Calendar of Events

Poet Cameron Conway will read from his works at the University of Tennessee on March 7. The event is part of the university’s Writers in the Library readings series. The public is invited to this free reading at 7 p.m. in the Lindsay Young Auditorium of UT’s John C. Hodges Library.

Conaway writes poetry with a social conscience. His two most recent books bear witness to child labor in Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry and to malaria’s worldwide scourge. Chittagong: Poems & Essays (from Tennessee’s Iris Press), was praised by the Child Labor Coalition, and Malaria, Poems was named to NPR‘s Best Books of 2014 list.

Conaway has a diverse background: he is a former mixed martial arts fighter, an award-winning poet, a teacher, and a world traveler.

His work as a journalist has appeared in publications such as Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, Stanford Social Innovation Review and The Guardian, and has been supported by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, the International Reporting Project, the United Nations Foundation, Rotary International and the Wellcome Trust. In 2015, he was a recipient of the Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Fellowship.

Conaway is a popular speaker on the subjects of poetry, creativity, mindfulness, masculinity, social justice, and travel.

He is a graduate of Penn State Altoona (with bachelor’s degrees in English and Criminal Justice) and of the University of Arizona’s MFA Creative Writing Program.

Visit library.utk.edu/writers for a complete schedule of Writers in the Library readings for the 2016 spring semester.
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Writers in the Library is sponsored by the UT Libraries and the Creative Writing Program in association with the John C. Hodges Better English Fund. For more information contact Christopher Hebert, Jack E. Reese Writer-in-Residence at the UT Libraries (chebert3@utk.edu).

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twitter.com/utklibwriters

Doors open at 11:30 AM. This is a free event.
Enjoy Mighty Wurlitzer organ performances by Dr. Bill Snyder and Freddie Brabson and our special guests, vocalist Kelle Jolly and saxophonist Will Boyd. Kelle and Will have served as ambassadors of jazz, traveling to Muroran, Japan as Knoxville's Sister City representative at various jazz festivals and events. Brown bag lunches consisting of a sandwich, chips, and a dessert may be purchased in the lobby for $5.00 while supplies last. Soft drinks, bottled water, popcorn, and candy will also be available for purchase.

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

Free; registration required. Join us for a morning out as our museum educator leads engaging gallery tours for parents and caregivers and their young ones. Crying and wiggly babies welcome! This month we explore the Mayan Calendar in our special exhibition, Maya: Lords of Time. The event is free, but limited, and all attendees must register to attend online. Registration opens a month in advance and closes the day before the tour. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcclung-museum-free-stroller-tours-2016-17-registration-20728646941

Contact: Debbie Woodiel, woodield@utk.edu

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

Bliss Home is pleased to present new artwork by Knoxville artist, Lindsey Teague, for April's First Friday! Bliss Home, located at 29 Market Square, will host an opening reception on Friday, April 1st from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary treats from Wild Love Bakehouse will be provided and Lindsey's art will be featured for the month of April.

Lindsey Teague graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a BFA in Graphic Design in 2009. She is a freelance graphic designer with over 7 years of experience in the design field. She has worked with clients on every level from billion dollar corporations to first time small business owners. She volunteers her photography skills, which have been awarded by AIGA, by teaching inner city children photography workshop classes. She gives back to her community and various non-profit organizations by donating art, design work, and photography. She uses her spare time to refine her fine art work which has been showcased in over 12 First Fridays in the Knoxville area and will be presented in the Dogwood Arts Festival this spring.

Lindsey's April exhibit is inspired by what is meaningful in her life such as the people, places, and the history of this scruffy little city by the river. Lindsey's art process begins with taking photographs then she vectors the images down and prints them on wood boards. Along with an interesting texture, the wood carries an organic tone which is representative of the surrounding natural landscape. Each board is stained with an acrylic based paint to add a little vibrancy and contrast.

Bliss Home, 29 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-329-8868, www.shopinbliss.com

Cherry Blossom Wine Glasses - Mar 4th - 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Melting Pot - Gatlinburg
**Cookies and Canvas** Easter Bunny - Mar 6th - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Golden Corral - Sevierville
Yellow Bird - Mar 9th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Quaker Steak and Lube - Sevierville
Belk - Ladies night - March 10th - three mini-classes, an hour each, starting at 6pm for only $10 per painter per class.
Tennessee Theater at Night - Mar 12th - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Saw Works Brewing Co.
5 Wine Bottles - Mar 14th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - The Orangery
Emerald Island Castle - Mar 15th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Mind Yer P's & Q's
Two Lillies - Mar 16th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Le Noir Restaurant - Lenoir City
A Magical Night - Mar 21st - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Gibby's Dining & Drinks
Easter Lily - Mar 22nd - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Gavino's Pizzeria and Restaurant
Starry Night in Knoxville - Mar 23rd - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Carolina Ale House
Psychedelic Seascape - Mar 24th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Tellico Village Yacht Club - Loudon
Sunset in the Smokies - Mar 29th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - TGIFriday's - Sevierville
Super Moon - Mar 31st - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Casual Pint - Farragut

Classes are $35 unless otherwise noted. Wine & Canvas: Knoxville, TN, 865-356-9179, http://www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

The Central Collective will host a First Friday Art Opening and Reception on March 4 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. featuring new work by local artist Beth Meadows. Refreshments will be served and the event is free and open to the public.

Closing Reception on Wednesday, March 30, 6:30-8:30pm, Artist Talk at 7:30. Light refreshments will be served and the event is free and open to the public.

The exhibition will feature fashion-themed drawings and paintings. Meadows has been creating artwork along these lines for several years but has only recently explored the subject using traditional materials such as paint, paper, and canvas. This is her first solo exhibition in Knoxville since 2014. Original artwork as well as fine art prints will be for sale during the entirety of the exhibition. For purchasing information, contact Dale Mackey of The Central Collective at (865) 236-1590 or info@thecentralcollective.com.

Meadows lives and makes artwork in Knoxville, Tennessee where she graduated with a BFA in Studio Art in 2007. She grew up in Memphis but decided to settle in East Tennessee mainly because of her love for the Smoky Mountains. She co-founded and manages 17th Street Studios near downtown Knoxville, serves on the Biscuit Art Committee for the International Biscuit Festival, and shows artwork frequently around Knoxville. You may view and purchase her work at withbearhands.com.

The Central Collective, 923 N. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Hours: by appointment or during other scheduled events. Information: 865-236-1590, info@thecentralcollective.com, www.thecentralcollective.com

Opening reception March 4, 5:00 to 9:00 PM

Works by Melanie Reid.

The study of law can be very “left brained” - logical, analytical, and objective. … art allows me to explore my “right-brained” self – the intuitive, introspective, and subjective forms of being… my feelings as a first-time mother, a never-ending student of law and criminal procedure, and a great admirer of Latin American culture and traditions. These expressions came out in the form of mixed media, superimposing graphics from the codices and using multiple layers and dimensions found in Photoshop.

The Aztec and Mayan codices are books written by pre-Columbian and colonial-era Aztecs and Mayans describing everyday life during their empires. One of these, the Codex Mendoza, a pictorial document with Spanish annotations and commentary created in 1541, provides a general description of daily Aztec life. Throughout the years it has been a source of inspiration for artists all over.

Most of the photographs from this exhibit were taken in Tikal, an ancient city found in a rainforest in Guatemala.

HoLa Hora Latina, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 109, Knoxville, TN 37902. Gallery hours: MWF 1-5 PM and Tues-Thur 12-5 PM, or by appointment. Information: 865-335-3358, www.holafestival.org

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present “Three Views of Reality”, a new exhibition showcasing nearly 50 paintings by Brandon Douglas, Catherine Haverkamp, and Seth Haverkamp. Husband and wife, Seth and Catherine Haverkamp, are both international competition finalists; in addition to painting, Brandon Douglas has worked as a firefighter in Knox County for thirteen years. The exhibition highlights these artists’ shared love of family, creation, and realism and will be displayed in the Emporium Center. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition. A public reception will take place on Friday, March 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view their paintings.

In addition to working as a firefighter and paramedic in Knox County, Brandon Douglas has spent the last nine years honing his craft as a realist painter. For the past two years, he has furthered his techniques and skills under Seth Haverkamp’s guidance. Painting portraits is Douglas’ passion because the process allows him to identify with someone else, which enables him to analyze himself on a deeper level. His wife and young daughter inspire much of his work, and he hopes his paintings impart the beauty he witnesses every day. Douglas’ artwork has been featured in various art competitions and exhibits: Arts & Culture Alliance National Juried Exhibition in 2016 and 2015, where his “Self Portrait 2014” received Second Place; Dogwood Arts Regional Fine Art Exhibition; and Arts in the Airport. Several publications have showcased his work, including Professional Artist Magazine and E-Volved Magazine. For more information on Brandon Douglas, visit www.brandondouglas.net.

Like her husband Seth, Catherine Haverkamp’s four children inspire much of her artwork. While she took an eleven-year hiatus from professional painting to raise her children, she resumed her career as an artist three years ago. A self-taught artist, she honed her skills at Cleveland Institute of Art and Memphis College of Art. A gifted portrait and landscape painter, Haverkamp has received several notable awards, including Best of Show in the Arts & Culture Alliance National Juried Exhibition in 2015, an Award of Excellence in the Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Competition in 2015, and finalist in the 2013 and 2014 Art Renewal Center International Art Competition.

Seth Haverkamp has received commissions from several notable clients, including actor Zach Galifianakis, Katharine Weymouth (former publisher of The Washington Post and CEO of Washington Post Media), and Carnegie Institute of Science. Before moving to Knoxville, he spent a year studying at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia under renowned painter Nelson Shanks and then moved to Washington D.C. where he worked under celebrated artist Robert Liberace. Much of Haverkamp’s artwork reflects the complexity of childhood, highlighting both the innocence and profound introspection of a child’s mind. His wife and their four children are the inspiration behind many of his paintings. The Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Competition awarded Haverkamp Best in Show in 2008, People’s Choice Award in 2013, and Exceptional Merit in 2015. He was also a finalist and received honors in the Artists Renewal Center International Painting Competition for 2011, 2013, and 2014. Several publications have showcased his artwork, including American Artist, International Art Magazine, Artists on Art, and Southwest Artists. For more information on Seth Haverkamp, visit www.sethhaverkamp.com.

100 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sundays, March 6 & 20, 3:30-6:30 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition by the Knoxville Watercolor Society at the Emporium Center. Most of the works are for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition. A public reception will take place on Friday, March 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view their paintings.

In 1963, the Knoxville Watercolor Society began when the head of the University of Tennessee's art department, Kermit (Buck) Ewing, invited watercolor artists exhibiting at the university's McClung Museum to form the nucleus for the organization. The purpose of the organization is to educate the members as well as the community to the understanding of watercolor as a significant art form. Active membership is juried by the members and consists of Knoxville area artists who are currently active in the serious pursuit of aqueous painting. At present, there are 35 active members. Associate membership was added to provide other painters opportunity to benefit from the monthly programs and workshops.

Members exhibit with the Tennessee Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA and American Watercolor Society and consistently win regional, state and national awards. Annually, the organization provides a scholarship for a UT student who is majoring in watercolor painting, donates to the UT Ewing Gallery and maintains membership in the Arts and Culture Alliance of greater Knoxville. Additionally, grants have been made to the Arts Council of greater Knoxville, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Tennessee Resource Center, and the Tennessee Art Association High School Scholarship Program. Through the years, the area's increasing interest in watercolor painting is a result in part due to the growth and development of the Knoxville Watercolor Society. For more information, please visit www.knxvillewatercolorsociety.com.

100 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sundays, March 6 & 20, 3:30-6:30 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition entitled “A Stitch in Time” by local artists Bobbie Crews and Judi Gaston, March 4-24, 2016. “A Stitch in Time” combines fiber arts and mixed media to create a fascinating look into the resilient lives of women through the recycling of reality and relationships as well as materials. The works of Crews and Gaston overlap in their concern for women: the layers of who women are and how they exist and subsist in the larger political and material world. A public reception will take place on Friday, March 4, from 5:00-9:00 PM to which the public is invited to meet the artists and view their works.

Bobbie Crews will display part of a series of collage works dealing with women’s issues. She is focused on the ideas and theories that evolve around women’s perceptions of self, how women are perceived by society, and the undercurrent of emotional intelligence as it plays out in relationships. These are complex issues that are often judged by society’s standards of the moment or through whoever speaks the loudest. Women’s issues are constantly evolving even though behavioral patterns exist in relationships with the opposite sex, partners, and/or children that cycle over again, generation by generation. Bobbie Crews has been creating art for women’s issues since 2000. Many of her works are displayed in the Knoxville Family Justice Center where they do double duty as art and as a teaching tool. For more information on Bobbie Crews, please visit www.bobbiecrews.com. The ancient utilitarian craft of weaving evolves into the practical and artistic as Judi Gaston brings the past into the present with her handwoven recycled pieces. The past objects of women’s daily lives transform into present day art and fashion. In her hands the old common objects become visual and structural designs, one stitch at a time. For more information on Judi Gaston, please visit www.judigastonhandwoven.com.

100 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sundays, March 6 & 20, 3:30-6:30 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

Encore Theatrical Company and Walters State Community College are proud to present “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” This exciting and hilarious production is co-produced by the two organizations and kicks off Encore’s 10th anniversary season as well. The production runs March 4-20 at Walters State Community College.

Lovingly ripped off from the motion picture, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", “Spamalot” is the outrageous musical comedy that tells the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Rude Frenchmen, cancan dancers, the Lady of the Lake and her Laker Girls, Killer rabbits, catapulting cows, and the somewhat odd Knights who say "ni" are just part of the adventures and dangers awaiting King Arthur and his knights.

“Spamalot” was nominated for 14 Tony Awards, winning three, including Best New Musical. This hysterical musical features a hilarious and several show-stopping musical numbers including the popular “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

Encore and Walters State’s production of “Spamalot” will feature the original costumes from the London production that were designed by Tony Award-winning costume designer Tim Hatley. The production has over 150 intricate costumes, bringing to life the many zany characters made popular by Monty Python.

Performances are scheduled for March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 8:00 p.m. and March 6, 13, 19, and 20 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held at the William H. Inman Humanities Theatre located on the Morristown campus of Walters State Community College, 500 S Davy Crockett Pkwy, Morristown, TN 37813 . For tickets, please visit www.etcplays.org or call 423-318-8331.

Start Your Spring Cleaning! Changing a life has never been easier! Dry cleaners in Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Clinton, Farragut, Maryville, Sevierville, and Morristown are lending a hand by collecting donations during Project Wear and Share, an annual donation drive for Goodwill throughout the month of March. Donations are sold in local Goodwill stores to generate funds for Goodwill's job training programs and employment services. In 2015, Goodwill served over 4,100 individuals with barriers to employment in East Tennessee. Find a list of participating dry cleaners at http://www.gwiktn.org/projectwearandshare. There, you can also learn about Goodwill's vocational training programs, which are supported through donations from community members year-round.

Information: Goodwill Industries: 865-588-8567, www.gwiktn.org