Calendar of Events

BY LILIANA PADILLA
THE LAB THEATRE

College students come together for a DIY self-defense workshop after a sorority sister is assaulted. A sharp, witty, funny, and ferocious play that explores how “not to be a victim,” and how to use your body as a weapon. The classes become a channel for rage, trauma, confusion, anxiety and desire. The play explores the way sexual assault steals your sense of belonging, and how these women might get that back.

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

Join Ijams for the kick-off to Hallo-Week with Ijams After Dark this Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 7:30-9 PM! You'll meet one of Ijams’ nocturnal animal ambassadors before taking a fun-filled, guided night hike on the trails to witness and identify the myriad of moths and other critters attracted to black light stations.

Celebrate the fun of fall at the second annual Hallo-Week at Ijams, a host of festive programs for all ages! Embrace fall with events like pumpkin carving, scary story-telling, a bat program, caving, and more!

Oct. 27 (10 AM) Creative Series: Halloween Dreamcatcher
Make a fun and festive dreamcatcher with The Chicken Librarian.

Oct. 27 (10 AM) Family Pumpkin Carving at Mead's Quarry
Grab your family and friends for an afternoon of pumpkin carving or painting and Halloween-inspired party games at Mead's Quarry.

Oct. 27 (3 PM) Caving Trip
Get ready for an afternoon of underground exploration in Ijams’ cave system.

Oct. 29 (7 PM) Ijams Sunset Series: A Night of Scary Stories with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association
Enjoy an evening of scary, silly, and haunted tales told by members of the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association as part of the Ijams Sunset Series.

Oct. 30 (7 PM) All About Bats
Bat and moths have been intricately linked in our culture, and especially in evolutionary history. Join an Ijams naturalist to learn how to identify various bat species as they fly overhead, and witness the moths and other critters attracted to our blacklight stations.

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

By Bernard Pomerance
Directed by Sarah Campbell

The Elephant Man is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man – the victim of rare skin and bone diseases – he becomes the star freak attraction in traveling sideshows. Found abandoned and helpless, he is admitted to London’s prestigious Whitechapel Hospital. Under the care of celebrated young physician Frederick Treves, Merrick is introduced to London society and slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati, only to be denied his ultimate dream – to become a man like any other.

Performances are Thu-Sat 7:30 PM and Sun 3 PM

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

$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

First Friday Reception: October 4th, 5:30 - 9 pm

Marilyn Dwyer, Drawing and Painting
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Marilyn treasured her idyllic summers on Mobile Bay and Gulf beaches. After graduating with a BFA from Auburn University, she discovered the captivating beauty and heritage of East Tennessee, where she enjoyed a successful 40-year graphic design career. In 2012, Marilyn returned to her first love—fine arts. She now spends her time drawing, painting, and attending workshops with prominent pastel artists. While primarily working in charcoal and pastel, she is always experimenting with other mediums and techniques to achieve more expressive work. Marilyn’s strong compositions and contemporary style reflect her graphic arts background. Her work has consistently been acknowledged and awarded at regional and national pastel exhibitions.

Cindy Sugg, Clay
Cindy Sugg has been drawn to the medium of clay since a young child. Cindy’s earliest memory is an elementary school field trip (while living in Japan) to a Japanese potter’s studio. It was the first time she experienced the wheel, throwing off the hump, as well as gathering raw clay. That experience has lead her many years later sitting in front of the potters wheel at universities, workshops, studios, and now in her own home studio. Functional art - the ability to create art work that can be used in everyday life - is rewarding and fun for Cindy. She adorns her pieces either painting and drawing with nonrepresentational designs (Zentangle influence), as well as organic designs with underglaze. She is drawn to black and white - sometimes with pop of color. For the pieces made with the sgraffito process, the white is the color of the clay body, and the pattern is sgraffito/scratched off the black underglaze when the piece is “leather hard”. This process can take up to 20 hours per large bowl or platter. The first bisque firing sets all the designs in place, and is ready for the glaze firing to create the “wow” with shine and/or color.

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

[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