Calendar of Events

March 21, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Take an evocative journey into Earth’s diverse aquatic habitats where life thrives in the most extraordinary conditions. This unprecedented performance event features internationally renowned contemporary ensemble, CORDIS, performing a brilliantly orchestrated water-based score by acclaimed composer Richard Grimes. The music unfolds amidst spectacular aquatic imagery both on-stage and screen. Condition Blue represents the first in a multi-phase recording and touring project in which CORDIS will explore the creative sonic and visual possibilities water, fire, and earth in an effort to raise awareness of our planet and its precious resources.

Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

“THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR: A VISUAL WALK INTO THEIR WILD LIVES”
IN-PERSON PROGRAM AT UT ARBORETUM

Being so close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it seems we have a fascination with bears. Come to the UT Arboretum Auditorium on Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 p.m. for an educational presentation about the American black bear by renowned photographer Chris Norcott. This very popular program is free but seating is limited, so people must RSVP in advance to “The American Black Bear.” RSVP at http://utarboretumsociety.org/. The UT Arboretum is located at 901 S. Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Norcott has spent more than a decade observing and studying black bears in the wilds of the Great Smoky Mountains. Over the past few years, he has been filming black bears for production companies and networks to be shown on wildlife documentaries. He currently has a video on Netflix and will soon have his work featured on the Discovery Network and NBC. He spends much of each year hiking off trail in the backcountry observing the wild and secretive lives of black bears. He photographs the bears’ rarely seen habitat and documents the behaviors of these beautiful animals. Norcott will be showing his images and sharing stories of their family relationships and survival in the wilderness.

To learn more about the Arboretum Society or for questions on this program, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org

The Tennessee Artist’s Association will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 Northshore Dr., Knoxville. This meeting is free and open to anyone interested in the arts in East Tennessee. Current Covid guidelines will be followed. Refreshments will be served.

The program will feature Michaelanne Collins, an artist who specializes in floral and angler art. Collins’ work comes from her passions of fly fishing and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains. Using a combination of hand-made paper collages, acrylics, palette knives and fluid art canvases, Collins creates unique artwork that captures the movement, feeling and excitement of nature. Collins’ work has been shown locally at the Emporium Gallery, Clayton Center for the Arts, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and other locations. Collins’ artwork can be found at Etsy.com under M3cDesignsart. Additionally, inquiries about her work can be sent to m3cdesigns@gmail.com.

Tennessee Artists Association - A place to learn and grow as an artist. Monthly programs of TAA include practical art demonstrations, discussions, and opportunities for individual artists to get involved in learning, community and shows More on the Tennessee Artist’s Association can be found on the web at https://tnartists.org, on Instagram at @tn_artists, and on Facebook at TNArtistsAssociation. More info: tennesseeartistsassoc@gmail.com

Tuesday, March 21 at noon at the Sarah Simpson Center, 801 Tipton Avenue

The following week, we’ll be at the Knox County School system’s Sarah Simpson Center, adjacent to historic South High, to talk about South Knoxville, our favorite subject this year. We’ll be sharing several things we know, but also asking you to share what you think should be included in a thorough history of Knoxville’s most surprising quarter—and, if you have any, please do bring photographs, memoirs, and other memorabilia. You can keep them, of course, but we’d love to have digital copies of unpublished photographs of South Knoxville and South Knoxvillians from other eras; if we use them in the book, we’ll credit you forever. Following the program, we invite you to tour the Knox County Museum of Education, which showcases the history of local schools through yearbooks, histories, displays and memorabilia. Free program. No registration necessary.

Knoxville History Project: 865-300-4559, www.Knoxvillehistoryproject.org

INCOGNITO: A PLAY
By Michael Fosberg
Starring Michael Fosberg

March 21, 2023~7:00 PM at The Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay St
Knoxville, TN 37902

We invite you to attend and hear the story of a man who learned an uncomfortable truth about his life. He was in his thirties. The story will encourage you to dialogue with others about uncomfortable truths in life. You will be encouraged to start or join a dialogue group.

Registration required: Seating available at www.asoutherncityspeaks.org. Your seats will be held until 6:45 the day of the performance. Unfilled seats after that time will be released on a first come, first served basis.The performance will begin promptly at 7:00 PM. The Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir will perform inspiring songs and a call to dialogue about difficult concerns.

This is a partnership between Church of the Ascension, Beck Cultural Center, Knox Opera Company Gospel Choir, One Hundred Black Women, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Register online at https://onrealm.org/TheEpiscopalChu48978/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZTJlZjFiNzktNDhkOS00ZTE0LWI3Y2UtYWZiMzAxMjY5M2Vm

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023 AT 6 PM – 8:30 PM

Join Ijams and the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association for a night of traditional Appalachian tales, classical stories from foreign lands, contemporary fiction, personal narratives and more as part of the World Storytelling Day on March 21! This year's theme is “Together We Can.” Considering worldwide events, storytellers across the globe feel the need in society to come together and move forward together, building community and inspiring change.

Featured storytellers for March 21, 2023 at Ijams are: Jim Eastin, Fred Goddard, and Stephen & Susan Fulbright. Doors open at 6 pm, stories begin at 7. Tickets for this event are $10 for adults, $5 for kids (ages 5-12). The Ijams Beer Garden and concession area will be open all evening. This event will be held inside the Visitor Center. If the weather is beautiful, the event will move to the back patio.

The Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association comprises folks who love telling, listening to, and rejoicing in our rich heritage of stories. For more information, find them on Facebook or check out www.smokymountaintellers.org.

Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1409594229778276/

ZOE BRESTER-PENNINGS, SARAH BERNSTEIN, HALEY TAKAHASHI
Reception: Friday, March 24, 5-7pm

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, and to defend their work during an oral examination in front of a faculty committee. Due to the number of graduate students enrolled in the UT School of Art, these exhibitions generally take the form of small groups of students presenting concurrent solo exhibitions in the gallery space.

Art and Architecture Building, Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture: A+A 115
1715 Volunteer Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37996
http://ewing-gallery.utk.edu
865-974-3200

At West Jackson Armature

Sunday, March 19th~2-6pm: Giant Flag Making
Monday, March 20th~4-7pm: Parade Art Workday
Sunday, March 26th~2-6pm: Kids & Family Make n’ Take
Monday, March 27th~4-7pm: Parade Art Workday

We’ll be hosting maker space at the Cattywampus Clubhouse during the days leading up to the Big Ears Festival for community members to help us work on big puppets for the parade, as well as make their own art to carry. We’ll have cardboard, paint, and some additional supplies available for making giant cardboard flats, flags, and noisemakers. Feel free to bring your own projects already in process. All ages are welcome! Masks are encouraged.

https://www.facebook.com/events/167712759391765/167712772725097/

Opening Reception SUNDAY MARCH 19, 2:30 PM – 4 PM

During this reception, Ric Kasini Kadour will present a Curator's Talk. In addition to any artists in attendance, we will be joined by artists in the Folklore & Collage Residency taking place that week at the museum. If you plan to attend the opening event, please RSVP to Christopher Byrne at info@kolajinstitute.org. After the opening, we invite you to join us and the residency artists at Marble City Market for dinner and/or drinks at 6pm.

Kolaj Magazine is a quarterly, printed, art magazine reviewing and surveying contemporary collage with an international perspective. The publication explores collage as a medium, a genre, a community, and a 21st century art movement. Critical reviews and essays are cut and pasted with artist profiles, event highlights, and articles on techniques and materials. Kolaj is published in Montreal, Quebec by Maison Kasini.
http://kolajmagazine.com/content/

ABOUT "MYTHICAL LANDSCAPE: SECRETS OF THE VALE"—
“The peaceful valley,” wrote William Wilson in 1904, “appears to have had a peculiar attraction for beings supernatural; and for generations its bosky glens and leafy braes have been the reputed haunt of ghosts, fairies, witches, and other beings of an uncanny kind. This sweet, pastoral vale in its nine miles course can boast of scenery unequaled in its quiet beauty, possessing in its woods and waters, its hazelly glens and green-clad hills, everything that can contribute to the making of the finest landscape, while to increase the charm it abounds in the most romantic tales of byegone days.” Sanquhar is a village on the River Nith, up from Dumfries, down from Glasgow, a former Royal Burgh, home to the world’s oldest working post office and the oldest curling society. The Crichton Family ruled the land from the time of Robert the Bruce until they threw such a lavish party for James VI and I in 1617 that they went bankrupt. A monument in town is dedicated to Covenanters who fought against government interference in religious affairs. A forge on Crawick Water made shovels and other tools. A carpet factory boasted fifty-four working looms at the height of production. Saint Bride’s Church, the Tolbooth, sheep grazing the fields, the castle ruins, rabbits in Queensberry Square. What stories does this mythical landscape hold? “Mythical Landscape: Secrets of the Vale” is an exhibition by an international group of artists, all of whom traveled to Sanquhar to investigate a sense of place and make artwork that speaks to the rich history and folklore of the region. Artworks reference stories from the past (true or otherwise) and consider the history of the region. Many of the works were shown at MERZ Gallery during Sanquhar’s Festival of Folklore, 22-25 September 2022. The artwork will be the subject of a film by David Rushton and used to illustrate a forthcoming, abridged version of William Wilson’s 1904 book, Folk Lore and Genealogies of Uppermost Nithsdale.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tu-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

In the CBT Lab Theatre

No men. No boats. All adventure! In this true(ish) retelling of the 1869 Grand Canyon expedition, a one-armed captain and a crew of loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River.

Behind the Scenes Sunday will take place following the March 19 following the matinee. A Talk Back will take place Sunday, March 26th following the matinee. The Open Captioned performance is Sunday, April 2nd at 2:00 pm.

Ashlee Latimer (Director) is a writer, producer, and director focused on creating work that supports and celebrates young people of all ages.

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

Come to Ijams during the month of March to view Melanie Fetterolf's collection, which features watercolor, acrylic and 3-D metal mesh works. The beautiful colors of nature are her inspiration for these creations!

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

Details TBA

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