for helping us stay safe!

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/6d76QZ0lu
Artwork: https://shoprala.com/collections/pippin-long

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com. Instagram: @ShopRala

The Art Guild at Fairfield Glade will host a Fun and Wine Opening Reception for the Members’ Judged Art Show on Friday, April 2 from 5 - 7 p.m. Eye Centers of Tennessee is sponsoring this show and providing the awards.

Bryan Wilkerson, Professor of Art at Roane State Community College, will judge the entries. Winners will be announced to the public at 6 p.m. during the April 2 reception. This event is free and open to the public. Browse through eye-catching displays of paintings (watercolor, oil, pastels, colored pencil, acrylic, mixed media), photography, pottery, jewelry, woodwork, and more! All artwork in the gallery is available for purchase. Unique gifts can also be found in the Art Guild’s new retail space, “Endless Possibilities, Fine Arts and Crafts.”

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

April Featured Artists

Lynn Straka, Jewelry
The pieces that I make are adornments created to produce joy to the wearer. Designs influenced by nature, they may invoke a memory, affirm a belief, or be an extension of the wearer’s playful personality.
The common denominators of my pieces are texture and exercise in technique. Whether it is from hand stamping designs or words, forging, creating 3 dimensional forms through the jewelry hydraulic press, or impressing texture onto metal with a rolling mill, each piece has it’s own one of a kind personality. The materials that I use the most are sterling silver, copper, and bronze, with accents of semiprecious stones or glass enamel. Some of these materials are recycled or repurposed metal items that I have altered to incorporate into my pieces. Typically, they are finished with an antiqued or aged patina to highlight their texture.

Pamela Salyer, Mixed Media
The variety of colors, textures and patterns produced in the natural world are endlessly fascinating. I use mixed media collage to interpret those colors, patterns and textures and the relationships between them. This series of work looks under the surface: what do we see—or think we see—when peering into bodies of water, probing beneath the surface and admiring the beauty, complexity, and mystery that we find there.

Each work starts with a base collage, containing elements that mean something to me: geological maps, chemical symbols, poetry, botanical drawings, sheet music, etc. Each one is unique. I build up the collage with acrylic paint, paper and acrylic gels, layer by layer, creating new ways to consider the textures and colors of the natural world. I enjoy experimenting with different techniques and materials, always looking to push my art in new directions.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-6, Su 1-6. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net, www.Facebook.com/ArtMarketGallery

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from April 2-30, 2021. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, April 2, from 5:00-8:00 PM. All visitors to the Emporium are required to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works will be for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store.

Yvonne Hosey is an artist who works in a variety of media: glasspaint, acrylic, watercolor and scratchboard. She is inspired by her travels and blogs about them. This is her fourth exhibition at the Emporium, with the inaugural Glasslike Surfaces debuting in August 2016. She continues to explore glasspaint as a medium as well as portraiture using friends and strangers she has observed. Like most artists, Yvonne Hosey’s journey has been a winding one. Discouraged as a young woman from pursuing a career in art, Hosey opted instead for a career in nursing. Marriage and family followed. The creativity refused to stay buried as she became an avid cook, decorator, and collector. Her travels always included trips to art museums and exhibitions. When her son started high school, they moved to a house with a sunny back porch. “One day I discovered a pack of old oil pastels, bought a few sheets of paper, and commandeered the porch,” says Yvonne Hosey. “I haven’t looked back since.” www.roosterscrowart.com

The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed Monday, April 5. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.