Calendar of Events

Explore more than 60 miles of trails, open gardens, and camera site sites as you enjoy a walk, bike, or drive the time honored tradition of the Dogwood Trails and Open Gardens. Holston Hills is the 2016 Featured Trail.
For an online version of the Dogwood Trails & Gardens Guide please visit
http://www.dogwoodarts.com/trails-and-gardens/
Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561

APRIL 15, 16, 22, 23 AT 7:30 P.M. and APRIL 17, 24 AT 2 P.M.

Do good works overcome evil, in the end? This is the ultimate question posed by "Which Side Are You On: The Florence Reece Story," an original play that will have its world premiere at Pellissippi State Community College. The play is written by Pellissippi State's Writer-in-Residence Edward Francisco. It is a fictional retelling of the life of Florence Reece, an American social activist, poet and folksong writer. The daughter and wife of coal miners, she penned the song "Which Side Are You On?" which became a social justice anthem after Pete Seeger recorded the tune in 1940. "Florence Reece began writing this song when she was just 12 years old," Francisco said. "She finished it when she was 31, after hiding under a bed with her seven children to avoid the bullets fired by hired gun thugs working for the mining company. She tore a calendar page off the wall and wrote the lyrics."

That year was 1931, the beginning of the Harlan County War, a decade-long battle between coal miners and union organizers on one side and the coal companies, gun thugs and law enforcement officials on the other. The war included a series of strikes, skirmishes, bombings, executions and the occupation of Harlan County by both state and federal troops. Reece's husband, Sam, a union organizer, died of black lung in 1978. Reece died in Knoxville in 1986. The final scene of the play imagines what may have been some of the final words shared between Sam and Florence, among them: Do good works truly matter? Because so little information exists about Reece's life apart from her contributions during the Harlan County War, Francisco conflated the fictional retelling of Reece's life with experiences from his own grandmother, the daughter of a coal miner herself.

At the Clayton Performing Arts Center at Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

April 15-16, 9am-5pm and April 17, 10am-4pm

The 7th annual Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival to be held at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend. The event will again offer its popular vendors marketplace; family activities; live animal displays; fiber arts demonstrations; and classes for beginners through advanced fiber enthusiasts. General admission is free, though classes require a fee. In addition, pre-registration for classes is requested and is now open (visit event website, link below.)

Classes are offered for beginning through advanced levels, and include weaving, crocheting, needle felting, nuno felting, rug hooking, twining, yarn dyeing, and much more, including the popular spinning classes by Jennifer Bennett of Harmony Wools Alpacas, Sweetwater, TN. Over forty classes are offered, with new classes added for 2016. Details, including vendor and class lists, and how to register for classes, may be found on the event website, www.smokymountainfiberartsfestival.org.

The featured instructor for 2016 is Geri Forkner. Her mixed media fiber art is defined by lifelong passions to make one of everything and to save materials from the global scrapheap. Visit her website: www.weavingschool.wordpress.com

During the 2016 festival in Townsend, demonstrations will again be available for adults and children to explore the various techniques of working with fibers. The demonstrators will help the beginner identify where to begin, and help resolve questions of the more experienced fiber enthusiast. Scheduled children’s activities include weaving, clay modeling, and llama walks. In addition, many of the fiber arts classes are suitable for ages 12 and above. Russell and Sherry Liles of Liles Acres Organic Farms, Maryville, TN, will return with their llamas, goats, and Angora rabbits. Roger and Rosalyn Fanti and their three children of Saddle Brook Farm, Dandridge, TN will also be back with their sheep and will share the processes of raising the sheep, to shearing. This makes the festival truly a “sheep to shawl” event, showing the entire process from fleece to fiber to threads and yarn, to finished goods.

Questions and inquiries may be addressed by contacting the Townsend Artisan Guild at townsendartisanguild@gmail.com or by calling 865-448-0859. Class registration and further information is available on www.smokymountainfiberartsfestival.org.

Mozart's classic tale of Don Giovanni, where a man's lecherous lifestyle leads him to his own demise when the heavens are called upon for the ultimate revenge.

Friday, April 15, 2016 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 2:30 p.m.

At The Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville TN 37902. Tickets available at the Tennessee Theatre box office or at www.ticketmaster.com. UT School of Music: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events

Musical theatre fun for the entire family! The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton faces a double challenge–not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.

Adults- $15, Students- $10, Kids- $7

Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall, Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

"DEATHTRAP" April 14-16; 21-24.
Tony Award winning comedy-thriller in 2 Acts by Ira Levin.
Produced by The Tellico Community Players in The Pat Smith Theatre
304 Lakeside Plaza, Loudon, TN 37774

To make Sidney's slump all the more painful, Clifford Anderson, a student of one of Sidney's writing seminars, has recently sent his mentor a copy of his first attempt at playwriting for Sidney's review and advice. The play Deathtrap, is a five character, two-act thriller so perfect in its construction that, as Sidney says, "A gifted director couldn't even hurt it." Using his penchant for plot, and out of his desperate desire to once again be the toast of Broadway, Sidney along with his wife, Myra, cook up an almost unthinkable scheme: They'll lure the would-be-playwright to the Bruhl home, kill him, and market the sure-fire script as Sidney's own. But shortly after Clifford arrives, it's clear that things are not what they seem! Indeed, even Helga Ten Dorp, a psychic from next door, and Porter Milgram, Sidney's observant attorney, can only speculate where the line between truth and deception lies.

For information and tickets: http://www.tellicocommunityplayhouse.org/

Re-connect with old friends and make new ones. A time to remember, this weekend showcases the history, heritage and success of the Pi Beta Phi and Arrowmont partnership.

Thursday evening - April 14 - Historian, storyteller and fifth-generation weaver Frances Fox will present "The College Women and the Mountaineers: A look at how a few dedicated women educated a region, built a town and economy, and created an enduring legacy."

Friday and Saturday - April 15 & 16 | Workshops - Robert Batey and Dana Cohen | From Cell Phones to Pocket Cameras: Taking the mystery out of nature and portrait photography
Frances Fox | Weaving the Past: Creating a tapestry from your memories
Pat K. Thomas | Dyeing and Marbling: Creating scarves, pictures and wall hangings
Joel Zachry | The Art of Nature: Rambling and observing flora and fauna in the Great Smoky Mountains

Fellowship
Friday Evening - April 15 | Gallery Opening: 2015-2016 Artists in Residence Show
Saturday Evening - April 16 | Music of the Great Smokies: John Phillips and Band - informal concert on the Patio | Sugarland Cellars: Winetasting
Sunday - April 17 | Brunch and program by Artists in Residence

Gallery hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

WHAT IS IT? The most fun you will have in rented shoes!

It’s not about the bowling…it’s about the kids! Bowl for Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters of East TN’s largest annual fundraiser bringing together more than 900 community members to major bowling parties to raise funds for a great cause. Bowl For Kids’ Sake is the perfect way for individuals to make an impact on our community – it only takes a little bit of effort to raise the money that is vital to our program’s success. As a “thank you” for your support and enthusiasm, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East TN hosts a celebratory party at your local bowling center. No bowling expertise is required, only the willingness to share in our heartfelt and sincere thanks for helping us transform our community.

April 9, 10:00AM-2:00PM at the Oak Ridge Bowling Center.
April 16, 11:00AM-2:00PM, Maryville, Crest Lanes
April 22, 4:00-9:00PM, Strike and Spare, Western Avenue, Knoxville
April 23, 10:00AM-4:00PM, Strike and Spare, Western Avenue, Knoxville

For registration and more information please visit http://www.tennesseebig.org/bowlforkidstoday or contact adamas@tennesseebig.org or Alli Damas at 865-523-9455.

The Synergy Exhibitions feature the creative work of gifted art students from elementary, middle and high schools alongside their educators representing the public schools and private academies of East Tennessee. Student Art Exhibition curated by Amanda Galbraith.

Opening: Thursday, April 7 from 5:00-9:00pm and Awards Presentation: 7:00pm

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm. Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

A world-class visual arts exhibition of large-scale outdoor sculpture which enliven downtown Knoxville, the McGhee Tyson Airport and Oak Ridge. Sculpture artist Isaac Duncan III, a Brooklyn, New York native who currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee served as the Juror for the 2016-2017 exhibition. #AIPP

Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA) invites you to Scruffy ‘Scapes and Sonnets, an art and poetry exhibit featuring two-dimensional art depicting the scruffy city of Knoxville, TN and the sonnets that were written with the pieces of art in mind.

SAFTA introduces this exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. in Preservation Pub’s second floor Speakeasy. This event will feature a reception with the artists as well as a reading from the featured poets. Please join us as we celebrate the tremendous amount of talent that Knoxville holds!

The show itself runs from April 1 through May 5, 2016 and features photography by Michelle Jephcott, Jessica Hanneken, Anita Koester, Keith Norris, and Shae Hacker, paintings by Starr Cline and Dawn Hawkins, and sonnets by nationally-acclaimed poets Kristi Maxwell, Chris Petruccelli, Ben McClendon, Keri Withington, Erin Elizabeth Smith, and more!

Sundress Academy for the Arts: (865) 560-6106, safta@sundresspublications.com, http://www.sundresspublications.com

A celebration of the artwork of Susanne C. Barrie (née Susan Jenkins). Selected drawings and prints will be on exhibit from April 1-30th. The exhibit’s opening reception is on April 8th from 6-9 pm.

Susanne earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University. Susanne traveled the world honing her skills as an artist/printmaker, with extensive travel and work in Mexico, Europe, and Japan. Susanne moved to Knoxville in the early 1980s where she has been a long-time, active member of the local arts community.

Cafe hours 10-2 every Friday. The gallery is often accessible, but one would need to check the website for a complete schedule of when the Birdhouse is open and the gallery is accessible to the public. The Birdhouse Bird Feeder Gallery, 800 N 4th Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: http://birdhouseknoxville.com, birdhouseknoxvillegallery@gmail.com