Calendar of Events

7:30 pm at Regas Square, 333 West Depot Avenue Knoxville, TN 37917

Live at Lucille’s brings the tradition of exciting and innovative PBS music programming right here to East Tennessee. Featuring acclaimed jazz artists performing in an intimate setting, these shows aretaped in front of a live audience at the new, state-of-the-art Regas Square Events space in downtown Knoxville. The shows are later broadcast on PBS stations across the state.

Jazzmeia Horn is one of the most acclaimed voices in modern jazz. Barely into her thirties, Horn has already built an international fan base and received multiple Grammy nominations. She brings her working quartet to Knoxville for a special performance on Live at Lucille's.

"Horn is among the most exciting young vocalists in jazz, with a proud traditionalism that keeps her tightly linked to the sound of classic figures like Nancy Wilson and Betty Carter, but a vivacity of spirit and conviction that places her firmly in the present."
— The New York Times

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-at-lucilles-jazzmeia-horn-tickets-978301896307

The start of a new year is the perfect time to focus on you and your health! Whether it’s eating more veggies, staying active, or simply getting enough rest, every small step adds up. Set realistic goals, celebrate progress, and remember—it’s a journey, not a race. Let’s make 2025 the year of feeling good inside and out!

Start your journey at the Farragut Health and Wellness Expo - Saturday, Feb 2 (rescheduled)
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farragut Community Center - 239 Jamestowne Blvd.
NO ADMISSION - We are FREE and open to the Public!

Workshops and Lectures at THE EXPO (Large Classroom)
11am - “Empowering Your Health through Nutrition” with RN and Certified Health Coach, Karyn Smydra

12 Noon – “Financial Wellness: Three Things You Need to Know to Get Control of Your Money”
with John Nolan, Manager, Community & Business Development, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

New Year, New You! Personal finance doesn’t have to be hard. We will discuss practical tips on how you can take charge of your finances in this session, including ways to budget, save, and plan for what’s ahead!

1 to 2 pm – All About Your Heart

FARRAGUT'S FAVORITE FOOD TRUCK WILL BE THERE! PLAN YOUR LUNCH AND VISIT THE EXPO!
https://www.shopfarragut.com/events/farragut-health-wellness-expo-2/

February 2, 3:30-6pm, Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Building, University of Tennessee, 1408 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996

The Knoxville Chinese Culture is hosting their annual Chinese New Year Festival. They bring together various local Chinese groups to showcase their talents and professional special guests from around the world to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This year, their special guest will be Lina Liu, the world’s premiere umbrella juggler, and Guinness World record holder from New York City. Other performances are the traditional lion dance by Way Lum Kung Fu troop, Chinese dancing, martial arts, singing, and more. The event is bilingual to enable the audience a greater understanding and significance of this wonderful celebration of Chinese culture to the broader East Tennessee region. Come enjoy this family friendly variety show!

Buy tickets in advance online here to reserve your seat. Tickets range in price from $10-14.
https://knoxvillemoms.com/chinese-new-year-events/

Reception on Saturday, Feb. 15
Details TBA
Showing all media and styles!
https://tnartists.org/

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

States of Becoming examines the dynamic forces of relocation, resettling, and assimilation that shape the artistic practices of a group of contemporary African diaspora artists in the United States. The exhibition is inspired by curator Fitsum Shebeshe’s 2016 move from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Baltimore, and subsequent firsthand experience with cultural assimilation. States of Becoming is a traveling exhibition curated by Fitsum Shebeshe and produced by Independent Curators International (ICI), New York.

States of Becoming Opening Reception
Friday, January 31, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm
Members Only Hour, 6:00-7:00 pm
Gallery Talk with Curator Fitsum Shebeshe, 6:15 pm
Reception Opens to Non-Members, 7:00 pm
Musical Performance by Artist Miatta Kawinzi, 8:00 pm
Food by Tarik’s North African + Cash Bar + Specialty Beverage
https://knoxart.org/event/states-of-becoming-opening-reception/

For additional information and updates, follow the Knoxville Museum of Art on social media:
Facebook: Knoxville Museum of Art, Instagram: @knoxvillemuseumofart, X: @knoxart

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tu-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org. Admission and parking are free.

15th Annual Urban Ski Weekend, January 31 – February 3, 2025 in Gatlinburg.
Get ready for the ultimate winter party experience at the 15th Annual Urban Ski Weekend! Featuring 15 exciting events and free drinks all weekend, this legendary celebration proves that skiing is optional, but partying is mandatory!

As seen on Love & Hip Hop ATL, Urban Ski Weekend is where the fun happens. Whether you're looking for an escape from the usual or a chance to meet new people, this is the place to be.

Worried you don’t ski, can’t ski, or don’t love the cold? Don’t let that stop you—this event is all about living it up and creating unforgettable memories!

Gatlinburg – 303 Henderson Chapel Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

For registration and more information: https://thesetnetwork.com/urban-ski-weekend-splash-page-menu/?id=

Knoxville Opera proudly presents La bohème at the Tennessee Theatre on Friday, January 31 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 2 at 2:30 PM for the company’s second main stage production of the 2024-2025 season.

As the most popular opera in the world, Puccini’s timeless tale of young artists embracing life, love, friendship, and loss in 19th-century Paris has captivated audiences for generations. This timeless story features sweeping melodies and poignant duets that transcend language – making it the perfect opera to experience for the first time or to enjoy once more. Watch Knoxville Opera share why this iconic operetta resonates with audiences around the world here.

Knoxville Opera has a rich history with La bohème, with this production marking the 5th time the company has staged Puccini’s classic in its four-decade existence. Under the direction of Knoxville Opera's Producing Director, Dean Anthony, and with guest conductor Michelle Rofrano at the helm, this masterpiece will be reimagined once again.

Joined by the Knoxville Opera Chorus, led by Christy Lee, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, this production showcases a star-studded cast, including Rebecca Krynski Cox as Mimì, Ben Gulley as Rodolfo, Christine Lyons as Musetta, Luis Alejandro Orozco as Marcello, Scott Purcell as Schaunard, and Kevin Short as Colline.

La bohème is a must-see performance, so don't miss your chance to experience this classic operetta! Tickets are on sale now at www.knoxvilleopera.org/la-boheme

At the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Knoxville Opera: 865-524-0795, https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/

East Knoxville's Black Food Renaissance
Join us for a special three-day engagement of this new documentary film from East Knoxville food justice collective Rooted East, including ticketed premiere fundraiser events Friday January 31 and Saturday February 1 and a special FREE matinee Sunday afternoon, all with post-screening discussions of the film and the issues it presents.

Showing exclusively at Central Cinema 1205 N Central St Knoxville, TN 37917

Friday January 31st, 2025 | Documentary Premiere with Special Guests | $25 per ticket
Saturday, February 1st, 2025 | Documentary Screening | $15 per ticket

Synopsis: Narrated by Umoja Abdul-Ahad, “Roots of Resilience: East Knoxville’s Black Food Renaissance” is a powerful documentary that delves into the legacy of apartheid and its enduring impact on food security and urban spaces within historically Black communities. The film traces the deep-seated issues of food apartheid—systematic racialized barriers to food access—and how these injustices have left many Black neighborhoods as food deserts, devoid of fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. The documentary highlights the journey of activists, community leaders, and urban gardeners who are working to restore urban green spaces in these marginalized communities. Through intimate interviews and poignant visuals, the film showcases how these initiatives are reclaiming the land for the community, fostering self-reliance, and reviving cultural connections to agriculture. At its heart, Roots of Resilience is a story of hope, resilience, resistance and the power of grassroots movements in disrupting the structures of apartheid and cultivating a future where historically Black communities can thrive.

About the Filmmaker: Ronald Levy is a 28-year-old filmmaker from Memphis, TN, dedicated to creating content that leaves a lasting impact on culture. His passion is to compose work that not only entertains, but also challenges and inspires change. Ronald aims to explore human emotions and societal values, using film as a tool to foster understanding and dialogue. The mission of his company, Levron's Art, includes documentaries to short films, all with the goal of making a meaningful contribution to society and the art of storytelling. You may visit Ron’s website at: https://levronsart.com/

https://centralcinema865.com/production/roots-of-resilience-east-knoxvilles-black-food-renaissance/

A funeral parlor in a small Midwestern town is the setting for these three darkly funny and touching short plays. In Tell Tale, we enter the private thoughts of a respectable married mortician, lost in passion for a beautiful real estate broker who markets to the bereaved. In Thief of Tears, we meet Mac, the attractive daughter of an upper-class WASP family who frequents the Viper Room and steals jewelry from corpses. And in Thirteen Things about Ed Carpolotti, a newly widowed suburban matron finds her world crashing about her only to be rescued by love from beyond the grave.

The play is being produced by Theater 23 (https://theater23.org), and will run Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Jan 30th, 31st, and Feb. 1st at 7:30 PM, and on Sunday, Feb. 2nd at 2:30 PM at the Old City Performing Arts Center at 111 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902

Tickets are available for the play at https://theater23.org/tickets. For more information contact info@theater23.org or 865-257-9493.

MAIN GALLERY
A solo show, Under The Branches, featuring recent work by artist Jered Sprecher (Knoxville, TN) opens Tuesday, January 28 and will run through Saturday, March 29, 2025. Curator: Brian R. Jobe.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 5:00—8:00 pm (artist in attendance). There will be an artist talk given by Sprecher beforehand on January 31 from 3:30—4:30pm.

Jered Sprecher is an artist who makes paintings, drawings, and installations that abstract the landscape to explore the precarious relationship between nature and technology. His work wrestles with the beauty and complexity of the environment and how we as humans interact with the world around us both directly and mediated through technology. He received his BA from Concordia University and his MFA from The University of Iowa. Sprecher has exhibited at The Drawing Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Des Moines Art Center, Hunter Museum, Asheville Art Museum, and Espai d'art Contemporani de Castelló. He has had solo exhibitions at Jeff Bailey Gallery, New York; Gallery 16, San Francisco; Steven Zevitas Gallery, Boston; Kinkead Contemporary, Los Angeles; Whitespace, Atlanta; Ferrara Showman, New Orleans; and the Knoxville Museum of Art. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Bailey Opportunity Grant, and a Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. Sprecher has been awarded residencies at the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation, the Chinati Foundation, The American Academy in Rome, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. He is a Professor at the School of Art at the University of Tennessee. He lives and works in Knoxville, Tennessee.

PROJECT SPACE
My Art Is Fine, My Art Is Craft by Melissa Everett (Knoxville, TN) opens Tuesday, January 28 and will run through Saturday, March 29, 2025. This show is located within the unique architectural space of a narrow wooden stairwell. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 5:00—8:00 pm (artist in attendance).

Melissa Everett is a self-taught quilter, textile artist, and caregiver living in Knoxville, TN. She received her BS from the University of Tennessee in Therapeutic Recreation in 2005. The philosophies of play permeate her process and journey as an artist. Her work is energized by textures, simple lines and shapes created by the human hand, rooted in tradition but continually pushing for freedom – and embracing imperfection. She creates surface pattern designs on natural fibers by utilizing fiber-reactive dyes, textile pigments and the traditions of quilt making. Each dyed, painted or printed textile, a unique piece of art, is often cut and deconstructed to be reconciled into a new work. Everett’s work has been exhibited in national and local shows including QuiltCon, Houston International Quilt Festival, McGhee Tyson’s Art in the Airport. She has also been published in QuiltFolk and Quilt Now magazines. Melissa was born and raised in the mountains of Waynesville, NC where craft, improvising and resourcefulness were a way of life for mountain folk; these values carry through her work and connect her to her ancestors.

Tri-Star Arts at Candoro Marble Building, 4450 Candora Drive, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-5. Information: https://tristararts.org/visit

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, announces a new exhibition, “Homelands: Connecting to Mounds Through Native Art,” opening to the public on January 25, 2025. The project sets a new standard for collaborative exhibition practices at the McClung and represents the museum's most significant renovation in more than 20 years.

"‘Homelands’ is a defining moment for the McClung Museum. It’s the largest project we’ve undertaken in over two decades, but its impact goes far beyond its scale,” said Claudio Gómez, Jefferson Chapman Executive Director of the museum. “This exhibition has challenged us to rethink how we collaborate, bringing in new perspectives and allowing us to honor Native voices in ways that are both respectful and forward-thinking.”

“Homelands” showcases contemporary art by 17 Native artists to emphasize the enduring ties between Native Nations and Knox County. As a result of the exhibition, the museum has acquired 22 new works for its permanent collection.

https://news.utk.edu/2025/01/07/mcclung-museum-to-open-exhibition-centering-native-voices-and-contemporary-art/

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Tu-Sa 9-5, Sun 12-4. Information: 865-974-2144, https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/

1/24 • Family Owl Prowl
1/25 • Becoming a Survivalist: Beginner Outdoor Skills
1/25 • Nonprofits 101: Behind the Scenes at Ijams
1/25 • CREATIVE SERIES: Herbal Infusions Workshop
1/25 • Family Owl Prowl
1/26 • Reset, Renew, Rejuvenate Workshop
1/26 • Winter Tales with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association
1/31 • Nature Nerd Trivia
2/2 • SoundBath Meditation
2/2 • Reset, Renew, Rejuvenate Workshop

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