Calendar of Events

Sunday, January 19 | 1:00 - 5:30 | Tennessee Theatre | Free

Books, birthday cake, and big dreams -- it must be Dolly! We are excited to celebrate 20 years of Imagination Library on Dolly's birthday at the Tennessee Theatre. This free event has something for everyone. Kiddos of all ages can dress as their favorite character from an Imagination Library storybook and join the costume parade. We'll have a dance party, listen to a big screen storytime, eat cupcakes, and enjoy the sounds of the Holston Middle School Show Choir. But that's not all. We'll play some Dolly-themed trivia for big prizes and watch her iconic film, 9 to 5!

https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/event/books-birthday-cake-and-dreaming-big-20-years-imagination-library-knox-county-30319

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has partnered with the Bijou Theatre and Beck Cultural Exchange Center to present a special tribute concert to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. The performance takes place on Sunday, January 19, at 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m.

Aram Demirjian, conductor
Evelyn Jack, vocals

https://knoxvillesymphony.com/concert/mlk-concert/

The Sundress Academy for the Arts is excited to present Poetry Xfit hosted by Brendon Blair. This generative workshop event will take place on Sunday, January 19th, from 2 to 4 pm EST via Zoom. Join us at the link tiny.utk.edu/sundress with the password “safta”.

Poetry Xfit isn't about throwing tires or heavy ropes, but the idea of confusing our muscles is the same. You will receive ideas, guidelines, and more as part of this generative workshop series in order to complete three poems in two hours. A new set of prompts will be provided after the writers have written collaboratively for thirty minutes. The goal is to create material that can be later modified and transformed into artwork rather than producing flawless final versions. The event is open to prose authors as well!

Brendon Blair is an Appalachia-borne writer born and bred on trailer living and warm Mexican cuisine. As a recent dual graduate of Psychology and English, Brendon enjoys intertwining the experiences of queer, waifed and fostered people in poetry and prose. They work as the assistant chapbook editor for Sundress Publications and are passionate about accessible learning. You can find them at pranksterjpg.neocities.org

https://www.facebook.com/events/1129516242223537/

BrickUniverse 2025 Imagine Tour: A LEGO® Lover’s Dream
January 18–19, 2025, World’s Fair Exhibition Hall, 935 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville. Starts 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Get ready to unleash your inner LEGO® enthusiast as the BrickUniverse 2025 Imagine Tour arrives in Knoxville, Tennessee! This highly anticipated event brings together LEGO® fans of all ages to celebrate the creativity, artistry, and endless possibilities of LEGO® bricks.

Marvel at LEGO® Masterpieces:
Explore jaw-dropping exhibits featuring stunning works of art built entirely from LEGO® bricks by celebrated artists from across the country.

Tickets and more information at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/knoxville-tn-brickuniverse-lego-fan-expo-2025-tickets

James Henry Trotter lives with his cruel aunts Spiker and Sponge until one day the barren, old peach tree in their yard produces a single peach that grows to nearly the size of a house. When James takes a closer look at the enormous fruit, he discovers a tunnel that leads him to the peach pit where he meets a rag-tag band of human-sized, talking invertebrates: an old green grasshopper, a centipede, an earthworm, a spider, a ladybird, a glowworm, and a silkworm. These bugs become James’ companions on an adventure that will take them over land and sea! And as they travel James learns important lessons about courage, friendship. and seagulls.

https://knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/tc-events/james-and-the-giant-peach/

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

1/17 @ 6 pm - Family Owl Prowl
1/18 @ 2 pm - Tracks and Scat! Animal Activity in Winter
1/18 @ 3 pm - Reading the Landscape: Geology
1/19 @ 1 pm - Reset, Renew, Rejuvenate Workshop
1/19 @ 2 pm - Monthly Bluegrass Jam
1/24 • Family Owl Prowl
1/25 • CREATIVE SERIES: Herbal Infusions Workshop
1/25 • Family Owl Prowl
1/26 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga
1/26 • Winter Tales with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association

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

Wed Jan 15, 12 PM: Interfaith Prayer Service
Thu Jan 16, 8:30 AM: Leadership Educational Symposium & Leadership Awards Luncheon
Fri Jan 17: Community Forum
Sat Jan 18: MLK Youth Symposium
Sun Jan 19: Night with the Arts Tribute
Mon Jan 20: MLK Jr. Memorial Tribute Service
https://mlkknox.org/

By Brian Friel
Directed by Barry Wallace

This extraordinary play is the story of five unmarried sisters eking out their lives in a small village in Ireland in 1936. We meet them at the time of the festival of Lughnasa, which celebrates the pagan god of the harvest with drunken revelry and dancing. Their spare existence is interrupted by brief, colorful bursts of music from the radio, their only link to the romance and hope of the world at large. The action of the play is told through the memory of the illegitimate son of one of the sisters as he remembers the five women who raised him: his mother and four maiden aunts. He is only seven in 1936, the year his elderly uncle, a priest, returns after serving for twenty-five years as a missionary in a Ugandan leper colony. For the young boy, two other disturbances occur that summer. The sisters acquire their first radio, whose music transforms them from correct Catholic women to shrieking, stomping banshees in their own kitchen. And he meets his father for the first time, a charming Welsh drifter who strolls up the lane and sweeps his mother away in an elegant dance across the fields. From these small events spring the cracks that destroy the foundation of the family forever. Widely regarded as Brian Friel’s masterpiece, this haunting play is Friel’s tribute to the spirit and valor of the past.

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

Patsy White's exhibit celebrates Knoxville’s vibrant arts scene through her stunning acrylic-on-canvas portraits and figurative works. The subjects of her paintings include a remarkable lineup of Knoxville’s prominent artists, musicians, and cultural figures, each carefully rendered to honor their contributions to the community.
This exclusive reception offers media attendees the unique opportunity to preview the exhibit and engage directly with Patsy White to explore the inspirations and stories behind her artwork.

The exhibit includes portraits of the following notable Knoxville figures:
• Kelsey Bentley – French horn, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (@kelshbentley)
• Suzanne Cada & Liza Zenni – Arts and Culture Alliance (@artsandculturealliance)
• Chih-Long Hu – Master pianist, University of Tennessee
• Evelyn Jack – Vocalist (@evelynjack681)
• Cynthia Markert – Visual artist/painter (@cynthiamarkert)
• Brian K. McQuain – Photographer (@briankmcquain)
• Nick Moran – Tattoo artist (@nickjmoran)
• Dana Plasencia Nies – Filmmaker (@dplasencia @think_draft)
• Charlie Pogue – Visual artist/painter
• Aaron White – Stylist, fashion director, runway producer (@theaaronwhiteproject)

Patsy Ferrell White is a self-taught fine art painter based in Knoxville, TN. Her unique process—freehand without digital aids or tracing—imbues her works with authenticity and emotion. Each painting reflects her passion for portraiture and her commitment to exploring personal and social themes. Patsy’s work has earned recognition in regional and international shows, including being a finalist in the Art Elevated competition in Manhattan, NYC. Her art has been featured in Artist Closeup, an international art magazine. Learn more about Patsy Ferrell White at ferrellwhitecreative.com or follow her on Instagram at @ferrellwhitecreative.

This exhibit will be available for viewing by Bijou Theatre patrons during its run.

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-522-0832, https://knoxbijou.org/

Discover selected works by local artist Marc Burnett in our DENSO and La Dolce Vita galleries.

Visit Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm or before and during any Clayton Center performances.

Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

This month, we’re kicking the year off with a midnight release, author meet-and-greets, and much more. Keep reading for all the details and mark your calendars!

Katie Holt - This event will take place on January 5 at 3:00pm at the bookstore. This is a free event. Please RSVP so we know to expect you!

Adam Rosenbaum - This event will take place on January 15 at 3:00pm at the bookstore. This is a free event. Please RSVP so we know to expect you!

Join us on January 20th from 10 PM to 1 AM for a night shrouded in intrigue and excitement at the Onyx Storm Midnight Release! Immerse yourself in the captivating world of The Empyrean series as you embark on a thrilling adventure filled with riddles, puzzles, and clues hidden throughout the store. Secure your tickets now and step into a world of magic and mystery!

Andrew K. Clark - This event will take place on January 26 at 3:00pm at the bookstore. This is a free event. Please RSVP so we know to expect you!

Jessi Gold - This event will take place on January 29 at 6:00pm at the East Tennessee History Center. This is a free event. Please RSVP so we know to expect you!

Billy Collins - Friends of Music and the Arts, The Episcopal Church of the Ascension and Union Ave Books are excited to present Billy Collins for Water, Water. This ticketed event will take place on Thursday, January 30th at 7:30pm at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Doors will open at 6:30pm and a book signing will follow the reading. Purchase Tickets

Union Ave Books, 517 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-951-2180, www.unionavebooks.com

New members of 2024 will be featured during the month of January! A First Friday opening reception for the “New Members” exhibit is planned from 5:30-9pm, January 3rd, with complimentary refreshments and music.

New members:
Kimberly Collins - photography
Bonnie Colonna - fiber
Katharine Emlen - photography
Robin Ford - fiber
Paul Morris - wood
Katherine Schmoeller - fiber
Amber Purdy - drawing (2nd medium)
Claire Bodnaruk - glass
Christine Westbrook - painting
Deborah Etheredge - painting
Steven Varga - metal
Julie Boisseau-Craig - clay (3rd medium)
Alessandra Sutter Page - painting

The Art Market Gallery is a juried cooperative of over 50 East Tennessee artists dedicated to providing a vibrant marketplace for original art and fine crafts.

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