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February 2008
The Fisk Jubilee Singers: Singing Our Song
The National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces Initiative and the Tennessee Arts Commission present the Fisk Jubilee Singers: Singing Our Song at the Tennessee Theatre on Friday, February 15, at 8:00 p.m. The Arts & Culture Alliance is the local host of the concert which also features rousing performances by The Carpetbag Theatre and Praise, Honour and Glory. The American Masterpieces project was developed to introduce Americans to the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. The goal of the project is to remind the citizens of Tennessee of their extraordinary musical heritage, as the Fisk Jubilee Singers, an institution for over 135 years, perform slave spirituals and choral music. The African American spirituals are masterpieces in every sense, artistically profound and enormously influential. Some of the songs that Fisk Jubilee Singers will perform include "Ain't That Good News", "My Lord, What a Morning," and "There is a Balm in Gilead".
There is a daytime performance for school children at 10:50 a.m. on February 15, which includes about 45 minutes of music and a Question and Answer session with the singers. Download a Fisk Jubilee Singers Teacher Study Guide by clicking here (PDF file).
Tickets are on sale now through KnoxTIX and can be purchased by calling (865) 523-7521 or visiting www.knoxtix.com. Ticket prices are $15 for general admission; $12.50 for seniors or groups of 10 or more; and $5 for children under 18. Tickets are also available at the Tennessee Theatre box office or through Tickets Unlimited. The Tennessee Theatre is located at 604 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers are young men and women, vocal artists and students of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee who sing and travel worldwide. The original Jubilee Singers introduced 'slave songs' to the world in 1871 and were instrumental in preserving this unique American musical tradition known today as Negro spirituals. They broke racial barriers in the US and abroad in the late 19th century and entertained Kings and Queens in Europe. At the same time they raised money in support of their beloved school.
The Carpetbag Theatre is a community based, non-profit, professional theatre company founded in 1970 and dedicated to the production of new works. They will perform sacred music in the style of the 1930s, including "John Henry," "When He Calls Me, I Will Answer", and "Wading through Deep Water".
Praise, Honour and Glory is a Christian music ministry based in Knoxville, Tennessee whose outreach is to churches, schools, charities, and the community at large. Besides cities in Tennessee, the group has traveled to Virginia, Ohio and South Carolina performing concerts.
This event is supported by St. Mary's Medical System, WBIR TV-10, the Knoxville News Sentinel, WUOT 91.9FM and the Psi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. of East Tennessee.
For more information, please call the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543.
The Scholastic Art Awards of 2008
Thanks to presenting sponsor, the First Tennessee Foundation, the general public is invited to view The Scholastic Art Awards of 2008 Exhibition beginning with an opening reception on Friday, February 1, from 5-9pm, as part of First Friday activities downtown. The exhibition of regional student artwork (grades 7-12) continues through February 29 in the Emporium Center Gallery, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. At the Awards Ceremony on February 3, the Alliance will present 75 Gold Keys and five American Visions Nominees to go on to the national competition in New York and 75 Silver Keys and 65 Honorable Mentions for distinction.
Click here to view all of the Gold Key works.
"Never Trust a Horse" drawing by Drew Farr, grade 7, Webb School
“We're very proud of the talent of Greater Knoxville's art students and feel indebted to the wonderful corps of art teachers who foster and direct that talent,” says Liza Zenni, Executive Director. “Without our local art teachers, there would be no Scholastic Art Awards.”
A list of award recipients sorted by school and teacher last name is available by clicking here: http://www.knoxalliance.com/education/Scholastic.html.
"Reflexions d'Villianes" drawing by Michael Housley, grade 12, Gibbs High School
Six people juried the entries for The Scholastic Art Awards of 2008:
-Emily Bivens, Assistant Professor of Art, The University of Tennessee School of Art
-Bill Griffith, Assistant Director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg
-Mark Hall, Chair, Division of Fine Arts, Maryville College
-Jered Sprecher, Assistant Professor of Art, The University of Tennessee School of Art
-Patricia Tinajero, Assistant Professor of Art, The University of Tennessee School of Art
-Bryan Wilkerson, Associate Professor of Art and Gallery Director, Roane State Community College
For more than twelve years, the Arts & Culture Alliance has served East Tennessee as one of 82 Regional Affiliates of The Scholastic Arts Awards. Local students from 28 schools submitted 808 individual entries (public, private, parochial, and home schools) and 33 senior portfolios from the following five counties: Blount, Campbell, Jefferson, Knox, and Sevier.
"Water Content" painting by Erin Lauer, grade 12, Webb School
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers tracks the creative development of more than a quarter of a million teenagers each year. All works, on the regional and national level, are evaluated for technical proficiency, originality, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Works receiving a Gold Key at the regional level are forwarded to New York for national adjudication and evaluated by professional panelists chosen from the art, literary, and education fields. From a field of more than 50,000 national entries in 2007, 7,000 works of art were eligible for national adjudication, and 1,500 students received national honors. Tennessee students received a total of 27 awards.
"Trompe l'oiel ceramic hatchet" by Evan Lohrey, grade 10, Farragut High School
The reception on Friday, February 1, from 5-9pm, is free and open to the public, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served. The First Friday reception will also feature special performances by Momentum Dance Lab and Knoxville Opera.
Exhibit hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. For more information, and if you are interested in bringing your class on a field trip to the exhibit, please contact Suzanne Cada, Regional Coordinator, at the Arts & Culture Alliance: (865) 523-7543 or sc@knoxalliance.com.
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