Calendar of Events

Opening Friday, October 7, 5-9pm

“Cute AF” will feature ceramic works by Kendra Barth, painted wooden cutouts by Beth Meadows, and several collaborative pieces by both Knoxville artists. The idea for this exhibition began several years ago when Beth noticed shared themes of Cuteness between their bodies of work. She envisioned a distinguished gallery setting to house their most adorable pieces entitled “Cute AF” as a nod to some of their more subversive themes. At its heart, the intent of this show is to delight. To learn more about each artist, you can follow @blanketfortstudio and @bethmeadowsart on Instagram.

Beth Meadows is an artist living and working in Rockford, Tennessee, just outside of Knoxville. She received her BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Drawing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2007. She has been making and selling artwork ever since, inspired by dark humor, high end design, and a fascination with mixing high and low art. She explores themes of aspirational living, new vs. old, folk vs. academic art, the power and struggles specific to women and mental health.

Kendra Barth is an Artist and Ceramicist living and working in Knoxville TN under the name Blanket Fort Studio. Kendra creates funky handmade ceramics and sculptures that showcase her unique childlike, colorful and illustrative style. Her work often explores themes of nature, surrealism, and of humor. She was born in Mcallen, Tx and received her BFA from West Texas A and M. She now lives and works in beautiful Knoxville TN with her Partner Andrew and daughter Hazel.

Gallery hours are Fridays in October, 5-9pm or by appointment.
Contact: beth@bethmeadows.com

RED Gallery, 130 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-524-0146 or https://www.facebook.com/REDgalleryKNOX/

BOO! at the Zoo is Knoxville’s largest Halloween event featuring several nights of not-too-scary Halloween fun perfect for preschool and elementary-aged children. A Halloween tradition, BOO! at the Zoo is a family event featuring trick-or-treating along the BOO! Trail, where little trick-or-treaters can fill their bag with goodies as they make their way through the zoo.

New this year, we have TWO Member Nights: Thursday, October 6th and Wednesday, October 12th.

Star Wars Nights, Princess Nights, the Monster Mash Dance Tent, our Wildly Fun Scientist and more are all back this year!

BOO Dates:
Thursday, Oct. 6 (Exclusively for Zoo Knoxville Members)
Friday, Oct. 7
Saturday, Oct. 8
Sunday, Oct. 9
Wednesday, Oct. 12 (Exclusively for Zoo Knoxville Members)
Thursday, Oct. 13
Friday, Oct. 14
Saturday, Oct. 15
Sunday, Oct. 16
Thursday, Oct 20
Friday, Oct. 21
Saturday, Oct. 22
Sunday, Oct.23

https://zooknoxville.org/event/boo-at-the-zoo-2/

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

The WordPlayers of Knoxville opens its 2022-23 season with “Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins” by Stephen Temperley. Performances are Oct. 6, 7, 13 & 14 at 7:30 PM and Oct. 9 & 16 at 2:30 PM at Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd., Knoxville. Tickets, $22 for adults and $18 for students, are available online at wordplayers.org and at the door. For more information, please call 865-539-2490.

Florence Foster Jenkins, one of the world’s most famous society eccentrics, suffered under the delusion that she was a great coloratura soprano when she was, in fact, incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. Nevertheless, her annual recitals in the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton brought her extraordinary fame. As news of her terrible singing spread, so did her celebrity. The climax of her career was a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1944 which sold out in two hours. “Souvenir,” by turn hilarious and poignant, tells her story through the eyes of her accompanist, Cosme McMoon. McMoon initially regards her as little more than an easy way to pay the rent, but, as he gets to know her, his contempt for her gives way to reluctant admiration, then friendship and affection.

Website: www.wordplayers.org
Facebook: The WordPlayers
Twitter: @wordplayers
Instagram: wordplayers

A collection of new and old works
http://www.sarablairphotography.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sarablair_photonart/

Ijams Visitor Center Hallway Gallery

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

Celebrating 25 years!
See all the cool swag we have as a thank you gift for your donations!
www.wdvx.com/support

WDVX has been going strong for 25 years with the support of East Tennessee and beyond. Thanks to everyone who attended a WDVX event or volunteered to help us! The effort of the WDVX staff and volunteers continues to rise. We appreciate all of your support during this critical time. We know we can do it with the support of East Tennessee’s Own listeners, businesses, volunteers and contributors!

Help us continue our mission to create and provide content to promote the cultural heritage of East Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region by entertaining and educating audiences globally with original programs showcasing live radio performance, under-represented arts, and emerging and local talent.

Open Show 2022, our annual juried exhibition for all artists in all media, will be October 1 through November 27.

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

The 7th annual Tennessee Medieval Faire invites you to travel back in time to 500 AD where you can “Live the Age of Chivalry.” The festival will open on October 1 and run for three consecutive weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. This outdoor, interactive, family-friendly event will be held just west of Knoxville -- in Harriman – only 30 miles from Turkey Creek.

Patrons are encouraged to come to the festival with a sense of play and adventure. The new activity this year will be axe-throwing. Wearing a medieval costume is optional, but patrons are encouraged to dress up and enter the costume contest to win a prize. Patrons can also get knighted after the chess matches and compete in yard games in Medieval Olympics. For the more romantic, folk dancing and speed courting are available. There will also be a goat petting zoo, corn hole, giant chess, steel drum, and other games available.

Throughout the eight-acre medieval village professional entertainers will also perform on many stages. The Royal Joust will be brought to you by Debracey Productions. Human combat chess will be played by the street characters, where the players are the chess pieces and fight to take over the squares. Comedy stunt shows will be performed on different weekends by Tony the Tosser, the Flaming Ginger, Lords of Adventure, and Two Noisy Knights. Patrons can also enjoy Celtic music from The CrossJacks, Kris Colt, Thunder and Spice, and Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers. For the young at heart, there will be numerous interactive folk and fairy tales and other comedy shows. Entertainment schedules will be posted online and will be available at the entrance on show days.

Adding to the festivities will be a variety of juried craft vendors, selling period costumes, accessories, and unique gifts. Food will be available for purchase, including turkey legs, BBQ, bread bowl soup, and desserts. Hot and cold beverages will also be available (including beer for adults 21+ years of age with a valid photo ID).

The Tennessee Medieval Faire will be open rain or shine. The dates are October 1-2, 8-9, 15-16. Hours are 11am-6pm ET. The festival is located at 550 Fiske Road, Harriman, TN. Free field parking is provided, with handicap parking available near the entrance. The grounds consist of semi-rugged terrain with grass and some topography.

Admission prices include all taxes and fees and are $20 for ages 13 and older, $10 for ages 5 to 12, and free for ages 4 and under. Tickets may be purchased in advance online with this link https://darkhorsellc.ticketspice.com/tennessee-medieval-faire-2022. Or, tickets may be purchased on festival days at the ticket house for cash or credit. There will be no ATM onsite, so patrons are encouraged to bring cash for purchases, tips, and convenience.

There is no public camping onsite, but motel discounts are available at Baymont Inn and Suites and Travelodge in Harriman by calling 865-882-5340 and mentioning the Medieval Faire.

For more information, please visit www.TMFaire.com, sign up for the e-newsletter for discounts, and like and follow the Tennessee Medieval Faire on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tennesseemedievalfaire

Friday evening, September 30th, will mark the 24th consecutive year that Maple Lane Farms will open its Corn Maze and other “agritainment” activities that include tractor-pulled hayrides (daytime and nighttime), pumpkin picking, inflatables for the kids, corn hole, food vendors, photo ops, sunflower fields, and other wholesome family fun to the public! Now booking weekday school groups and weekend private parties.

The Maze is located at 1126 Maple Lane in Greenback, just 14 miles south of Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport.

The Maze is open weekends from September 30 through October 31. The Haunted Maze begins NIGHTLY October 21 through October 31. Opening hours are the following:
- Friday 6pm to 10pm
- Saturday 10am to 10pm
- Sunday Noon to 6pm
- Haunted Maze Opens nightly, 7pm-10pm, October 21-31

Special Features this year include:
- Barn Store Collectibles including Fall/Halloween Decorations, Straw Bales, Cornstalks
- Food and Beverage Vendors
- Evening campfires in the Maze Fairway near our Covered Tents
- Private Parties via Tent Reservation with Fire Pit

Visit the farm’s website at www.TNMapleLaneFarms.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/tnmaplelanefarms/ www.Instagram.com/MapleLaneMaze/ or call 865-856-3511

September 23 - October 9: THE LITTLE PRINCE by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar

In River & Rail Theatre Co.'s first-ever Theatre for Young Audiences production, we get to bring one of our favorite children's stories to life. When a world-weary aviator finds themself stranded in a strange new world, the friendship and guidance of a small child enables them to shed what is not useful and pay attention to the life and beauty before their eyes. The Little Prince takes on an imaginative and playful perspective, reminding us all what it is like to look at the world through children's eyes again. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

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

A new exhibition featuring architectural work by Chris Cornelius of studio:indigenous opens in the Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture Wednesday, September 21. This exhibition, organized by UT’s College of Architecture + Design, will run through October 21.

Click to read an interview with Chris Cornelius.
https://www.dwell.com/article/chris-cornelius-studio-indigenous-9ff7b49d
https://www.studioindigenous.com/

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

Butterfly Foray and Monarch Tagging at Seven Islands State Birding Park

Enjoy the wonder and beauty of flying flowers as we search the park for monarchs and other butterflies. To help scientists understand the monarch migration, we’ll put tracking tags on the monarchs we’re able to catch. Kids of all ages are welcome. We’ll start at 1:00pm with a brief explanation of the monarch migration and its importance. We’ll take a short hike (1-2 miles) through the park to find butterflies and tag as many monarchs as we can. Butterfly nets will be provided, but if you have your own, feel free to bring it. Please note that monarch populations and migration patterns vary. On any day we could see many, few or none. No matter how many we see, we’ll learn about why monarchs and other butterflies are fascinating, their importance and how we can help them. Sturdy shoes and water are recommended.

Location: Seven Islands State Birding Park
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Fee: $8 per person
Ages: All

Advance registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

2022 dates:
Saturday, September 17
Sunday, September 18
Saturday, September 24
Sunday, September 25
Saturday, October 1
Sunday, October 2
Saturday, October 8
Sunday, October 9
Saturday, October 15
Sunday, October 16

Ticket sales close 24 hours before the start of the program. https://zooknoxville.org/experience/monarch-tagging/

Extended through Oct 31

You can support Arrowmont through the Friends of Arrowmont Online Auction. This month-long auction presents unique arts and crafts by artists in the Arrowmont community. Each piece of art was created by a working professional artist who is showing their support of Arrowmont. Bring home one or more of the fabulous pieces of handcrafted artwork. Auction proceeds benefit Arrowmont and help ensure arts and crafts education is possible for people who otherwise might not be able to participate in a workshop.

Look for new artwork added to the auction each week and bid often to secure your favorite pieces. Thank you for supporting Arrowmont!

https://www.arrowmont.org/support/friends-of-arrowmont-auction/

The auction closes at 3:00 pm ET on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Items will be awarded to the highest bidder. Winners will be contacted after the auction closes. If you have any questions please contact Deborah Sosower, 865-436-5860 x 29, dsosower@arrowmont.org.

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