Calendar of Events

First Friday, 5-8 PM on March 7
Seven Decades in Bloom reflects on the 70-year journey of Dogwood Arts, with an immersive retrospective honoring our rich history, evolution, and impact on the region.

123 W. Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
Regular Gallery Hours: M-F | 10AM-5PM

KITE SYMPHONY: a multidisciplinary exhibition by Roberto Carlos Lange + Kristi Sword
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIG EARS FESTIVAL | FIRST FRIDAYS: MARCH 7 + APRIL 4 | 5-9PM

EXTENDED BIG EARS HOURS: MARCH 27, 28, 29 | 12-9PM and MARCH 30 | 12-6PM and SPECIAL PERFORMANCES | STAR SCORES
Each day of the festival, a unique ensemble – featuring Lange, Rob Frye, and a cast of special friends and guests – will perform four experimental compositions alongside and impressionistic film exploring the forces shaping the West Texas landscape and Appalachian skies.
Thursday | March 27, 7:30PM | Performers: Rob Frye, Roberto Carlos Lange, and Darian Donovan Thomas
Friday | March 28, 1PM | Performers: Roberto Carlos Lange
Saturday | March 29, 1PM | Performers: Rob Frye and Roberto Carlos Lange
Sunday | March 30, 1PM | Performers: Rob Frye, Roberto Carlos Lange, Darian Donovan Thomas, and Kalia Vandever

Kite Symphony is a multidisciplinary exhibition by Roberto Carlos Lange and Kristi Sword. The project features a series of drawings called Radio Telescope. Two films, one experimental piece called Star Scores, will be scored live during the Big Ears festival, and a film documenting sculptural interventions during their time in Marfa, Texas. Sound is the throughline between these diverse elements of this long-term project. Lange is a musician (widely known as Helado Negro), Sword is a visual artist, and Kite Symphony is an extension of their collaborative practice where they create work at the intersection of music, performance, and visual art. Parts of the film were originally commissioned by Ballroom Marfa and organized by Sarah Melendez.

“Lange, better known as Helado Negro, teams with the visual artist Kristi Sword for a sprawling and inspired project paying tribute to the Marfa, Texas sky.” – Pitchfork

UT Downtown Gallery, 106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: W-F 11-6, Sa 10-3. Information: 865-673-0802, https://downtown.utk.edu

Darren Kiely, Thursday, May 1, 7:30 PM at the Bijou Theatre.

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B00623899FA4FCE

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

Mark your calendars for Random Acts of Flowers upcoming Garden Party on Thursday,
May 1 at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens Dogwood Center (2817 Boyds Bridge Pike Knoxville, TN 37914) from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. This event promises an evening of beauty, community, and support for RAF's mission. Enjoy a delightful evening with live music, delicious food, and a silent auction featuring unique items and experiences. We invite you to join us by purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor. Your participation and contributions directly support our efforts to bring joy and comfort to those in need.

Reserve your spot now and be part of an evening that will leave you inspired and in full bloom! Tickets at: https://randomactsofflowers-bloom.kindful.com/e/random-acts-of-flowers-2025-garden-party

rafknoxville.org

Thursday, May 1, 2025 from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus • Knoxville TN

The Cathedral Concert Series is pleased to present Knoxville Chamber Chorale, under the direction of Dr. John Orr, performing sacred and choral music of William Byrd, Felix Mendelssohn, Randall Thompson, Jacab Narverd, Eric Barnum, and more...

Since 1951, the Knoxville Choral Society has been honored to share a wide range of music with our community. Dedicated to maintaining choral excellence, this group of auditioned musicians performs major choral and orchestral works as well as additional varied styles of choral literature. A small group from the society, the Knoxville Chamber Chorale, is selected by audition to perform at KCS concerts and by invitation in the Knoxville area. The Chorale makes special appearances on local television as well as civic and corporate events.

Admission is Free: Seating is Limited.(doors open 1 hour before concert). Please Respect our Sacred Space: No Food/Drink/Gum.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cathedral-concert-knoxville-choral-society-chamber-chorale-tickets-1320231601259

Thursday, May 1, 2025 9:30am to 10:30am
Thursday, May 15, 2025 9:30am to 10:30am

End your week with gentle yoga at the McClung Museum. Enjoy breathing, relaxing movements, and stretching, with some calm, meditative moments to ease you into your Friday. We encourage you to wear comfortable clothes that you can move in and bring a yoga mat. Forgot your mat or don't have one? No problem! The museum has a limited supply of mats to loan. No experience is necessary.

About the Instructor: Megan Fields just celebrated her 20th anniversary at UT and currently serves as the Director of Public Speaking. She also lives on campus as a sorority house director and enjoys supporting students. In her free time, she teaches yoga and meditation and enjoys reading and hiking. Her life goal is to share mindfulness practices to stay grounded in this fast-paced, distracted culture.

https://calendar.utk.edu/event/copy-of-yoga-at-the-museum

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/

Wednesday, May 1 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Adults-Only (21+)
Who says kids get to have all the fun? Beer & Blooms is your chance to unwind, get creative, and enjoy a lively evening at Muse Knoxville—adults only! Sip on complimentary beer tastings, personalize your own flowerpot, and plant something special to take home—all while enjoying live music and fun, hands-on activities with friends.
What’s Included: Complimentary beer tastings from local breweries
A flowerpot, paints, and a plant to take home
Creative, interactive activities
Live music to keep the vibe just right

Whether you're flying solo or coming with friends, this 21+ event promises a night of creativity, community, and craft brews. Come out and let your inner child play—adult-style! https://114609.blackbaudhosting.com/114609/Beer--Blooms

First Friday Reception: May 2nd, 5:30 - 9 pm
May Featured Artist

Kimberly Collins, Photography
Kimberly is a storyteller. Whether she’s weaving a tale of fiction or exploring the world through the camera lens, story is the ultimate goal. Kimberly’s photography covers many areas across the country, but her favorite subjects make their home in Appalachia
—wild horses in West Virginia, a stream in the Great Smoky Mountains, an ancient magnolia tree, or the delicate blooms on a dogwood. She hopes to share the magic and wonder of Appalachia through her photography. Kimberly is board member of the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville, Tennessee (2025). Kimberly is also a published author and her latest historical fiction series, Mingo Chronicles (Blood Creek and The Massacre), depicts the coal mine wars in West Virginia. Set in the early 1900s, this pivotal labor struggle includes one of the largest armed insurrections in the history of the United States. Kimberly is a writer, a photographer, a dreamer—creating worlds with the magic of words and images.

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 2025 Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition & Auction includes 20 guitars designed and painted by youth artists from across East Tennessee.

Dogwood Arts Gallery, 123 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902

The 2025 Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition & Auction includes 20 guitars designed and painted by youth artists from across East Tennessee. The exhibition will be on display in the Dogwood Gallery during the month of May and at Southern Skies Music Festival on May 10th. The guitars will be auctioned online to benefit youth art programs at Dogwood Arts.

Participating schools: Bearden High School, Concord Christian School, Farragut High School, Gibbs High School, Home School, Jefferson Middle School, Karns High School, L&N STEM Academy, Maryville High School, and West Valley Middle School.

First Friday Opening Reception: Friday, May 2nd from 5-8PM
Gallery Hours: M-F 10AM-5PM
123 W. Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
https://www.dogwoodarts.com/event-details/epiphone-student-guitar-design-exhibition

"I present a curated collection of self-portraits created over my 30-year artistic career. These works chronicle my life from husband to father to widow. The work follows not just what I looked like, but my seasons of life and artistic influences. To quote Vincent Van Gogh: People say, and I’m quite willing to believe it, that it is difficult to know oneself, but it’s not easy to paint oneself either. Other than high school art classes and a scholarship to Governors School for the Arts, I am largely self-taught. I paint in acrylic, using an airbrush and more recently a paintbrush as I have come to value brush strokes. I count among my artistic influences: Salvador Dali, Chuck Close, Van Gogh, and M.C. Escher."

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, May 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Robinella and friends. At the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday (May 3 & 10), 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; and additional hours TBA. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, May 24, for the holiday. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at knoxalliance.store. For more information, please see knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

Born and raised in East Knoxville, Sheryl Sallie holds a bachelor’s in education from Knoxville College and a master’s in educational psychology from the University of Tennessee. She taught in the Knoxville City School System and the Knox County School System for 35 years. After retirement, she wanted to try something new, and after several tries at different art forms, she chose mixed media because it became a natural fit. Sallie is also a poet, honored in several poetry contests including winning first place in the Tennessee Writers Alliance Poetry Competition in which Nikki Giovanni served as final judge. Her artwork has exhibited at the Fountain City Art Center, the Oak Ridge Art Center and the Emporium. She lives in Karns with her husband, Reginald.

I picked this collection to highlight some of my favorite pieces as well as introduce new pieces. Mixed media is ideal because it allows me to express myself by using everyday objects in extraordinary ways. I use layers of collage, paint, image transfers, and found objects to create texture and substance in my art. Currently I am adding works to a group of paintings depicting Goddesses: strong, beautiful women, as I see them. Goddesses exist everywhere women gather. I hope the viewers will see something that brings joy and will touch something deep within.

Instagram @sheryl_j_sallie

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, May 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Robinella and friends. At the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday (May 3 & 10), 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; and additional hours TBA. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, May 24, for the holiday. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at knoxalliance.store. For more information, please see knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.

Whispers from the Root and River explores the quiet space where nature and spirit meet. Through abstract landscapes and felted, mixed media figures made of wool, branches, and cloth inscribed with blessings, Laura McRae Hitchcock evokes the presence of the wild feminine and the sacred voice of the land. Her process is slow and meditative—felting wool with barbed needles until it becomes form, or painting layer upon layer—mirroring the journey back to self and ancestral memory. This collection is an invitation to remember that we, too, are part of the mystery that lives in root and river, body and breath.

Laura McRae Hitchcock is a painter and mixed media artist whose work is rooted in memory, nature, and the unseen forces that shape our inner landscapes. She holds a degree in art from Agnes Scott College. Hitchcock is the co-founder of Wild Hair Adventures Art Retreats, and her art has been exhibited in solo and juried shows nationwide and in Europe. She is a member of the National Association of Women Artists and its South Carolina chapter. Recently, she moved from the Lowcountry of South Carolina to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee where she finds great joy being surrounded by rolling mist, the hush of old trees, and the whispers of the mountains.

LauraMcRaeHitchcock.com | Instagram @lmcraehitchcock
wildhairartretreats.com | facebook.com/LauraMcRaeHitchcockFineArt

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, May 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Robinella and friends. At the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday (May 3 & 10), 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; and additional hours TBA. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, May 24, for the holiday. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at knoxalliance.store. For more information, please see knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.