Calendar of Events

Art Exhibit at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918

Reception Friday, April 12, 2024, 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Artists’ talks at 6:30 pm.

Free and open to the public, Gallery hours: 9:30-4:30 Monday through Thursday and 9:00-1:00 Sunday

Pamela Salyer: A View Through the Trees

This series uses mixed media (acrylic, collage, photo transfer) to explore the relationship between bare trees and their surroundings—how a tree, a group of trees, or even just a few branches, can change our perspective on the world around us. Pamela Salyer studied with UK’s Open College of the Arts and was juried in as a member of the Art Gallery in 2017. She has been part of many juried exhibits in the Knoxville area, including the Arts & Culture Alliance National Alliance National Juried Exhibition, Arts in the Airport, and The District Gallery’s “The Big Tiny Show.”

Jack Retterer

Jack Retterer says his goal as an artist is simple: “Use photography to help others experience and understand life more deeply and more completely by making it easier to ‘stop and smell the roses.’” He maximizes the emotional impact in his photography to increase the viewer’s awareness. Retterer is a fine art photographer, teacher and poet. His American Impressionist style photography and large canvas prints have been displayed at the Art Market Gallery, the Arts & Culture Alliance, Arts at the Airport, and many other locations in East Tennessee. He is an active member of both the Professional Photographers of America and the Professional Photographers of East Tennessee.

Back to back family movies on the jumbotron beginning at 6pm, inflatable games for the kids in the grove pit, and a relaxing night out for the entire family every Tuesday from 6-9 PM.

We have games and toys for the kids to play with and climb all night while parents can come relax and enjoy free entertainment for the family! Movies range from some classics like "Honey, I shrunk the Kids" and "Aladdin" to recent hits like "Encanto" and "Inside Out."

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745 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN
(865) 210-8862
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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