Calendar of Events

By John Cariani

“Sweet, poignant, and witty. Nearly perfect. ALMOST, MAINE’s charm is real. [It] packs wit, earns its laughs and, like love, surprises you.” —New York Daily News.

Friday-Saturday, June 23-24 at 7:30 and Sunday, June 25 at 3:00, at Theatre Knoxville Downtown (800 S. Central Street, Knoxville.)

http://www.freespirittheatre.org/

Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee 42nd Quilt Show & Competition
Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37912

Friday, June 23, 2023, 9am-5pm; Saturday, June 24, 2023, 9am-4pm

Daily admission, $10; 2-day pass, $15; Children under 12, free

More than 200 quilts on display. On Friday, Merikay Waldvogel, a nationally known quilt collector, researcher and writer, will present an antique quilt turning at 11am and 1 pm. Shop vendors and a boutique of unique items handcrafted by guild members. Scavenger hunts for the young ones. Quilt appraisals by appointment: contact certified appraiser Cindy Stuart at 865-386-0940. Free parking.

For more information, email info@smokymtnquilters.com.
www.smokymtnquilters.com or follow us on Facebook.

Cedar Bluff Branch: Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24, 10-5

Friends of the Knox County Public Library: 865-215-8775 or www.knoxfriends.org/

 ECO TONE
COURTNEY EGAN FEATURING COLLABORATIONS WITH NATORI GREEN

OPENING RECEPTION & MEET THE ARTIST
FRIDAY, JUNE 16 • 5:30-7:30PM • CASH BAR

Eco Tone is a show of Courtney Egan's botanically-themed, projected artworks from 2020 to present, including new pieces made in collaboration with artist Natori Green. Egan’s installations deliver an experience that is both pleasing and disconcerting. The ethereal projections–converging on walls, floors and sculptural elements, and occasionally interactive–are inspired by the growing frequency of human exposure to nature via computers or television. Egan creates stunning yet “subtly impossible, hybrid tableaus” that envelop the viewer in a conversation between memory of the natural world and a new experience with a plant or flower. Egan explains the fundamental irony of the experience, stating, “We get closer and farther away from the natural world simultaneously when we experience it through a technological lens.”

Courtney Egan is a New Orleans-based digital media artist, photographer, and naturalist who blends botanical art with sculpture and digital technologies. www.courtneyegan.net

FREE & Open to the Public!

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. Admission and parking are free.

Free and open to the public

Reception Friday, June 16, 2023, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Artist talk at 6:30 p.m.

In The Power of Water, Clinard focuses on the intensity and energy of waterfalls, waves and rivers. Her richly hued work is created by using watercolor in a loose and flowing manner and often on Yupo paper, which keeps the pigments on the surface and creates an intense, vivid result.

Lil Clinard is a landscape artist and watercolorist who has won three “Best of Show” awards in the Tennessee Artists’ Association Annual Juried Shows. Clinard is a signature member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society and Knoxville Watercolor Society, as well as a member of the American, National and Transparent watercolor societies. Visit her website for more information: www.WatercolorsByLil.com

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery hours: M-Th 10-3, Su 10-12:30. Information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org

Knoxville Children’s Theatre, in partnership with the Clayton Foundation will present a live production of “Tinker Bell.” A new, twinkling light shines on all the characters you love as J.M. Barrie’s story is reborn from this feisty fairy’s point of view.

The play will be performed Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM and 6 PM.

Everyone thinks they know Peter Pan. Until you have heard Tinker Bell’s side of the story, you really have not heard it at all! When all the fairies in Neverland start dying, Tinker Bell comes to London to find a friend. She meets a young boy there named Peter Pan who has just run away from his family so he can be a little boy forever and have fun. When Tink takes Peter to Neverland, all sorts of wonderful and amazing things happen: flowers grow, animals appear and pirates arrive. But as Peter brings more Lost Boys and the Darling children back to her island, Tink finds she doesn’t like sharing her friend with anyone else, and especially that Wendy girl.

The play is performed by 20 talented young actors and designed by 16 talented young designers from ages 8 to 18.

The show is directed by Artistic Director Dennis Perkins who is being assisted by student intern Maddy Grace Payne.

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

First Friday Receptions: June 2, 5-9pm; July 7, 5-9pm; August 4, 5-9pm

First Friday July will feature special performances by students from the UT School of Music sponsored by Knoxville Opera.

Curated by former Knoxvillian, Alex Gingrow, In We Trust asks us to consider what we trust without mandate and why. What are those systems and values we believe in? What do we accept, and what do we let go of? For Gingrow, trust leads to community and empathy. With this path forward, she has curated an exhibition of works with “magic moments, when we are transported beyond ourselves and made to think about the creator, and why they made the very choices they made.” In We Trust invites the viewer to “stumble into empathy - the building block of exchange and community.”

In We Trust features work by Alex Gingrow, Kyung Jeon, Jim Lee, David X. Levine, Makeda Lewis, Steve Locke, Audrey Stone, and Trish Tillman.

UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: W-F 11-6, Sa 10-3. Information: 865-673-0802, https://downtown.utk.edu

Howdy! It's the 5th annual Dolly Art Show!

Join us Friday, June 2nd from 5:00-8:00 PM for opening night. Our wall will be filled with art by nearly 40 local and regional artists who love Dolly as much as we do. Awards will be announced at 7pm, and Dolly art will remain on display through the end of July.

Rala may limit capacity of in-person attendees for the safety of our audience in regards to maximum occupancy requirements.
We encourage you to attend virtually if you cannot attend in person, and follow us on Facebook/Instagram for updates as we get closer to the event.

You can stream the awards ceremony by joining our Instagram Live @shoprala, or by visiting our YouTube channel to catch the live stream later (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh_tM87RUMyb6DmkJU3MifQ)

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/628793335793173/

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

Join us for the First Friday Opening Reception of 'Paper Garden' featuring work by Gabrielle Barnhart & Kate Buuck — Friday, June 2nd from 5-8PM.

• Address: 123 W. Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
• Exhibition on Display: June 2 - July 21, 2023
• Regular Gallery Hours: M-F | 10AM-5PM

A garden is a space in the earth formed for nourishment, beauty and wild delight. Inspired by the tender dedication of the gardener's hand, Paper Garden has become the terrain in which we explore, print, prune, paint, water and grow. The vibrant, flora-forward pieces of this show are artifacts from our own exploration and collaboration. Join us in this celebration of small moments.

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

Dale Soblo will be the featured artist for the month of June, and will be honored at the Fun and Wine First Friday Reception on Friday, June 2 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive. The public is invited to come to this free event and enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, visit with Dale and other artists, and view a wonderful variety of artwork. Light refreshments will also be served.

Art Guild member and artist, Dale Soblo presents his beautiful water lilies collection for public viewing. Dale reflects on water lilies and his water color paintings, “Water lilies arise from the depths, transforming a lake or pond into a floating garden. Ever since my youth I have seen magic, mystery, and danger in the still waters where they grow. Water lilies are beautiful, mysterious, and beguiling all at once. Monet also had a fascination with water lilies as his 250 or so paintings of them attest. The paintings of Monet I studied to create this collection spanned a period from 1910-1919. These 32 watercolor paintings are my impressions of Monet’s water lilies. The composition, color, and value of my paintings as well as the expression of human emotions are derived from studying Monet’s works. In his work I began to see the many conflicts and emotions he must have experienced during this time as he lost a son and WW1 was at his doorstep. The titles of my individual paintings are derived from the current locations of Monet’s originals.”

Dale’s training in botanical art started as an undergraduate at Eastern Michigan University making detailed drawings of plant anatomy, plant morphology, and trees and woody shrubs. During this time he took a course in botanical illustration at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Dale went on to earn a BS in Biology from Eastern Michigan University (1986) and an MS in Botany from Clemson University (1989). His interest in nature led him to work as a horticulturist at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, designing and managing nature preserves for The Nature Conservancy, and teaching at Washtenaw Community College, Clemson University, Midlands Technical College, and Spring Valley High. As a teacher he developed an arts-based curriculum for biology and environmental science classes that taught students to use drawing and watercolor painting as ways to carefully observe and record the natural world.

The paintings of Dale Soblo will be on display along with the members’ gallery artwork exhibit from June 2 through July 6.

Gallery: Mon-Sat 9-4. 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

Friday, June 2, from 6-8 Awaken Coffee will have live music by Melissa Hale and will host an opening reception for artist Melissa N. Everett.

Melissa’s show is titled “Southern Charm”

“Songwriting [Quilt-making] is my way of channeling my feelings and my thoughts. Not just mine, but the things I see, the people I care about. My head would explode if I didn’t get some of that stuff out.” Dolly Parton [Melissa Everett]

After listening to Dolly Parton’s America, the initial idea of this project, Southern Charm, has grown to be so much deeper and more meaningful. Learning about the way she has evolved as an artist and grown as an independent woman while staying tied to her beautiful, mountain childhood resonated with me. I want these things to be true for myself, as well. As I mature and unfold as a female artist, I’ve recently started looking back at my childhood in Waynesville, NC to rediscover my favorite things again; like Easter, pastels, ruffles, playing in the woods etc. A couple of similarities between Dolly and I stand out: home, comfort, inclusion and nostalgia. This show is about channeling your inner child, listening to your heart and setting aside what doesn’t work for you any longer to continue on through hope, love and joy.

Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Open daily. Information: 865-951-0427, www.instagram.com/awaken_coffee or www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from June 2-30, 2023. A free gathering with the artists will take place on Friday, June 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM and features live music inside the Emporium by Ben McLaughlin. 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.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, Deb Mazz Cikovic has been an artist and creator of original concepts in art since the late 1970s. She is currently best known for paintings in oils, ink, and acrylic pouring as well as one-of-a-kind epoxy work. She uses a multitude of techniques and materials to create paintings and epoxy pieces which hold different meanings for each individual’s mind’s eye. She has shown original works at Van Der Plas Gallery in New York City as well as with Virtual Artists in London. Most recently, her works have been displayed at the Vivant Gallery in Reno, NV.

Creating art is something I do every day. I get inspiration from music, photography, nature, and anything that surrounds me.

ybcreativesart.com
Instagram @ybcreatives

The exhibitions will be on display at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543. Closed Monday, June 19, for the holiday.