Calendar of Events

Marble City Opera will present an immersive, site-specific production of The Human Voice on April 3, 4, and 5, 2025 at Historic Westwood, 3425 Kingston Pike, Knoxville.

The Human Voice was composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. It is a one-act monodrama based on a play by Jean Cocteau. Marble City Opera’s production will be sung in English. The only character is a woman on the phone with her former lover who abandoned her for another woman.

Historic Westwood is a Queen Anne style home completed in 1890. It was the residence and studio of artist Adelia Armstrong Lutz and her husband John. Westwood has served as the headquarters for Knox Heritage since 2013.

Soprano Kathryn Frady will sing the part of Elle, accompanied by Brandon Coffer on piano. Marya Barry will be the stage director for the production.

Marble City Opera: 865-226-9756, www.marblecityopera.com

TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN WRITERS PRESENTS THE 36TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE,
April 3-5, 2025, at the Double Tree Hotel, Oak Ridge, TN

The conference will include Workshops, Networking, Publishers, Book Signings, Bookstore, Vendors and Manuscript Evaluations!

Deadline for MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION ENTRIES is MARCH 1, 2025.

Workshop Leaders include JANISSE RAY - Banquet Speaker and Nonfiction; CHARLES DODD WHITE - Fiction and General Session; CAMERON L. MITCHELL - Poetry; KRISTIN O’DONNELL TUBB - Young People’s Literature.

Specialty Sessions include JENNIE IVEY – Inspirational Writing; KELLE JOLLY – Writing a Blues Song; TERRY SHAW, JENNIE IVEY, KRISTIN O’DONNELL TUBB – Fitting a Writing Practice Into Your Busy Life; KEITH STEWART – Humor Writing; LARRY D. THACKER – Writing Short Stories.

Early Conference Registration Rate ends March 21, 2025.
For complete information on all of this and to register, go to our website, tmwi.org

JEFF ARCURI: WHOLE WIDE WORLD TOUR
THURSDAY, APRIL 3 | 7PM

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

Thursday, April 3, 8:00 PM at the Bijou Theatre. Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld is bringing An Open Book: I Laugh At Myself to the Bijou. This one-man show will take you on a deeply personal journey through Furstenfeld’s life, music, and creative evolution. The I Laugh At Myself tour is an all-new, evolved experience from his previous Open Book shows. It features completely fresh stories, songs, and insights, offering fans a rare glimpse into the man behind the music and the stories that have shaped his career. This unique blend of acoustic performances, heartfelt storytelling, and intimate audience interaction makes the I Laugh At Myself show a must-see event.

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B006184E06D6201

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

A Zoom Program Sponsored by the UT Arboretum Society on Thursday, April 3 at 7pm

Our hummingbirds are returning to East Tennessee in April after their winter migration. Did you know there are over 330 hummingbird species, but they are only found in North and South America? They may be small, but they are colorful and powerful.
Join the UT Arboretum Society via Zoom on Thursday, April 3, 7pm EDT as Michelle Campanis, education coordinator at the University of Tennessee Arboretum, and naturalist/author Stephen Lyn Bales, give us an overview of our beloved hummingbirds. The First Thursday Nature Supper Club presentation is hosted by the UT Arboretum Society each month. The class is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link and recording. Register at www.utarboretumsociety.org under Programs.
These vibrant flower-loving pixies occur in a wider range of colors than all other bird species combined. Purple, yellow, green, crimson, blue, like the colors of a rainbow. The wintertime Rufous Hummingbird is even bathed in UT Orange! Yet, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is our most familiar summertime hummer. Closed captions are available. Please contact Michelle at mcampani@utk.edu for any questions or registration issues.

To contact Stephen Lyn Bales or buy one of his UT Press books, email him at hellostephenlyn@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD, 2025 | 5:30-7pm
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, ART + ARCHITECTURE RM109 | 1715 Volunteer Blvd.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRI-STAR ARTS

Tri-Star Arts is pleased to present an upcoming exhibition in their Main Gallery at the historic Candoro Marble Building. A solo show featuring recent works by artist Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi (Johannesburg, South Africa) opens Friday, April 4 and will run through Saturday, June 14, 2025. Curator: Brian R. Jobe.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 from 5:00 until 8:00 pm (artist in attendance). The address is 4450 Candora Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920 and admission is always free of charge. Visitors should drive only on the crushed gravel driveway and parking lo surfaces. Driving vehicles on the lawn is always prohibited.

There will be an artist talk on the evening of Thursday, April 3, 2025 at the University of Tennessee School of Art (room AA109) co-presented by the UT School of Art. Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi obtained her BA from Harvard University (2004) and her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York (2008). She divides her time between studio work, performance, and navigating the field of art as social practice. Her work investigates the lived consequences of imperial histories and the personal dimensions of political identities, collectivity, and futurity, among other concepts. https://thenjiwenkosi.com/

Tuesday, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Maple Hall, 414 S. Gay Street

Illustrated with a researched slide show, we’ll go deep on the history of music in Knoxville, about two centuries of it, from intriguing evidence in the early days to the robust operatic era after German immigration, to the once-famous country-music radio era of the mid-20th century, with connections to blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and electronic music. The emphasis is on how Knoxville changed the world of music—and vice versa. Joining Jack and Paul will be at least one collaborator, Eric Dawson, an advisor on the Walking Music Guide project.

Free program. Food and drink for purchase.

Knoxville History Project: 865-300-4559, www.Knoxvillehistoryproject.org

MAIN GALLERY
Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi — Apr. 4 - Jun. 21, 2025 / reception Apr. 4, 2025

PROJECT SPACE
Meg White — Apr. 4 - Jun. 21, 2025 / reception Apr. 4, 2025

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

UT Big Band Concert
Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

Woodwind Chamber Music Spring Showcase
Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

Chamber Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

String Chamber Ensembles
Wednesday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

UT Bands Concert
Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Alumni Memorial Building, Cox Auditorium

UT Opera: Dialogues of Carmelites
Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27
Bijou Theatre

UT Small Jazz Ensembles Concert
Monday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

UT Appalachian Strings
Friday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.
Laurel Theatre

Rhythm & Blues Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

UT College of Music: Unless otherwise noted, concerts are FREE and open to the public. In-person events that take place in the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall or the James R. Cox Auditorium also have livestream options: https://music.utk.edu/news-events/#calendar. Venues: Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center located at 1741 Volunteer Boulevard; James R. Cox Auditorium and Performance Hall 32, both in the Alumni Memorial Building located at 1408 Middle Drive. Information: 865-974-8935, https://music.utk.edu/events/

Friday, April 4 from 6-8 Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for Emily McTyre

Emily McTyre is a photographer, filmmaker, and mixed media artist from East Tennessee. Her photography is often inspired by travel, evoking a sense of place for the viewer.

More about this collection: Emily enjoys working with black and white film as it emphasizes light and shadow, texture and pattern. Photos in this collection were taken around the world: England, Germany, Georgia, and Tennessee. Whether it be our own backyard or many miles away, we can capture moments and symbols of familiarity that tie us together.

Please join us for some amazing art and of course great coffee!

Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Open daily. Information: 865-951-0427, www.instagram.com/awaken_coffee or www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

First Friday Reception: April 4th, 5:30 - 9 pm
April Featured Artists

Carol Quinn, Mixed Media
Carol has painted and exhibted since the late 1980’s, mostly in the Southeast. She has also been in exhibitions in
NYC through World Fine Art Gallery, Ariel Gallery, and Abney Gallery. Carol is inspired by nature and the local beauty of her local area, as well as the psychological processes that create this inspiration. She has been a member of Art Market Gallery since 2018. In the last few years Carol has participated in many solo and group shows in the Knoxville area. Carol was educated at the University of Tennessee (BS, MS, and PhD.) in Human Ecology. She began painting in the early 80’s as a watercolorist painting mostly nature, and rapidly moved into various mixed media, larger creations, and more abstraction in design. Her work consists of self-exploration and experimentation with different mediums, and the passion of exploring color and textures.

Patrick Deason, Sculpture
Patrick's art in metal grew out of other interests. His skills are self-taught and many of the tools he uses to shape metal were made by him. Patrick spent a large part of his career on the coastal waters of Georgia and Florida, hence the many marine related pieces. His whimsical works are intended to bring smiles and curiosity. Patrick's studio is in a house in the woods he shares with his wife, two dogs, and a very talkative parrot.

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

They will be on view and available for purchase until the end of April.
First Friday reception, April 4, 6-8 PM
Instagram @hollypawlowskiart
https://www.facebook.com/holly.pawlowski.71

Address: 207 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 337-5726