Calendar of Events

Knox County Public Library is pleased to announce the return of Outdoor Storytimes this fall. This September and October, the fun continues outdoors with stories, rhymes, music, and movement. The weekly programs range from Baby Bookworms to pajama events in the evening. Families are welcome to bring a blanket and/or chairs to comfortably enjoy the program. In the event of inclement weather, the Storytime will be canceled or rescheduled. They will not be moved indoors.

Schedule:

Bearden Branch: Family Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 8 through Oct. 27)

Burlington Branch: Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 8 through Oct. 27)

Farragut Branch:
• Family Storytime Kickoff at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10
• Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Mondays (Sept. 13 through Oct. 25)
• Ready, Set, K! Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays (Sept. 14 through Oct. 26)
• Baby Bookworms at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 15 through Oct. 27)
• Toddler Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays (Sept. 16 through Oct. 28)
Howard Pinkston Branch: Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 8 through Oct. 27)

Karns Branch: Family Storytime at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays (Sept. 7, Sept. 21, Oct. 5, Oct. 19)

North Knoxville Branch: Preschool Storytime at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 20)

Norwood Branch:
• Baby Bookworms at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 8- Oct 27)
• Toddler/Preschool Storytime at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 1- Oct 27)
Powell Branch:
• Baby Bookworms at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays (Sept. 8- Oct 27)
• Preschool Storytimes at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays (Sept.3 - Oct 29)
• Pajamarama Storytime at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7
Sequoyah Branch: Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays (Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 21)

www.knoxlib.org

On the morning of Wednesday, September 8, we'll launch the Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK at Knoxville’s Ijams Nature Center.

Ellen Reid — 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Music winner and Oak Ridge native

The work consists of music composed by Reid specifically for the project — recorded by her own all-star ensemble, as well as the renowned Kronos Quartet. Accessible on your smart phone by downloading a free app, the work uses GPS to unfold and transform as a listener wearing headphones walks through Ijams’ network of trails.

Conceived to be installed in multiple cities simultaneously, Reid launched her initial SOUNDWALK in September of 2020, in conjunction with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, mapping the entirety of New York’s Central Park. Other presentations of SOUNDWALK have now been offered in Los Angeles at Griffith Park and in San Francisco at Golden Gate Park, among other locations. Now, Reid is excited to bring a SOUNDWALK to her native East Tennessee.

https://bigearsfestival.org/news-soundwalk/

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Call for Visitor Center hours. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Smorgasbord Class: “Embossing Metal Jewelry,” with Marcia Everitt, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
“Nuno Felted Cowl” with instructor Cindy Stroud, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

FRIDAYS, SEPTEMBER 10, 17, & 24 (three class sessions)
“Yupo Paper, the Next Frontier” with instructor Deanna Magdich, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 14, THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, TUESDAY, SEPT. 21, & THURSDAY, SEPT. 23 (four class sessions)
“Beginning Watercolor: Bluebirds & Blackberries,” with instructor Sheryl Reeser, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. On Sept. 14, 21, & 23, the sessions will be from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Sept. 16 session will be from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
“Painterly Painting, the Magic of Nature” with Debbie Toney. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Chain Maille Jewelry: “Spirit of Halloween,” with George Gallant. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
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. September’s model is Judi Miller.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
“Felt Jewelry” with instructor Cindy Stroud, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
“Beginning Acrylic Pour” with instructor Claudia Kirkpatrick, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
“Felt Clutch” with instructor Cindy Stroud, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

Located at 451 Lakeview Drive in Fairfield Glade (off Peavine Road). 931-707-7249 or www.artguildfairfieldglade.net

Opening Sept 3rd 6:00-9:00 p.m.
From Sep 4 - Nov 5, enjoy an ongoing 24/7 window display

New Works by Broadway Studios Artists. Chloe Melton, Melinda Adams, William Holbert, Larry Blount, Vincent Drake, Pat O’Neil, Jeremy Logan, Jessica Gregory, Anne Freels, Sam Stapleton, Jes Distad and Nancy Rowland-Engle.

Featuring Paintings, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Ceramics, Jewelry, Photography, Corn shuck dolls, herbal products and more!

All visitors are required to wear a mask and maintain distancing guidelines.

Broadway Studios and Gallery, 1127 Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Hours: Fri-Sat, 10-6, by appointment, or when the "open" sign is illuminated. Information: 865-556-8676, www.BroadwayStudiosAndGallery.com and https://www.facebook.com/broadwaystudiosandgallery/

The Frutos Latinos Contest and Group Exhibit
Opening Fri Sep 3, 5-9 PM at the Emporium

Featuring local Latino/Latinx artists displaying artwork at Casa HoLa that celebrate their cultures and traditions. This event, called Frutos Latinos, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM). Visitors to the gallery can vote for their favorite pieces in person and on-line at this page.

On September 15th, the Frutos Latinos exhibit is moved to the Knoxville Museum of Art to mark the beginning of Hispanic Hertiage Month where it remains until October 15th. On this first day of HHM, HoLa invites members of our organization, city and county officials, corporate sponsors, and recipients of HoLa scholarships to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and the role HoLa has played in promoting Latin American arts and culture within our community. Any HoLa members are welcome to join in this catered event from 5pm-8pm at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

HoLa Hora Latina’s Casa HoLa Art Gallery and Artisan Gift Shop, Bottom floor of the Emporium for the Arts (corner of Gay and Jackson streets in downtown Knoxville), 100 South Gay Street, Suite 112, Knoxville, TN 37902

Then, on display at the Knoxville Museum of Art from Sep 15 - Oct 15. Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Information: 865-335-3358, www.holahoralatina.org

Oil painter Randy Halvorsen is the Art Guild’s Featured Artist for September, 2021. He will be honored at the Fun and Wine Friday Reception on September 3rd from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.

Randy’s paintings will be on display along with the monthly members’ gallery artwork exhibit. September will also feature Art Guild members’ special exhibit, Self Portraits. The public is invited to come and enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, meet Randy and other artists, and view a wonderful variety of artwork.

Randy grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended school in the suburbs. During his senior year of high school, he explored painting in oils, and discovered it was an effective outlet for expressing his moods and emotions. Life got in the way, and the hustle and bustle of a busy schedule left little time for painting. In 2017, Randy and his wife, PJ, built a home in Crossville and joined the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade. Randy finally had the time to return to oil painting, taking lessons from the late Angel Fernandez, artist and Art Guild member. Coupled with reading books about painting, Randy’s passion for oil painting was restored, and he learned the value of painting what he wanted his viewers to see, not what was literally there for anyone to see. He now has an art studio, and the time to express himself through the beauty and flexibility of oil painting. Randy appreciates the support he’s received from Art Guild members in his pursuit of expressing himself through art.

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

September Featured Artist
Gary Dagnan – Painting
Patricia Herzog - Ceramics

First Friday Reception: September 3, 5:30 – 9:00 pm

Gary Dagnan, Painting
Gary is a Knoxville native who has been creating paintings over 50 years. His inspiration comes from the mountains, lakes and structures of East Tennessee where he gets inspiration from light and colors that come from distinct seasons of the South. Included in this exhibit, are new still-life oil paintings that explore the beauty of simple objects. “I want my paintings to express the emotional and spiritual connection that I have with nature. I am more interested in the aesthetics than I am with documenting a specific place. When someone views my art, I would hope they would have an emotional as well as visual connection to the work.”

Patricia Herzog, Ceramics
Patricia has been working as a studio potter since graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1978 with a Master of Science Degree in Ceramics. Her hand built functional work often reflects her passion for color, texture, animal imagery and universal patterns in nature. She uses a white stoneware that is fired in an electric kiln to approximately 2200 degrees. Her small sculptures are influenced by the Cycladic art of Greece and the Mesoamerican art of the Olmec, Aztec and Maya civilizations. They are sometimes fired in a raku kiln, a primitive kiln using sawdust, or an electric kiln, all in an effort to achieve various results that enhance the clay’s surface. "Patricia hopes that by having a connection to the past while working in the present will give her work a sense of humaneness in this digital and media driven world.

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

Join us for a First Friday gallery opening on Friday, September 3, from 5pm-8pm.

Houston Vandergriff’s images have been described as “colorful,” “reflective,” and “inspiring.” Through his photographs he shares his love for travel and his eye for beauty. The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words has a special meaning for Houston. Because of the low muscle tone from Down syndrome, sometimes his speech is difficult to understand. By skillfully using his camera Houston is able to share his view of the world without actually saying a word.

When Houston was born every doctor that appeared had worse news: unable to breath, jaundice, low muscle tone, hole in his heart, open heart surgery, Down syndrome. Each specialist cited their own long list of things he might never do. They never imagined by the age of 22 he would travel to all 95 counties in Tennessee, to 48 of the United States, to 6 Canadian provinces, and to 24 countries. Houston’s award-winning photography has been featured in publications, awards shows, and galleries all over the world, including SONDER and Neurobrilliant magazines, “Markings” Publishing in Pakistan, “My Perspective” in England, and the Inspiration Gallery in Scotland. Defying all the doctor’s predictions, Houston is a strong self- advocate and dedicated student behind the camera. He earned his Certificate of Photography in 2019 after completing 160 hours of study through the University of Tennessee Non-Credit and Professional Programs. He also received the Advanced Photography Certificate in June 2020.

Houston inspires others, both inside and outside of the disability community. He pushes for inclusion using the arts and creative world. By sharing his gift of photography he is also sharing the gift of hope. Houston’s life shows that disabilities don’t define the person; the person defines the ability. He expresses his passion for life in the arts. He is a globe-trotting photographer and advocate. Houston’s untarnished love for people shines easily through his Down syndrome, touching people’s hearts in ways few others could. https://www.t21project.com/stories/houston
Instagram: @DOWNSANDTOWNS
DOWNSANDTOWNS.COM

Be sure to practice social distancing as we host this free event. Be sure to mark your calendar! The Knoxville Community Darkroom, 127 Jennings Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. www.theknoxvillecommunitydarkroom.org
Viewing hours by appointment: theknoxvillecommunitydarkroom@gmail.com

Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for artists Debbie and Marc of Master Repurposers Friday, Sept. 3, from 6-8 pm.

As young kids, Debbie and Marc, learned the importance of finding value in all of the things around them. “This perspective on value has, at its surface, ingrained in us the importance of concepts like recycle, reuse, and repurpose, but at its core, it has taught us to see the intrinsic value in items that have been discarded or are expendable. With this in mind, we focus our creative energies on utilizing all manner of objects in our work, and in many cases, the reused items will drive the design of a given piece.” For example, their Mixed Media pieces contain an endless selection of interesting items, from vintage buttons and antique game pieces to old saw blades and slate roofing tiles.

Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Info: 865-951-0427 or https://www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

ALABAMA ABSTRACTIONS: PAINTINGS BY BILL DOOLEY AND ALEX MCCLURG

Reception: September 3, 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Join us for a First Friday reception for Alabama Abstractions, paintings by William Dooley and Alex McClurg. Bill Dooley serves as the director of the Moody Gallery at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Alex McClurg received his MFA in painting and drawing from the University of Tennessee in 2013 and is currently head preparator at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

All events at the UT Downtown Gallery are free and open to the public.
Masks are required. Thank you for working to keep our community healthy!

Open Wednesday - Friday 11am - 6pm and Saturdays from 10am - 3pm. UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 3-24, 2021. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 3, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features an outdoor concert by Knoxville Opera musicians. 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.

The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (NEW!). CLOSED Mon Sep 6.

Chroma is a new exhibition featuring work by two local artists who both use intense color.

Diana Ferguson, known to the art community as ‘DiFergi’, is an internationally recognized and awarded visual artist. Graduating with a degree in Fine Art from Stetson University, she taught for eight years in the public school system before she went full time as a studio artist. One of the highlights of her career was being invited to and attending a month-long artist residency in Hungary. She has shown on multiple continents and has had work shown at the United Nations Building in Switzerland. Her work has been featured in national and international shows and in multiple publications, and she is an active advocate for the arts today in East Tennessee. DiFergi’s paintings are whimsical and spiritual. The images are simple yet profound. They are narratives that create small worlds of enigmatic moments. Strong emotional colors imbue the canvas with layered meaning, and combined with a dash of silliness, her work requests that you stop, reflect, and experience her world.

Facebook: DiFergi's
Instagram: difergiart
https://difergi.blogspot.com

A staple in the Knoxville Arts community, Kit Hoefer has shown her work in Knoxville for almost two decades beginning with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Over the years, her paintings have evolved into a rich exploration of color theory and composition. She juxtaposes natural forms with manufactured patterns while considering the delicate balance of loud, expressive colors. Her paintings attempt to nullify the associations attached to the objects depicted, juxtaposing them with fantastical elements and a touch of absurdity. One might recognize the mundanity of everyday life while being swirled into the hypnotic patterns inserted into the composition. This element of escape mirrors the artist’s practice of managing life as a working artist, full time nurse, and single mother.

The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from September 3-24, 2021. A free reception with the artists will take place on Friday, September 3, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features an outdoor concert by Knoxville Opera musicians. 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.

The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (NEW!). CLOSED Mon Sep 6.

This new exhibition features acrylic paintings, oil paintings, skateboards, custom shoes, and handmade resin figurines.

Cody Swaggerty is a self-taught artist with an interest in art since childhood. In college, he briefly studied multimedia and graphic design. In his mid-20s, he rediscovered more traditional art when he started his first canvas paintings, which then turned into larger paintings, murals in Strong Alley, and other opportunities for paid work for area businesses. Swaggerty has done work for local CrossFit gyms, Knox County Schools, and the City of Knoxville. Recently he has focused on creating works for an online store where he can continue to make and sell art while having more time for his family. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, seeing his childhood friends, and riding through Knoxville in his vintage VW bug.

The foundation to my work is chasing my curiosity and excitement for art. There is nothing I enjoy more than creating and trying to progress my artwork. I try to be well-rounded, working in murals, molding and casting sculptures, canvas paintings, graphic design, and more. One recurring theme in my work is a plentitude of color; being a child of the 90s, I always seem to be drawn towards a brighter color palette when creating.

Instagram: cswaggerty
https://www.facebook.com/cody.swaggerty

The exhibitions are on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.