In the middle of May in any normal year, the arts season would be winding down with the pomp and circumstance of finale concerts and exhibitions attracting those surrendering to bare arms, summer colors, and a hiatus until September. Truly, the Knoxville arts scene has generally been the epitome of “…end in May, then go away.” However, this year is a bit different. With few organizations able to accomplish pandemic safety for performers and guests at live performances, virtual-ness has been our only outlet—one that hasn’t been all that satisfying. But now that social-distancing and mask requirements are being eased, the joy of live performances is once again within reach.
With the prospects of the 2021-22 season returning to what we like to call “normal,” organizations and artists are using May as a springboard to re-energize audiences and gin up the enthusiasm for getting out. This week, we have available a very diverse line up of music and arts experiences to roll into the summer months—and, hopefully, stimulate our arts appetites for the fall. Here are just a few —
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The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is ending its 2020-21 four month mini season of limited audience concerts with violinist Tessa Lark performing Michael Torke’s Sky, inspired by, and written for, Lark. The work is a totally unique fusion of Bluegrass tone and tonality knee-slapped onto a classical music form.
KSO music director Aram Demirjian is also including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2.
The concert in Downtown’s Tennessee Theatre will available as both a live stream and a limited live audience concert on Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21, both at 7:30pm.
Those interested in attending the live performances should call the KSO box office at 865.291.3310
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Live theatre, from both large organizations and more intimate ones, has been especially hard hit by the pandemic precautions. Certainly in that group is the Flying Anvil Theatre in Rocky Hill. The theatre company, under artistic director Jayne Morgan, is planning its return to live performances in the fall. In the meantime, they are offering Tiny Houses, a sequel to last year’s popular Branching Out. The work features a new story, promising hilarity, that follows the original cast a few months after the original play.
Tiny Houses features actors David Dwyer, Carol Goans, Vicki Sparks, Aleah Vassell, Jill Henderlight. One new character has been added- Dan, BP’s nervous and shy husband will be played by Donald Thorne.
The stream will be available May 21 thru May 30. Information and Tickets
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Two new exhibitions are opening at the Knoxville Museum of Art on Friday, May 21.
A View of the City: Knoxville & Vicinity and Undercurrents: Recent Acquisitions of Contemporary Art have been created from the museum’s own collections. Both exhibitions are on view through August 1, 2021.
From the KMA:
A View of the City: Knoxville & Vicinity features paintings by Marcia Goldenstein, Joanna Higgs Ross, Tom McGrath, and Karla Wozniak present local roadside imagery from a variety of artistic perspectives and compositional strategies. Color photographs by David Hilliard and David Underwood offer multiple views of local subjects in order to underscore the notion of movement and elapsed time. Black and white silver prints by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Danny Lyon represent key moments in Knoxville’s everyday life as captured by artists making their first visit to the city. Knoxville 7 artists Robert Birdwell and C. Kermit Ewing use prominent urban locations as points of departure into bold, angular abstractions. Figurative canvases by Joseph Delaney and Charles Farr offer nostalgic views of Knoxville’s inner city painted years after the artists left town, while descriptive architectural works by George Galloway and Joe Parrott depict local historic structures, many of which face an uncertain future. Together, these works offer a diverse portrait of Knoxville and its environs, and underscore the area’s importance during the last century as a source of creative inspiration.
Undercurrents: Recent Acquisitions of Contemporary Art features more than 20 paintings and works on paper representing the exciting growth of the KMA’s contemporary collection. It includes a diverse selection of figurative works by Katherine Bernhardt, Richard Jolley, John Kelley, Marin Majic, Daniel Pitin, and Charles E. Williams; abstractions by Hamlett Dobbins, Michelle Grabner, Howard Hull, Josh Smith, and Jered Sprecher; sculptures by John Himmelfarb and Creighton Michael, atmospheric photographs by David Allee and Robert von Sternberg, and works that test the boundary between representation and abstraction by Nathan Hylden and Antonio Santin. This selection reflects key developments in international contemporary art while also representing the studio practices of a variety of outstanding artists based in East Tennessee.
1050 World’s Fair Park, Downtown Knoxville
Information Hours: Wednesday – Sunday | 1Pm-5Pm
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Tri-Star Arts is offering Elements & Dreams, an exhibition by Raymond Padrón and Sarah Shebaro at the historic Candoro Marble Building. The show will open on Tuesday, May 18, and run through Saturday, July 10, 2021.
Public receptions will be held on Friday, May 21 from 5:00- 8:00 pm and Friday, July 2 from 5:00- 8:00 pm.
This exhibition will be open to the public in the spaces within the Candoro Marble Building, regularly from Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Masks and social distancing (6 feet apart) are required. The gallery occupancy is limited to a maximum of 10 persons at a time.
Tri-Star Arts at Candoro Marble Building, 4450 Candora Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920. Information
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At the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street — May Exhibitions run May 7-28
The Professional Photographers of East Tennessee: Different Together
A Celebration of Watercolor by the Knoxville Watercolor Society
Larry Cole: The Color of Light
Sonja Oswalt: Skin Deep – Portraits in Fiber
Diana Kilburn: Knoxville in Bloom
Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville.
The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Information: www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543
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Knoxville Children’s Theatre: Twelve Angry Jurors
The play will be performed Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM. Ends May 23
Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue
Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com
