Final Bicentennial Event:
UT’s year-long Bicentennial Celebration closes tomorrow with the dedication
ceremony for the new commemorative sculpture in front of the University
Center. The ceremony will be held tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. at the
sculpture, titled “Terra.” Students are encouraged to attend and
help the university finish its anniversary semester.
Sculptor Julie Warren Martin was commissioned by a special panel to create
“Terra.” In keeping with the Bicentennial focus on alumni, the choice of
Martin was an appropriate one. She was UT’s first student to graduate in
Sculpture, and her favorite medium is Tennessee marble. The upright “totem
form” of her commemorative piece is made of this regionally-mined stone.
Her Bicentennial creation addresses the university in theme.
“It’s basically about the origin of education,” says Martin. “When we hit
the Earth, we began to learn from it – our environment.” The black granite
base of the sculpture features images of nature and the elements. A
“yin/yang” design also figures into the base, suggesting the importance of
balance with our environment. Martin says she doesn’t usually offer such
messages in her art, but she felt it was appropriate for this piece. “If we
don’t respect our environment, we could lose it,” she says. “We won’t have
a future if we don’t take care of what we have.”
In many ways, her message reflects the challenges facing our growing
university.
The Club Scene for December:
Tonight (Thursday, Dec. 8):
At Flamingo’s on Cumberland Avenue, local band Leaf will
perform in celebration of its first tape release. A review of this tape and
Leaf appears elsewhere in today’s Beacon.
At Gryphon’s at 2003 Highland Avenue, Thumbnail will perform
with Atlanta’s Car Vs. Driver. The show starts around 9 p.m. and
admission is $1.
The Mercury Theatre, on Market Square, hosts a “Last Day of Class
Bash” with Atlanta’s Donkey and Knoxville’s own Jazz
Liberation Quartet. The show starts at 10 p.m. and admission is $5.
Part of the current wave of alternative “bossa nove” pop, Donkey’s “lounge”
sound has received accolades from the likes of Creem magazine,
Entertainment Weekly and USA Today. Scott Davis, Donkey’s
trombone player, originally hails from Knoxville.
At the UT Music Hall, “Jazz for Tots” will feature local jazz
musicians. The U.S. Marines will be on hand to collect new, unwrapped toys
for needy children.
Slow Blind Hill will perform at Tomato Head on Market Square
tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 9:
At the Mercury Theatre, Terry Hill debuts his new band Internal
Herd. Opening for this Knox-rock veteran are some of the town’s finest
young musicians, Idle Hands and John Paul Keith (of the
Viceroys). This should be a great show to catch.
Psychoderelicts will play at Gryphon’s Friday night at 10.
The Creeps will play at Manhattan’s Friday night at 10.
Admission is $5.
Saturday, Dec. 10:
The Windham Hill Winter Solstice Concert comes to Knoxville this
weekend at the Tennessee Theatre. This year’s concert features
acclaimed composer and pianist Liz Story. Her current album is
entitled The Gift. Also appearing is the Modern Mandolin
Quartet and steel drum master Andy Narell. The show begins at 8
p.m.
At Flamingo’s, Derek Trucks and his new band perform one
of its last club gigs before embarking on tour with the Allman Brothers.
Performing with Trucks as a featured guest is everybody’s favorite Col.
Bruce Hampton. New blues sensation Joe King opens the show with
his incredible slide guitar playing. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are
$5 in advance and $7 at the door.
The Viceroys, one of Knoxville’s most promising new
rock’n’roll/country blues acts, will headline at the Mercury Theatre
Saturday night at 10. The Rattlehounds will open the show. Admission
is $5.
At the Electric Ballroom, an all ages concert called Tennessee
Homegrown Christmas will feature several local groups playing to
benefit Toys for Tots. Appearing will be Superdrag, Jazz
Liberation Quartet, Immortal Chorus, Hypertribe, Sandbox, EKG, Travis &
Doug, Terry Hill and Tangent. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Admission is $5 or a new, unwrapped toy worth at least $5.
New Year’s Eve Party:
The Mercury Theatre hosts not one, but two New Year’s Eve
concerts on Dec. 31 (when else?). In the afternoon, a special all ages
concert will feature Chicago’s Bollweevils, South Carolina’s
Cletus and Knoxville’s own American Trust.
That night, beginning at 9, a special New Year’s Eve Party will feature
The Dirtclods and Hank Flamingo. Tickets are $8 in advance.
This price includes champagne and party favors.
Other Upcoming Events:
Sunday, Dec. 11: Amelia Earhart Returns will play at the Disc
Exchange at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Friday, Dec. 16: The Cheeksters and Evan’s Dilemma will
perform at the Mercury Theatre at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
Friday, Dec. 23: Hominybob and a special guest will appear at the
Mercury Theatre at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
