It sometimes seems like a dream. Yes, there actually was a time when people went into theaters with other people and sat next to them while viewing and hearing creative expression from musicians, actors, and other artists on stage. While there is hope that the arts world can return to those carefree days of yore, we haven’t quite recovered yet from the pandemic nightmare that has made public performances impractical, if not impossible. However, necessity is the mother of invention—and restoring the ability for performers to perform and audiences to witness those performances is most decidedly necessary.
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra—musicians, staff, and audiences—has been especially hard hit, with a pandemic closure made even more painful by a musicians/management dispute exacerbated by an unexpected furlough. Thankfully, compromises were reached and now the orchestra is on the verge of offering the next best thing to live performances—live-streamed performances taking place from real venues.
The first of these live-streamed performances happens this Sunday afternoon, originating from its intended venue, the Bijou Theatre. The KSO, under conductor Aram Demirjian, will perform Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Tale), with collaboration from members of Marble City Opera (director James Marvel; narrated by Kathryn Frady) and Go! Contemporary Dance Works (choreography by Lisa Hall McKee).
“This charming cautionary tale tells the story of a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil for fame and fortune (reminiscent of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”!) allowing audiences to join in the story through live storytelling set to music.”
Sunday, February 7th, 2:30pm — TICKETS
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The Emporium Center: National Juried Exhibition of 2021
The Arts and Culture Alliance opens its 15th annual National Juried Exhibition on Friday, February 5, 2021. The exhibition will run through February 26. A free reception from 5:00-8:00 PM marks the opening. The Emporium Center is at 100 S. Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville.
All visitors to the Emporium are asked to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing guidelines. Most of the works will be for sale and may be purchased through the close of the exhibition by visiting in person or the online shop at www.knoxalliance.store.
The exhibition features works from 45 artists who are based throughout the region. The juror was the artist Addison Karl.
Exhibiting artists include:
Dave Edens of Madison, AL
Erica Doggett of Lawrenceville, GA
Virginia Taylor Derryberry of Asheville, NC
Ann Harwell of Wendell, NC
Sheila Chesanow of Athens, TN
Clay Hardwick and Carrie Pendergrass of Chattanooga, TN
Samantha Steadman of Johnson City, TN
Linda Blair, Larry Cole, Aleex Conner, Jurgen Dopatka, Vincent Drake, Laurie Drake, Robert Felker, Brian Horais, Shannon Deana Johnson, Merry Koschan, Kenneth Moffett, Allen Monsarrat, Tom Owens, Mera Ragsdale, Alex Rifwald, Annie Rochelle, Esther Sitver, Benjamin Smith, Richard Stulorow, William Timm, Marilyn Avery Turner, and Brandon Woods of Knoxville, TN
Barb McLean, Jack Retterer, and Marcia M. Shelly of Lenoir City, TN
Lil Clinard of Loudon, TN
Amber Patty of Madisonville, TN
Carl Gombert of Maryville, TN
Bill Long and Mike E. Sandlock of Morristown, TN
Elaine Marcel Culbert, Yvonne Dalschen, and Sylvia Milanez of Oak Ridge, TN
Jane Newman of Ooltewah, TN
Charlotte Rollman of Sevierville, TN
Marty McConnaughey of Sharps Chapel, TN
Amanda Long of Signal Mountain, TN
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Next door at the UT Downtown Gallery, “Beauford and Joseph Delaney: Lives in Art” also opens on Friday, February 5 from 5-8pm. The exhibition continues through February 27.
Although a joint retrospective of the brothers’ work was attempted in 1970 at the University of Tennessee, this will be the first actual exhibition of the brothers’ work together. This exhibition features works loaned from the estate of Beauford Delaney and works from the permanent collection of the Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture, as well as the private collection of Dr. Fred Moffatt.
The UT Downtown Gallery is open Wednesday – Friday 11am – 6pm and Saturdays 10am – 3pm.
106 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-673-0802, http://web.utk.edu/~downtown
