Calendar of Events

Monday, October 23, 2023

UT Libraries: National Exhibit on Mental Health Care and Custody

  • October 23, 2023 — December 2, 2023

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Free event, Health, wellness and History, heritage

A national exhibition examining the nation’s past responses to mental health and current approaches to care will be on display at UT Libraries this fall. The National Library of Medicine’s Care and Custody: Past Responses to Mental Health exhibit will be in the Jack E. Reese Galleria on the first floor of Hodges Library.

The traveling exhibit provides a historical overview of how mental health policies have evolved from custodial forms of treatment such as commitments to asylums and mass incarcerations to more inclusive approaches aimed at protecting the rights of those with mental health conditions. The exhibit also highlights how physicians, advocates, families, and government agencies have contributed to shaping mental health policies.

UT Libraries’ goal for hosting the traveling exhibition is to spark conversations surrounding mental health and effective coping strategies among UT students, faculty, staff, and community members.

A book display featuring related reads on mental health will be viewable on the second floor of Hodges Library.

UT Libraries was selected as a location for the traveling exhibition through the efforts of librarians Melanie Dixson, Niki Cobb, Calantha Tillotson, and Paris Whalon.

https://volumes.lib.utk.edu/news/ut-libraries-to-host-national-exhibit-on-mental-health-care-and-custody/

UTHC Distinguished Lecture Series: Mobilizing Ghosts for the Revolution with Xiaofei Kang

  • October 23, 2023

Category: Free event, History, heritage, Lecture, panel and Virtual

Monday, Oct. 23, 3:30 PM
UTHC Distinguished Lecture Series: “Mobilizing Ghosts for the Revolution” with Xiaofei Kang

Tiered seminar room 169, UT Student Union
OR via livestream at tiny.utk.edu/DLS-Kang

Visiting scholar Xiaofei Kang (The George Washington University) will give a public talk titled "Mobilizing Ghosts for the Revolution" on October 23 as part of the UT Humanities Center’s 2023-2024 Distinguished Lecture Series.

Religion has been commonly upheld as the archenemy of Communist revolutions around the world. This talk goes beyond the familiar stories of suppression and resistance to examines how Chinese Communist propaganda deployed traditional tropes of demonology, ritual exorcism, and other religious resources to construct a new gendered narrative of salvation for the Maoist revolution.

The lecture is free and open to the public and will be held in the Student Union on the UT Knoxville campus. Public parking is available in the Volunteer Hall parking garage for our off-campus visitors. Everyone is welcome!

865.974.4222, https://humanitiescenter.utk.edu/ or Social: @UThumanitiesctr

O'Connor Senior Center: Artist Trading Card

  • October 23, 2023

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Festivals, special events, Free event and Meetup

The O’Connor Senior Center will host its regular monthly Artist Trading Card session on Monday, October 23rd from 1:00 - 2:00 pm at Knoxville. This event is free and open to anyone interested in making and trading ATCs. CDC Covid guidelines will be followed. Refreshments will be served.

No art experience is required. The goal is to have fun, create something and connect with others by trading and sharing cards. History and background of ATCs, instruction, materials, prompts and creative ideas will be provided by Tim Wiegenstein, Creative Aging Teaching Artist. No age requirements apply for this program; ATCs are for any age, and intergenerational events are encouraged.

The O’Connor Center is located at 611 Winona Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. For more information, call 865-523-1135, or email info@oconnorcenter.org

Discover Tall Ship Pinta

  • October 20, 2023 — October 29, 2023

Category: Festivals, special events, Kids, family and Science, nature

On Friday October 20th the “Pinta”, a Replica of a Portuguese Caravel used by Columbus and many early explorers will open as a “floating museum” for dockside educational tours. The Ship will be docked at Calhoun’s on the River, 400 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN 37902 until her departure October 30th.

In 2005, the Pinta was Launched in Brazil after 3 years of Construction. The Ship was built by 8th Generation Portuguese Shipwrights using the same methods and hand tools that were used to build the original in the 15th Century. The Pinta was the first Ship to sight land on the famous voyage of discovery on October 12th, 1492.
Historians consider the “Caravel” the space shuttle of the 15th Century and was used as early as the 13th Century and into the 16th Century. The Caravel was mainly used as a typical trading vessel along the Mediterranean and African Coast before being used for Transatlantic Voyages to open up new trading routes all over the World.

The general public is invited to step back in time & explore the Pinta for self guided tours from the 20th-29th October from 9:00a-5:00p daily. No reservations are necessary. Tickets are purchased at the Ship and prices are $8.00 for Adults, $7.00 for Seniors/Military (65+), and $6.00 for Children (5 - 16). Children 4 and under are Free.
Teachers or organizations wishing to schedule a 30 minute guided tour with a crew member during the weekdays should go to www.ninapinta.org/tour/html. Group tours require a minimum of 15 people. Please call 251-293-4193 or email ninapintatour@gmail.com for any inquires.

https://www.facebook.com/events/3424875451097220/

UT: Quantum Canvases - Physics, the Arts, and the Humanities

  • October 19, 2023 — October 23, 2023

Category: Free event, Kids, family, Literature, spoken word, writing, Music, Science, nature and Technology

Out of the lab and onto the page—and the dance floor! In collaboration with the UT Humanities Center, the UT Department of Physics and Astronomy is hosting a series of public events exploring the intersection between Physics, the Arts, and the Humanities between October 19-23, 2023. Events range from discussions of injecting hard science into science fiction to exploring the physics of music and the music of physics on the dance floor. Details at: https://tiny.utk.edu/physicsevents

Thu Oct 19 – Harmonic Motion: Physics x Electronic Music
Old City Performing Arts Center
Performances by Physicists ColliderScope (Lawrence Lee, UT); Superposition (Rob Appleby, University of Manchester); and Science & Reason (Steve Johnston, UT)

Sun Oct 22 – Writer Lucy Caldwell on her Collaboration with the Physics Laboratory CERN
Reading at Union Ave Books, followed by a Meet and Greet and Book Signing at Knox Brew Hub

Mon Oct 23 – Science Fiction and Physics in Conversation
Panel and Q&A w/ physicists from CERN and UT, writers, and the editors of Collision: Stories from the Science of CERN at UT’s Student Union

Mon Oct 23 – UT Physics Colloquium: Physicist Rob Appleby (University of Manchester) on the Upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
UT Science and Engineering Research Facility

All events are free and open to the public!

Clarence Brown Theatre: The Moors

Category: Theatre

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

UT Humanities Center: Prints & Books by Eric Avery, MD

  • October 15, 2023 — January 30, 2024

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Free event, History, heritage and Literature, spoken word, writing

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

TVUUC Gallery: COMMA Artist Group

  • October 13, 2023 — December 6, 2023

Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

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

Theatre Knoxville Downtown: Night of the Living Dead Live!

Category: Theatre

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

Zoo Knoxville: Boo at the Zoo

Category: Festivals, special events, Kids, family and Science, nature

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/

East Tennessee Historical Society: They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, History, heritage, Kids, family and Music

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

Tennessee Artists Association: American Modernism

Category: Culinary arts, food, Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

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

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