Calendar of Events

UTK’s Creative Writing MFA Program presents Chiasmus, a reading series featuring graduate/undergraduate creative writers—followed by an Open Mic!

https://www.facebook.com/events/519132674131816/

10/19 • Ijams Junior Naturalist
10/20 • Orionid Meteor Shower - Guided Program
10/20 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga
10/20 • Monthly Bluegrass Jam with ETNBA
10/23 • Ijams After Dark: Hallo-Week at Ijams

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

$15.00

Join us for a night of terror and intrigue on our Historically Haunting Halloween Tours! Explore Blount Mansion and learn about the chilling history of the Blount family, the city of Knoxville, and beyond!

Let us be your ghastly guide to the afterlife as you encounter the dark and twisted corridors of the house where you'll hear tall tales of ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena that are prevalent throughout the hills of Appalachia. You may even have the chance to see some of the house's most eerie artifacts, including a Victorian hair wreath, a (possibly) possessed doll, and more.

But beware! The spirits of the house are known to be restless, and they may just make an appearance during your tour. So be prepared for a night of terror and suspense as you explore the hallowed ground of Blount Mansion.

Tickets are $15 a person and are available at the link below.

Tours are available on select nights in October, and tickets sell out quickly, so book yours today!

Tours will be conducted at 8pm, 8:30pm, 9pm, and 9:30pm.

https://blount-mansion.square.site/

Juror Anna Fariello selected the artworks for this exhibition, and we are excited to share these 71 remarkable craft artworks, ranging from traditional forms to cutting-edge conceptual pieces, representing artists from Memphis to Johnson City.

An artist reception will be held on Friday, December 13th, where member artists, art collectors & craft enthusiasts from across the state are invited to celebrate the exemplary craft created by 63 Tennessee artists.

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

With the arrival of fall, Muse Knoxville is excited to welcome families to a season of fun and learning with a lineup of engaging, fall-inspired programs and events throughout October. From hands-on activities to educational experiences, there’s something for every child to enjoy this season at Muse.

A PEEK AT WHAT’S IN STORE:
• FALLing for STEAM inspired weekly programming takeover - Oct. 8-20

• Murder Mystery at Muse - Oct.18 | 7pm - 10pm | 21+
Solve clues, enjoy delicious appetizers, and sip cocktails as you uncover the culprit in this thrilling 21+ event. A night of suspense, science, and intrigue awaits!

• Family Science Fair - Oct. 26 | 9:30am - 11:30am
We invite families to work together to design a science project and create those aha! moments.

• Sensory Trick or Treat Night - Oct. 31 |5pm-7pm
In partnership with the Autism Society of East Tennessee and Artisan Street Market, we aim to provide a FREE, safe, inclusive, and sensory-friendly Halloween celebration for families.

The Muse Knoxville, 516 N. Beaman Street, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-594-1494, www.themuseknoxville.org

Get ready for a ghastly good time at Zoo Knoxville's "Boo at the Zoo," kicking off on October 10th! This spooktacular event is perfect for families, filled with tricks, treats, and spooky sweets that everyone can enjoy. With themed nights like Princesses, Heroes, and more, there’s something for every little monster and grown-up ghost. Dance the night away at the monster mash dance party and hop on thrilling rides to keep the excitement going!

Feast on frightfully delicious seasonal treats scattered throughout the zoo. From chilling cocktails and refreshing potions to ghoulishly delightful desserts, there’s a tasty treat to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Whether you’re in the mood for classic Halloween snacks or something with a twist, you’re sure to find your fill!

Mark your calendar with these dates:
October 10-13 from 5:30-8:00 PM
October 17-20 from 5:30-8:00 PM
October 24-27 from 5:30-8:00 PM

Don’t miss out—tickets are limited, so get yours soon! This event promises a frightfully fun experience for all ages. Tickets at: https://store.zooknoxville.org/webstore/shop/viewItems

Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-637-5331, www.zooknoxville.org

Art Exhibit at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
Free and open to the public
When: Reception Friday, October 11, 2024, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Artist talks at 6:30 p.m.

Gallery hours:
9:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Thursday
9:00am – 1:00pm Sunday
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Gallery
2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918

The Three Dames
In the spirit of camaraderie and creativity, Linda Blair, Marcia Shelly and Cheryl Massey come together to exhibit their work. Blair said, “We each lean toward water media, which naturally allows our work to be a cohesive display.” They have exhibited throughout East Tennessee in venues including the Emporium, Plateau Art Gallery (Crossville), Tomato Head restaurants, Awaken Coffee, and Good Samaritan of Crossville.


Greg Howser
Greg Howser is attracted to the exquisiteness of creatures. His work serves as surrogates created from experiences growing up as a Southerner. He creates Märchen narratives about people, places and legends based on local, regional and personal lore. The subjects are anthropomorphic animals or the human form layered with symbolically rich objects commonly found in fairytales. Howser teaches at East Tennessee State University and Northeast State Community College. He is a board member of the Art Depot of Abingdon, Virginia and has exhibited throughout the United States. He has worked in private collections as well as public, international collections.

An exhibition celebrating Southern Appalachian artists and authors. Opening reception will take place on First Friday Oct 4th, 6-9pm.

The First Friday event will also host 8 open artist studios, poetry readings by Chelsie Nunn and Jazmin Witherspoon, and live printing with Relay Ridge merch. The exhibition will be up October 4th - November 8th, 2024, on view during public events or by appointment.

Relay Ridge, 4124 McKinley St, Knoxville. https://relayridge.org/ and https://www.instagram.com/relay_ridge/

No Tricks; just treats as we kick off the Halloween season with the second annual "Haunted Art Show" curated by Esther Sitver. Join us if you dare for a collaborative exhibition of creepy, eerie, spine-tingling, and all around haunted art pieces from multiple local artists. Come one come all to this family friendly event!

Opens October 4th 6pm-8pm

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

[Knoxville] by Design is quickly approaching, and the Art Salon will kick things off on October’s First Friday by showcasing the vast range of original works of art created by architects and related professionals in East Tennessee.

This year, the work will be displayed at the Phoenix Gallery between the dates of October 1st - 26th, with a First Friday opening celebration taking place October 4th from 5:00-9:00PM. This gallery is open to the public throughout the week.

Location:
The Phoenix Building
418 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902

https://www.facebook.com/AIAETN

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition titled 50x50 in recognition of its 50th anniversary. The exhibition will be on display throughout the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville and opens on Friday, October 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM. The free gathering with exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Variego3 inside the Emporium.

Curated by John Douglas Powers, 50x50 is a survey of Knoxville- and Tennessee-based artists exhibiting alongside peers from across the country. The exhibition is a celebration of the individual artistic voice and the essential role of organizations like the Arts & Culture Alliance in supporting and nurturing those diverse voices. The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions.
"You know, it’s a pretty big milestone for the Arts & Culture Alliance (formerly the Arts Council) to be able to celebrate 50 years of quiet, uninterrupted service to a community, its artists and arts and culture organizations," says Liza Zenni, Executive Director. "We remember and thank all the board and staff members whose devoted and unselfish service over the years has made this anniversary possible. We remember and thank the thousands of artists and arts and culture organizations whose belief in the concept of an alliance drove this organization forward with their constant participation in ACA’s programs and activities, the most visible of which in the last 20 years has been the Emporium Galleries. I couldn’t imagine a curator whose expertise and sophistication could be more perfect than John Powers to bring the many threads of ACA’s ethos together into one exhibition. He has somehow found a way to pair local art with art from further afield so that the cumulative effect is one that looks forward to the exciting future that is yet ahead of ACA."

Utilizing all the exhibition spaces at the Emporium, 50x50 includes more than 100 works utilizing a variety of media and conceptual approaches by 50 different artists.

John Douglas Powers is an artist and educator based in Knoxville, Tennessee and is Professor of Sculpture and Time-Based Art in the School of Art at the University of Tennessee. Powers received his M.F.A. in sculpture (with distinction) from the University of Georgia and a B.A. in art history from Vanderbilt University. His work has been featured in The New York Times, World Sculpture News, Sculpture Magazine, Art Forum, The Huffington Post, Art in America, The Boston Globe and on CBS News Sunday Morning. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Virginia A Groot Foundation Award, a Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant as well as a Southeastern College Art Conference Individual Artist Fellowship. Powers was a founding member and co-director of C for Courtside, an artist run curatorial project space. He sees creativity as vital to humanity and remains committed to supporting the arts.

The exhibition will be on display October 4-26, 2024 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at https://www.knoxalliance.store. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

Dreams, symbols, metaphors, and archetypes
Opens Oct 4, 5-9 PM

HoLa Hora Latina, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 112, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-335-3358, www.holahoralatina.org