Calendar of Events

OCTOBER 19-22
Tickets now available via https://www.knoxhorrorfest.com/

KHFF's 2023 shorts lineup includes 21 of the year's best touring genre films! The bulk of this year's shorts will screen during dedicated blocks on Saturday (Ringworms, Violet Butterfield: Makeup Artist for the Dead, Pool Party, Annihilator, and Deadline) and Sunday (Stop Dead, Fed, Hot Local Singles Are In Your Area, The Queue, Bookworm and Fetal Position) while select others will accompany feature presentations throughout the event (Fck'n Nuts, Content: The Lo-Fi Man, Charlie the Cancelled Skeleton, The Voice in Isabel Fleiss's Office, Toad Boy, Don't Look in the Closet, Waka Chicka Waka, Gnomes, We Forgot About The Zombies and Ancient Lore.)

Drawing from DIY submissions from within Tennessee, our 2023 Tennessee Terrors program (Saturday at 4pm) features short filmsThe Bags, Anya, Blood & Roots, Cart Return, David's Not Real, Found You, MK Ultra Violence, The Cost of Eggs, The Dread, Vlogger, Roots Below, and Sorry for the Mess. (A limited quantity of single-screening tickets will be available.)

The Moors
By Jen Silverman
The Lab Theatre
October 18 – November 5, 2023

Wait. What? An anthropomorphic Mastiff. A catfished governess. Two forlorn sisters on bleak English Moors yearning for love in a manor where every room looks the same. This is a new play the likes of which you have not seen before. It’s a dark, funny, genre-bending trip the New York Times calls, “the reason we go to the theater.” Try it!

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

This event is available to the public at the UT Printmaking Showcase Gallery. The Printmaking Showcase Gallery is located in the UTK Art and Architecture Building, in the second-floor hallway outside of the Printmaking Lab (Room 241).

It will feature selected prints and books by medical doctor and visual artist Eric Avery MD as he explores issues such as social responses to diseases (specifically HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases), death, and sexual health. As part of one of his exhibitions, Avery set up an HIV clinic at the Fogg Museum of Art at Harvard University. His work has been shown internationally, and is in the collections of the National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC), the ARTS Medica Collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA), and the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library at Yale University (New Haven, CT), among many others. His website is: https://www.ericaveryartist.com/

These events are free to attend and open to students, faculty, and the public.
https://www.facebook.com/events/332368039150381

Art Exhibit at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Free and open to the public
When: Reception Friday, October 13, 2023, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Artists’ talk at 6:30 p.m.

The COMMA (Come, Make Art) Artist Group was founded in 2004 by Gay Nell Gray and Cheri Jorgenson as a plein air group that met weekly during the summer at UT Gardens. It grew to be a year-round endeavor of gallery and artist studio visits, creating artwork in other locations, and exhibiting as a group. This nature-inspired exhibition includes diverse media and processes.

The members are award-winning former and current art educators. Included here are Gay Nell Gray, Judy Jorden, Cheri Jorgensen, Shelley Mangold, Martha Robbins, Caitlin Seidler, Valerie Sigmon, Carol Vinson, and Suzanne Wedekind.

Gallery hours: 10-3 Monday through Thursday, 10-12:30 Sunday
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Gallery, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918

Fri. Oct 13th 2023, 7:30 pm
Sat. Oct 14th 2023, 7:30 pm
Sun. Oct 15th 2023, 3:00 pm
Thu. Oct 19th 2023, 7:30 pm
Fri. Oct 20th 2023, 7:30 pm
Sat. Oct 21st 2023, 7:30 pm
Sun. Oct 22nd 2023, 3:00 pm
Thu. Oct 26th 2023, 7:30 pm
Fri. Oct 27th 2023, 7:30 pm
Sat. Oct 28th 2023, 7:30 pm
Sun. Oct 29th 2023, 3:00 pm

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 800 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

RUMORS
by Neil Simon
OCTOBER 13-22, 2023

A group of affluent friends gather for a dinner party to celebrate their host’s anniversary. However, things quickly go awry when the host is found unconscious with a gunshot wound, and the guests are left to piece together what happened while trying to keep the situation under wraps. A master of stage comedies, playwright Neil Simon offers a wild ride that is not only entertaining and light-hearted, but also keeps audiences guessing all the way up to the very end.

PG -13 AUDIENCES

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, https://www.orplayhouse.com/

WE’RE CASTING A SPELL ON YOU! What’s in the potion for a perfect Halloween? Lucky for you, we’ve got all of the special components for a magical Halloween, at Boo! at the Zoo!

BEWARE! TICKETS ARE LIMITED
$15 per person
FREE FOR KIDS 2 AND UNDER
FREE PARKING
A TREAT FOR MEMBERS: $1 OFF

MEMBERS NIGHT
A special night exclusively for Zoo Knoxville members. Zoo Knoxville members get a $1 discount on tickets.
October 11 • 5:30-8:00 pm
October 25 • 5:30-8:00 pm

October 12-15 • 5:30-8:00 pm
October 19-22 • 5:30-8:00 pm
October 26-29 • 5:30-8:00 pm

AH-MAZING ART GALLERY
An illuminated gallery of paintings by artist Russ Ronat will be on display throughout the Zoo and highlights wildlife animal conservation.

BOO MENU
Sink your teeth in all the tasty seasonal menu items throughout the zoo. You'll find snacks, beverages, cocktails, dinner options, dessert, wine, and other refreshing drinks to enjoy during your visit. Whether you're in the mood for classic fare or something a bit spookier, there's something for everyone to delight in.

https://www.booknoxville.com/

Save the date for the 8th annual Tennessee Medieval Faire in Harriman. Festival dates Oct 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 2023.

Go back in time and LIVE THE AGE OF CHIVALRY!

A year after Arthur was crowned King of the Britons and allied with the Picts (circa 501 AD), Arthur and Guinevere are about to celebrate their first anniversary as man and wife. The kingdom is enjoying a time of relative peace, calm, and prosperity.

However, across the north sea, trouble brews. Nordic mercenaries, who used to be employed by various small kingdoms in northern Briton to hold back the Picts, find their services were no longer needed. This did not sit well with them, so they decided pay the “boy king” a visit.

FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS!

Come witness live jousting! Cheer on your favorite warrior in human combat chess, where the characters ARE the chess pieces and fight to take over the squares. Come dressed in costume if you wish and enter the costume contest to win a prize. Play medieval games, laugh with the comedy shows, shop for original crafts, eat delicious food, and drink hot and cold beverages (including beer, ages 21+) FIT FOR A KING!

Enjoy all day family fun. LIVE THE AGE OF CHIVARLY!

https://tmfaire.com/medieval-faire

They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler is the first retrospective exhibition of Carl and Pearl Butler, the iconic country music duo whose timeless lyrics and harmonious melodies left an indelible mark on country music. With a career spanning over four decades, Carl and Pearl Butler became celebrated figures in the world of country music. “Carl made scores of major-label records during the 1950s,” says Bradley E. Reeves, the exhibition’s guest curator and author of the new book Honky Tonkitis: On the Road with Carl Butler and Pearl. “These are some of the best bluegrass, gospel, and hard country records ever made, although none could be called a massive hit.” That honor would come in 1962, when Carl and Pearl recorded “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” The song remains among the fastest ever to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Singles. Carl and Pearl’s unique “Knoxville sound,” along with heartfelt lyrics, earned them a dedicated fan base who supported them at performances across the United States and Canada through the 1970s. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends.

Key highlights of the exhibition include:
1. Rare Family Archives: Museum guests will have the opportunity to view the Allen “Junior” Butler Family Collection, which has been made publicly available for the first time and includes never-before-seen photographs, home movies, original instruments, and stage costumes that belonged to Carl and Pearl Butler. “I’m grateful to Allen Butler and his family for opening their home and archives to share with us,” says Reeves.
2. Musical Journey: Explore the duo's musical journey through a feature film, which transports visitors through various periods of their career and traces their unfiltered, raw singing style, one that derived from and advanced the “Knoxville sound.”
3. Behind-the-Scenes: Gain insight into the lives of Carl and Pearl Butler through never-before-seen family photographs and recently uncovered anecdotes from the family and fellow musicians, including Dolly Parton who viewed the Butlers as her “second parents.” “Despite their successes,” says Adam Alfrey, Assistant Director for Historical Services at Knox County Public Library, “Carl and Pearl faced personal and professional struggles, which are intimately documented through the family’s photographs.”
4. Interpretive Experience: Engage with the exhibition to understand how both Knoxville and Nashville played a role in the development of country music. Also, learn how chart-topping artists can quickly become all but forgotten, even in their hometown. “The Butlers somehow fell through the cracks,” reflects Reeves. “It’s my hope that this book and exhibition will contribute to a reappreciation of their great body of work.”
They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler promises to be a heartfelt educational experience for country music enthusiasts and fans of all ages. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Carl and Pearl Butler on the world of music.

At 5:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2023, there will be an opening reception for They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler. The event will include a meet and greet with Carl and Pearl Butler’s family, a book signing by guest curator Bradley E. Reeves, and an exhibition of Appalachian musical pioneer paintings by artist Amy Campbell. At 7:00 pm, there will be a “Tribute to Carl and Pearl,” opened by a performance of the Paul Brewster and Friends Band, comprised of 14-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and Grand Ole Opry performers Daniel Grindstaff, Kent Blanton, Stephen Burwell, and John Meador. A screening of 8mm home movies shot by the Butlers (watch for an appearance by 10-year-old Dolly Parton), as well as some of the Butlers’ rarest television appearances, will conclude the evening.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.eastTNhistory.org/lights-camera

The Frothy Monkey is hosting the Tennessee Artist’s Association’s show of “American Modernism” from October through January at the Frothy Monkey, 419, S. Gay St. Knoxville, TN 37902.

More than ten TAA artists will be represented at the exhibit, and many will be on hand for a meet and greet on Friday, October 6th from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The Frothy Monkey is the perfect stop for coffee, conversation and community. The restaurant offers fresh baked goods, beer, wine & cocktails along with its coffee and tea selections. The Frothy Monkey seeks to provide a safe and welcoming environment that can nourish guests and build community relationships.

For more information, contact twiegenstein@gmail.com

The opening reception will be from 6-8pm on October 6th. This show is a collaborative exhibition of (family friendly) creepy, eerie, spine-tingling, and all around haunted art pieces from various local artists.

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/4BKeJE4Gt

No Tricks; just treats as we kick off the Halloween season with the first ever "Haunted Art Show" curated by Esther Sitver. Come one come all to this family friendly event!

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Mon-Thu & Sat 11-6, Fri 11-8, Sun 11-5. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com or www.instagram.com/ShopRala

First Friday Reception: October 6th, 5:30 – 9:00 pm, with complimentary refreshments and music

Lisa Kurtz has a master’s degree in ceramics. She throws on the wheel and hand builds and combines both methods to create her wares. An award-winning ceramic artist, Lisa has taught ceramics, drawing and art history to college students. She has taught clay to adults at many local pottery studios in East Tennessee and in Kentucky. Currently, Lisa teaches functional pottery at the Oak Ridge Art Center. In 2015, she was awarded a grant to be a Master Artist in Tennessee Crafts’ Master Artist Apprentice Program. Her clay work has been featured and shown in galleries and juried fine arts and craft shows across the country and is in many private collections. Lisa’s pieces highlight the malleable qualities of clay. To highlight spontaneity in her work, she likes to experiment with many different types of atmospheric firing including wood, soda, pit firing and electric firing. Her functional work is all microwave and dishwasher safe.
website: www.lisakurtzhighlandpottery.weebly.com
Instagram: @lisakurtzhighlandpottery

Carol Quinn, an artist since the 1980s, exhibiting in the Southeast and New York City, draws inspiration from East Tennessee's natural beauty and explores the psychological processes behind it. A member of Knoxville's Art Market Gallery since 2018, she showcases her evolving art style. With a background in Human Ecology, she transitioned from watercolors to dynamic mixed media creations, focusing on abstract designs. Carole's work reflects a journey of self-discovery, driven by a passion for exploring color and texture. https://www.instagram.com/carolquinnartist

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