Calendar of Events

The tradition of oral storytelling will be celebrated this Black History Month at the Black Appalachian Storytellers of Tennessee Concert Saturday, February 25, at 1:00 p.m. at the McMillan-Reese Chapel on Knoxville College campus.

The concert will feature storytellers James “Sparky” and Rhonda Rucker, Linda Parris-Bailey and Kelle Jolly. Obayana Ajanaku, founder of Drums Up Guns Down, will provide African drum music.

The storytelling concert is the culminating project of local artist, Kelle Jolly. Kelle is a student in the Master of Arts in Communication and Storytelling Studies degree program at East Tennessee State University. She was inspired to present Black Appalachian Storytellers in concert after attending the National Association Black Storytellers (NABS) Conference in Baltimore, MA last November. “I witnessed Sparky being honored with a fellowship focused on Black storytelling in Appalachia, a region underrepresented on the national stage. Mother Linda Goss, one of the co-founders of NABS, is from Alcoa. It’s time to look for the leaders and learn from them.” The organizer hopes the event will build a bigger community of support for storytelling.

The storytellers all bring a wealth of talent and experience in performing. Sparky and Rhonda are multi-instrumentalists and storytellers who share stories of American life and social justice. They have recorded 10 albums together. Sparky's performing credits include the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the International Storytelling Festival as well as NPR's Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, and Morning Edition. Linda Parris-Bailey is known throughout the art world as Executive/Creative Director and playwright for the Carpetbag Theatre. Her story-based plays with music are focused on themes of transformation and empowerment. Her new plays Yankee Bajan and Flushing are scheduled to premiere in 2023. Kelle Jolly is known as “The Tennessee Ukulele Lady”. She frequently performs locally at festivals such as the Jubilee Festival at the Laurel Theatre and the Louie Bluie Festival in Caryville. She is the founder of the Women in Jazz Jam Festival and Ukesphere of Knoxville.

The concert is free and open to the public. Families are welcome. Audiences will enjoy everything from folktales to personal stories with music. Contact Kelle Jolly by phone at (865) 622-7174 or by email at jazzjamwithkj@gmail.com for more information.

An installation of Home by Kenzie Sink and Somerset Alley
The show will exhibit student artwork including painting, drawing, and sculpture elements.

Hours: Friday 5-7 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 1 PM
Gallery 1010, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 114, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: https://gallery1010.utk.edu/

Thursday, February 23, at 5:30 p.m.
Monday, February 27, at 5:30 p.m.

“Where did the hillbilly archetype come from and why has it endured on-screen for more than a hundred years? How does it relate to the exploitation of the land and people who live there? How do Appalachian and rural people view themselves as a result of these negative portrayals…?” [www.hillbillymovie.com]

In Hillbilly, two documentary filmmakers confront stereotypical depictions of Appalachian people and attempt to introduce their audience to a more nuanced, authentic understanding of the region.

Venue Details: John C. Hodges Library, Lindsay Young Auditorium, 1st floor
To attend the screening, RSVP to hodgessociety@utk.edu

Silas Reynolds is a self-taught artist from Morristown, TN, known for his bold and vibrant abstract paintings. He currently resides in Knoxville, TN, where he continues to create his energetic works of art. As a second-generation artist, Silas had a passion for creativity from a very young age and began drawing as a child. It wasn't until his mid-twenties that Silas commenced painting, and he quickly became captivated by the freedom of abstract expressionism, which allowed him to express himself in a unique way. He uses bold colors and shapes over multiple layers to create depth and texture, using acrylic and spray paint as his primary mediums. He draws inspiration from nature, fashion, and design and is influenced by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Alex Brewer. Silas believes that art is open to interpretation and encourages viewers to explore their own personal meanings and connections within his pieces.

Silas will be opening his show in our Guest Gallery this Saturday from 2 to 5pm. Come see his incredible work and hear his story of his work.

Hours: Friday through Sunday 11am to 5pm

Pivot Point Gallery, 15 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-248-0050, www.pivotpointgallery.com

February 17 - March 5: THE MOUNTAINTOP by Katori Hall

What was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. thinking about as he sat on his stiff, polyester-covered bed at the Lorraine Motel on his last night alive? Did he have any idea what was about to happen? What would he have wanted people to know about him? Katori Hall takes a stunning look at all of these questions and fills them in with brilliant imagination in her play THE MOUNTAINTOP. A speech, a storm, a visitation, a vision: how does a hero's journey end?

Tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-mountaintop-by-katori-hall-tickets-116042

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

The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Performances are Thu-Sun; tickets at https://knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/tc-events/beauty-and-the-beast/

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

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tue-Thu 10 AM - 4 PM. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartcenter.com

Broadway, 1957. An integrated theatre company gathers to rehearse a new play—the one they hope will be the next big hit on the Great White Way. Against the backdrop of misperceptions and stereotypes within the company, veteran actress Wiletta Mayer grapples with the choice between a once in a lifetime chance to play the lead role in a Broadway show, and the cost of compromising her principles. Alice Childress’ Tony-nominated masterpiece “Trouble in Mind” will play on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage. Born in 1916 and raised during the Harlem Renaissance under the watchful eye of her maternal grandmother, Alice Childress grew up to become first an actress and then a playwright and novelist.

UT students see all performances for FREE. UT faculty/staff receive a 15% discount. For tickets, please visit https://clarencebrowntheatre.com/plays/trouble-in-mind/.

The Pay What You Can performance, where patrons can name their own price, will be held Wednesday, February 8. Behind the Scenes Sunday will take place Sunday, February 12 after the 2:00 pm matinee. A Talk Back will take place Sunday, February 19 following the matinee. Deaf Night @ the Theatre, where all patron interactions including the performance is interpreted in American Sign Language, will take place Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 pm. The Open Captioned performance is Sunday, February 26 at 2:00 pm.

Clarence Brown Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information/tickets: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com

Featuring art by Richard Jolley, Tommie Rush, Andrew Saftel, Margaret Scanlan, Maggie Taylor, Kliszewski Glass, Jurgen Dopatka, and others!

Bennett, 5308 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: M-Sa 10-5:30. Information: 865-584-6791, https://bennetthome.com/

Rala is pleased to present local artist Annie Rochelle as our featured artist for the months of February and March! Her show "People, Plants, and Other Myths" continues her exploration of the intersection of culture and the environment. Please join us for the show opening on Friday, February 3rd from 6 to 8pm.

Annie Rochelle is a practicing artist working and living in her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Her artistic interests are divided: between draftsmanship and experimental abstraction; the challenging marriage of Old Masters’ techniques and traditional subject matter with contemporary aesthetics and social sensibilities. Her new interest in botanical forms have opened a new investigation into the relationships among human, artificial, and natural aesthetics. Annie Rochelle is also a two-time 1st place winner of Rala's Annual Dolly Art Contest.

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-6, Su 11-5. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com or www.instagram.com/ShopRala

Bob Stevens is the Art Guild’s Featured Artist for February 2023, and will be honored at the Fun and Wine Friday Reception on Friday, February 3 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Plateau Creative Arts Center. The membership special exhibit for February is “Books We Love.” The public is invited to come to this free event and enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, meet Bob and other artists, and view a wonderful variety of artwork. Light refreshments will also be served.

Originally from Illinois, Bob lived and worked in Atlanta, Georgia as an auditor, and later he went into computer programing and systems design. After retirement, Bob and his wife moved to Sparta, Tennessee to be closer to family. Bob always enjoyed doodling during meetings and his habit developed into drawing. After moving to Tennessee, he was drawing in a waiting room where he met artist, Eric Buechel. Eric invited him to one of his painting classes, and Bob has been painting ever since. Bob’s artwork features a wide variety of painting styles and subject matter, ranging from portraits to abstracts, still lifes to landscapes. He enjoys painting with acrylic, oils, air brush, glass and ink. Bob states, “I just like to put paint on stuff. Canvas, wood, glass, saw blades, ... My wife says I'm like the old lady who puts the hot sauce on everything.”

The artwork of Bob Stevens will be on display along with the members’ gallery artwork exhibit from February 3 through March 2. The Arts Center is open to the public Monday through Saturday during our winter hours which are from 10:00-2:00. All artwork in the gallery and in the Endless Possibilities Shop is available for purchase.

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

February Gallery Theme of HeART Works

Join us for the First Friday Reception, Feb 3, 5:30-9:00.

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