Calendar of Events

The annual James Agee Conference for Arts and Literature at Pellissippi State Community College will be held as the James Agee Online Reading Series this fall, after having been canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020.

“By rethinking the conference as an online reading series that will be available on YouTube throughout the academic year, we can reach a wider audience,” said conference founder Charles Dodd White, an author and associate professor of English at Pellissippi State. “We are encouraging instructors to use it in their classrooms, but the entire series is free and open to the public as well.”

White, whose 2020 novel “How Fire Runs” won a 2021 Independent Publishers gold medal for Best Regional Fiction – South, created the James Agee Conference six years ago to give Pellissippi State students an opportunity to attend a scholarly conference while also celebrating the literature, culture and arts of Appalachia.

While the online reading series continues in the spirit of the James Agee Conference, White noted that an online reading series allows Pellissippi State to expand the featured writers beyond Appalachia to the general Southeast. Their readings will be recorded, not live, and will include the authors’ thoughts on writing and publishing in addition to sharing from their books.

The three authors on tap this fall include:

• Crystal Wilkinson, Kentucky’s Poet Laureate and the award-winning author of “Perfect Black,” “The Birds of Opulence,” “Water Street” and “Blackberries, Blackberries.” Her reading will premiere Sept. 30.
• Ravi Howard, author of two books of fiction, “Driving the King” and “Like Trees, Walking,” which won the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. His reading will premiere Oct. 30.
• Jim Minick, author of five books, including “The Blueberry Years: A Memoir of Farm and Family,” winner of the SIBA Best Nonfiction Book of the Year Award. His reading will premiere Nov. 30.

For more about each featured author and the link to their readings, please visit www.pstcc.edu/events/ageeconference/.

FOR RELEASE ON: September 10, 2021
Contact: Zachary Greene
Phone: 865-585-1710
Email: zachary.greene@lmunet.edu

The 4.5th annual Mountain Fiesta will run from Thursday, September 30 to Sunday, October 3. The Mountain Fiesta is a local festival that strives to harmonize community and celebrate Latin American and Appalachian culture within the Cumberland Gap region. The logo of The Mountain Fiesta represents the spirit of the event. Corn, being central to both cultures (think tortillas and cornbread), is the centerpiece of the logo. The cornhusks in the logo contain Appalachian quilt patterns and indigenous textile patterns from Latin America.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the MacArthur Award Winner Baldemar Velásquez. Baldemar was invited to attend, educate, and perform folk music that animated decades of work protecting farmers and farm workers. He is an organizer who was raised by migrant workers and eventually founded the Farm Labor Organizing Community (FLOC). He has dedicated his heart and soul to helping farmers and migrant farmworkers achieve fairer contracts and increased securities. He formed a band, the Aguila Negra Band (Black Eagle Band), and has used all the earnings produced by the sales to fund FLOC.

Thursday’s musical performances include a female songwriter round-robin led by Carla Gover and Paulina Vazquez followed by the lively sound of the CornMaiz String Band. The main event, which is the Saturday street festival most people are familiar with, will include food, family activities and games, art and cultural exhibits, musical performances, free professional dance classes, and vendors of all kinds. Saturday’s eight-hour lineup includes local artists Michael Jones, Daniel Chumley, Caleb Carney, and the charming Danielle Tennessee. Coming from out of town are Baldemar Velasquez and the Aguila Negra Band, Appalatin, Wayne Graham, Joe Troop (of the Grammy-nominated band Che Apalache), and Dale Ann Bradley (Grammy nominee and 5-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year) as the closing headline act. Sunday morning in Berkau Park there will be a bluegrass and gospel “superjam” where many of the festival musicians will come together for a casual, old-fashioned pickin’.

J. Frank White Academy’s Spanish teacher, Zachary Greene, has organized this event for five years now with many generations of students by his side. The current festival organizers express their gratitude for the students who came before them. This year’s student organizers are Caleb Carney, Amanda Kotlar, Lilly Stubblefield, Jaymin Huddleston, Tony Collingsworth, Jacob Yeary, Blake Stoner, Micah Harrington, Cameron Tomfohrde, Charley Leach, Ryan Saylor, and Samuel Tompkins. Special thanks to recent graduates Tanner Brush, Olivia Nichols, and Patrick Moore, who planned the 2020 Mountain Fiesta that was cancelled due to COVID-19.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Zach Greene at 865-585-1710 or email zachary.greene@lmunet.edu
https://www.facebook.com/TheMountainFiestaCG/

PASS OVER by Antoinette Nwandu

Pass Over made its Broadway premiere this August, and River & Rail is thrilled to bring this powerful, poignant story to Knoxville audiences. Pass Over takes as its inspiration the classic play, Waiting for Godot, and the biblical Exodus story. It follows two young Black men, Moses and Kitch, who talk shop, pass the time, and hope that maybe today will be different. As they dream of their promised land, a stranger wanders into their space and disrupts their plans. Evoking heartbreak, hope, and joy, Pass Over crafts everyday profanities into poetic and humorous riffs, illuminating the unquestionable human spirit of young men looking for a way out.

We are excited to announce our inaugural season of 'Pay-What-You-Wish'!: You pay what you wish for the ticket to the show you're about to see! Whether that's $3 or $40 - your ticket price is truly up to you - our philosophy is: a ticket price shouldn't be a barrier to seeing our shows!
(Suggested Ticket Price: $25 - any amount over $25 is a tax-deductible donation.)

PREVIEWS: SEP. 29-30 @ 8PM

PERFORMANCES:
OCT. 1 @ 8PM / OCT. 2 @ 8PM / OCT.3 @ 2PM
OCT 6. @8PM / OCT. 7 @ 8PM / OCT. 8 @ 8PM
OCT. 9 @ 8PM/ OCT. 10 @ 2PM

Content Warning: Please be advised that 'Pass Over' contains frequent and extreme profanity. 'Pass Over' is recommended for ages 15 and up. Children under 4 will not be admitted. If you have specific questions or concerns about the content of the production, please contact our staff, who will be happy to provide more information.

River & Rail Theatre, 111 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-407-0727, www.riverandrailtheatre.com

Pickup date of Friday, October 15
Shop for new plants in the online catalog September 25-October 8

Fall is always a wonderful time for planting as it gives your plants time to establish great root systems for the spring. Due to continued concerns about Covid-19, the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Annual Fall Plant Sale will be online with the catalog open from September 25th to October 8th. The pickup date is Friday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge. Our plant sales are some of our biggest fundraisers of the year and help support the arboretum’s community education, trail improvements such as our Nature Book Trail, and children’s programs.

For two weeks, you can browse the selections of perennials, trees, and shrubs available from our vendors Tennessee Naturescapes, Riverdale Nursery, East Fork Nursery, and Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm. These vendors offer a wonderful selection of plants including unique conifers, both evergreen and native azaleas, hydrangeas, native shrubs, pollinator plants, and a wide variety of herbs to name just a few! Quantities are limited so we suggest early shopping! Beginning September 25th, log on to https://utas-plant-sale.square.site/ to shop and make payment. The catalog will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 25 and close at 5 p.m., Friday, October 8th. All payments must be made by credit card online in advance. No sales on the pickup day are possible.

On the check-out page you will be given the option to choose a pickup time on Friday, October 15th from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the UT Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. There are no Saturday pickups at the Fall Plant Sale. UT Arboretum Society members will have your plant orders ready for pick-up. This is a no contact pickup system. When you arrive at your scheduled time, you will come to designated pickup spots and your order will be loaded into your car.

This is an amazing opportunity that allows the public to shop for an extended period of time without gathering in large groups on one day. People will also have access to a wonderful selection of plants from four outstanding nurseries all at one online site.

To learn more about the Arboretum Society, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org. For more information on the plant sale, contact mcampani@utk.edu.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, https://www.arrowmont.org/visit/galleries/exhibition-schedule/

Hosted by Schulz Bräu Brewing Company
Schulz Bräu's 6th Annual Oktoberfest will be from September 18th - October 3rd.

Saturday September 18th
5:00am Doors Open to ticket holders
5:30am Live Music by Sande & Mike of the Knoxville Polka Kings
6:00am Barrel Tapping
BUY TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/schulz-brau-brewings-6th-annual-oktoberfest-opening-ceremony-tickets-168739198485

9:00am Doors Open to the public
12:00pm UT vs TN Tech
3:30pm Live Music by Smoky Mountain Oompah Band
7:30pm Masskrugstemmen (Stein Hoisting Contest)
8:00pm Live Music by LynnMarie and The Nashville Polka Guys
Special Menu by Schulzes Schnitzel Kitchen

Sunday September 19th
10:30am Frühschoppen: Oktoberfest Brunch
11:00am Live Music by Concord Brass
4:25pm Titans vs Seahawks
5:00pm Live Music by LynnMarie and The Nashville Polka Guys
8:30pm Masskrugstemmen (Stein Hoisting Contest)
Special Menu by Schulzes Schnitzel Kitchen

Follow these links for each weeks schedule:
Week 1: https://www.facebook.com/events/512740219847677
Week 2: https://www.facebook.com/events/593098608527072
Week 3: https://www.facebook.com/events/206876131292806

Come enjoy authentic German lagers, Bavarian decor, and all the Polka you can stand for this festive time of the year. Dirndls and Lederhosen encouraged!

The play will be performed Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM.

This production is designed for our youngest children and is a short production to allow for the attention span of our youngest musical lovers. (Ages 1+) This production’s run time is under an hour.

NOTE: We are currently asking all audience members to please wear a mask inside the theatre. Many of our participants are not old enough to be vaccinated. We appreciate your understanding.

Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS is a non-stop thrill ride of feline fun, complete with unbelievable twists and turns. In the heart of Paris, a kind and eccentric millionairess wills her entire estate to Duchess, her high-society cat, and her three little kittens. Laughs and adventure ensue as the greedy, bumbling butler pulls off the ultimate catnap caper. Now it is up to the rough-and-tumble alley cat, Thomas O’Malley, and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

September 16-October 10
Thurs-Sat @ 7:30, Sun @ 2:00

Two local legends team up for The Sunshine Boys at Flying Anvil Theatre. The classic Neil Simon comedy stars David Dwyer and Steve Dupree as the titular characters: two aging vaudevillians who reunite for one last show. Director Jayne Morgan says audiences familiar with the two actors are in for a surprise. “This is Dave and Steve as you’ve never seen them. They are creating characters very different from their own personalities. It’s been fun to see another side of these two beloved actors and a great challenge for them as well.”

Dwyer and Dupree play “Lewis and Clark,” top-billed vaudevillians for over 40 years. Now they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a “History of Comedy” retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs. The show was a hit on Broadway and revived several times with actors such as Dick Van Dyke, Walter Matthau and Danny DeVito.

Morgan says The Sunshine Boys was to be the theatre’s official grand reopening. “Instead, we’re still limiting seating and requiring masks. Plus, we’re joining the other theatres in town in requiring proof of vaccination or negative Covid test at the door. Keeping audiences safe is our highest priority.”

Rounding out the cast are Nick Silver, Yolanda Treece, Casey Kain, Ashley Guthrie Baker and Philip Brady. Randy Thompson is stage manager, set design is by Steve Krempasky, Jordan Vera designed lights and Virginia Baldwin is costume designer. Props and set dressing by Jordan McCready.

Tickets for The Sunshine Boys are available at www.flyinganviltheatre.com or on the theatre’s Facebook page. The show opens with a Pay What You Can preview on Thursday, September 16, and runs through Sunday, October 10. (There is a second Pay What You Can performance on Wednesday, September 22.) Tickets are $25 and $27, $13 for students.

Flying Anvil Theatre, 1300 Rocky Hill Road, Knoxville. Information: 865-357-1309. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram, @flyinganviltheatre

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

The University of Tennessee School of Art is hosting Navajo artist and University of Colorado Professor, Melanie Yazzie, September 20– 24, for a series of activities on campus.

Mapping Home / Collecting Truths: Works by Indigenous and International Artists, an exhibition organized by Yazzie with prints by 35 indigenous and international artists, addressing ideas of homeland and its intersection with the environment, climate, or other influences. https://www.colorado.edu/libraries/2018/10/08/mapping-home-collecting-truths-works-indigenous-and-international-artists

About her work Yazzie writes: “The Navajo Paradigm in which we create the world with our thoughts, grounds and motivates my work as an artist, as a teacher, an Indigenous person who is a member of the Navajo Nation, and asPoster for Mapping Home/Collecting Truth Showcase faculty of the University of Colorado. The key themes and processes central to my work include: outreach to rural communities on the local, national, and global level with Indigenous people, colonization, the idea of homeland, nature, the female archetype, and issues relating to health and safety. My intellectual, creative, classroom, and outreach is rooted in the fact that we learn from one another, through our shared experience in the practice of art-making, an ancient, sustainable way of both being in the world, and a way in which to live together, always in a state of learning. Of principal research interest is our diverse yet shared foundational, theoretical, and philosophical bodies of knowledge that express our connections to our homelands.”

On view in the Printmaking Showcase Gallery on the second floor of the Art and Architecture Building
UT Campus
https://art.utk.edu/melanie-yazzie-public-lecture-and-showcase/

Central Filling Station is Tennessee's first full-service food truck park! We are a family-friendly, dog-friendly neighborhood hangout featuring a daily rotation of the city’s best food trucks and craft beverages. Welcome to Knoxville’s most unique outdoor dining experience!

Wednesday & Thursday 5-9p
Friday & Saturday 11a-10p
Sunday 11a-9p

900 N. Central Street | Knoxville, TN
https://www.knoxfoodpark.com/
https://www.facebook.com/knoxfoodpark/