Calendar of Events

The Tennessee Artist’s Association will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 18th at 7:00 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 Northshore Dr., Knoxville. This meeting is free and open to anyone interested in the arts in East Tennessee. Refreshments will be served.

February’s program will feature Johnny Harris, a woodworker and artist from Nashville. His presentation will cover his woodworking business, H & H WOODWORKS, and how he makes his wooden painter’s palettes. He may have some available for sale at the meeting, or you can order one from him. They are priced from approximately $12 - $129. You can contact Harris at Jharrisjr52@gmail.com for more information.

Tennessee Artists Association - A place to learn and grow as an artist. Monthly programs of TAA include practical art demonstrations, discussions, and opportunities for individual artists to get involved in learning, community and shows. More on the Tennessee Artist’s Association can be found on the web at https://tnartists.org, on Instagram at @tn_artists, and on Facebook at TNArtistsAssociation.

"Can We Kick It"
6 PM
Presented by The F.L.O.W. (Freedom in Learning Our Worth)

Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915. Hours: Tu-F 10-2. Information: 865-524-8461, www.beckcenter.net

Mondays @ 6:30 PM Adult Tap Dance (Adv Beg)
Mondays @ 7:30 PM Adult Tap Dance (Int-Adv)
Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM Adult Jazz Chair Dance (Open Level)
Wednesdays @ 6:30 PM Adult Tap Dance (Beginners)
Thursdays @ 6:30 PM Adult Ballet Barre & Center

Classes held at The Follies Girls Dance & Performing Arts Center, located inside the 1400 Building at 1400 N. 6th Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865.888.0341 or www.thefolliesgirls.org

Ijams welcomes Donna Moore's Night Blooming Cereus showcase to the Hallway Gallery this month.

Moore says her work is often an exploration of reality distorted by time and memory. For this series, she used a flatbed scanner and an enlarger as her camera, and made cyanotypes and lumen prints using the sun and the passage of time to create original prints. Don't miss it!

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

2/15 • Paint with a Turkey Vulture and American Kestrel
2/16 • Reset, Renew, Rejuvenate: Yoga Workshop and Sauna Session
2/21 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program
2/22 • Ijams Junior Naturalist
2/22 • Reading the Landscape: Geology
2/22 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program
2/23 • Take Action! Annual Ijams Seed and Plant Swap
2/28 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program

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

The Smithsonian’s National Collection of Fishes X-rays represent more than 70 percent of the world’s fish specimens and is the largest and most diverse collection of its kind in the world. Although the X-rays featured in the national collection were made for research purposes, the strikingly elegant images demonstrate the natural union of science and art and are a visual retelling of the evolution of fish. X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out, an exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), showcases these dramatic prints exposing the inner workings of the fish.

The exhibition features 32 black-and-white digital prints of different species of fish. Arranged in evolutionary sequence, these X-rays give a tour through the long stream of fish evolution. The X-rays have allowed Smithsonian and other scientists to study the skeleton of a fish without altering the specimen, making it easier for scientists to build a comprehensive picture of fish diversity.

The exhibition also includes specimens from the collections of the McClung Museum, the Etnier Ichthyological Collection, and the Vertebrate Osteology Collection to highlight research happening with fish specimens at the University of Tennessee.

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/

By Neil Simon

Corie, a free-spirited optimist, and Paul, a reserved attorney, couldn’t be more different. Corie’s spontaneity clashes with Paul’s practicality, leading to a series of hilarious misunderstandings and endearing reconciliations as the newlyweds embark upon married life in their quirky, cozy new apartment. As their relationship evolves, the couple not only faces the challenges of wedlock, but also a grueling flight of stairs and an eccentric upstairs neighbor who adds an extra dash of hilarity. Love sparkles in Neil Simon’s delightful romp, reminding us that true love can endure even the quirkiest of circumstances – and be incredibly fun.

PG-13 AUDIENCES
https://www.orplayhouse.com/

BY JEROME LAWRENCE AND ROBERT E. LEE

Feel the heat of the courtroom in the sizzling American classic 'Inherit the Wind', an explosive drama inspired by the most important trial of the 20th Century, the Scopes Monkey Trial, on its 100th anniversary. As a media circus descends on a small Tennessee town, two of the nation’s most powerful lawyers go head-to-head in the ultimate battle of wits, wills, and the political and religious divide that could be ripped directly from today’s headlines. In a fresh production boldly reimagined for today, the fast-paced drama explores religion, intellectual freedom and the relationship between social norms and law.

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

As part of the Clarence Brown Theatre’s production of Inherit the Wind, the Hokes Archives presents the Association for Creative Zoology, a fictive creationist organization from the 1920s. Included are lithographs and taxidermy that present unusual hybrid animals, and a QR code with a short video presentation about Reverend James Randolph Denton, claimed to be the founder of the Association. The display also depicts the Taurus crockettensis, a bull-raccoon that inhabited Tennessee before the Great Global Flood. The project has been presented previously at the Scopes Trial Festival held in Dayton, Tennessee, and at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The exhibit was created by Beauvais Lyons, a Chancellor’s Professor of Art and Divisional Dean for Arts and Humanities in UT’s College of Arts and Sciences known or his works of academic parody.

Event dates: Tue-Fri Feb 11-14, 12-5 PM
Tue-Fri Feb 18-21, 12-5 PM
Tue-Thu Feb 25-27, 12-5 PM

Event Location: Clarence Brown Theatre, lobby, 1714 Andy Holt Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916
Beauvais Lyons: blyons@utk.edu, 865-974-4342 or https://calendar.utk.edu/event/the-association-for-creative-zoology

First Friday Reception: February 7th, 5:30 - 9 pm

Valentine themed art will be featured during the month of February! The opening features complimentary refreshments and music.

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

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, February 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Ella Pinchok and Friends.

Amadeus Concert Ensemble Presents Beethoven and Strauss
Amadeus Concert Ensemble is delighted to mount an exhibition celebrating composers being featured on its upcoming concerts at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:
+ “The Lighter Side of Beethoven” on Sunday, February 16 at 4:30 PM
+ “The Golden Age of Strauss” on Sunday, March 9 at 5:30 PM

The exhibition includes photographs, music, programs, and memorabilia from the collection of conductor Brian Salesky about composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss Sr. & Jr., and Oscar Straus.

Free reservations for the Amadeus Concert Ensemble concerts will be available at https://www.shcathedral.org/cathedral-concert-series.

The exhibitions will be on display February 7 – March 1, 2025 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 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.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, February 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Ella Pinchok and Friends.

All of us have an inner voice. For artists, that voice constantly whispers “create”, and one of the best ways to ignite the creative spark is through collaboration. In this spirit of camaraderie and creativity, three artists come together as “Three Dames” to exhibit their work: Linda Blair, Cheryl Massey (Cherdo) and Marcia Shelly (Maru) showcase their talents across various media, including watercolor, acrylic, pastel, and ink.

Dame Linda Blair shares this about their unique partnership, “We created Three Dames a few years ago to enjoy the advantages of exhibiting collectively. We each lean towards watermedia, which naturally allows our work to be a cohesive display.”

Dame Cheryl Massey (Cherdo) is a self-taught artist driven by an unwavering passion for art, creativity, and a dedicated commitment to lifelong learning. Whether actively engaged in creating art, exploring diverse artistic mediums, or drawing inspiration from a myriad of sources, her love for creativity establishes a profound connection with the artistic world. Identifying as a lifelong enthusiast of paint, pencil, and pastels, she proudly describes herself as a perpetual cheerleader for creativity. https://www.studiocherdo.com

Dame Marcia Shelly, recognized by the signature “Maru”, specializes in vibrant colorful paintings that have captured the attention of admirers throughout the U.S. and internationally. She sees art as a wonderful puzzle, finding the key to balance, color, depth and composition and making them fit together. https://www.maruarts.net

The Three Dames have exhibited throughout East Tennessee, including at the Emporium Center, Fountain City Art Center, Tomato Head restaurants, Awaken Coffee, Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Plateau Creative Arts Center (Crossville) and Good Samaritan of Crossville.

The exhibitions will be on display February 7 – March 1, 2025 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 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.