Annual Arts series at Pellissippi State kicks off August 18

Pellissippi State’s alumni art exhibit, “A Look in Both Directions,” will include a variety of artwork, including paintings like this one by artist Paige Burchell. Image courtesy of Pellissippi State.

Pellissippi State Community College will launch the third season of its community arts series, The Arts at Pellissippi State, in August.

The series features cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fine arts. The event includes a number of special performances and exhibits to commemorate the college’s 40th anniversary.

This year, events get under way with the inaugural art exhibit at the Blount County Campus: “Quantum Confusion,” featuring the mind-bending artwork of Denise Stewart-Sanabria. The show runs Aug. 18-Oct. 18.

Talented Pellissippi State alumni artists return to the Hardin Valley Campus Aug. 25 for a commemorative anniversary art exhibit, “A Look in Both Directions.” Artists include Sharon Bachleda, Paige Burchell, Jessica Burleson, Pete Hoffecker, Daniel Huxtable, Steven Kempster, Jamie Schneider, Pamela Simpson, Bill Warden, Elliott White and Dean Yasko. The exhibit will run through Sept. 12 at the Bagwell Center for Media and Art on the college’s Hardin Valley Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

Bestselling author Mark Bowden gives a public presentation and book signing on Sept. 18. Bowden is the author of “Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War” and “The Finish: The Killing of Osama Bin Laden,” as well as an essayist in Pellissippi State’s 2014 Common Book, “The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2013.”

His presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Clayton Performing Arts Center on the Hardin Valley Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. The book signing and a question-and-answer session follow. Tickets are $10 apiece and may be ordered at www.pstcc.edu/tickets. Because of limited seating, tickets are limited to two per purchaser.

Pellissippi State’s Theatre program presents “Server Alley” Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23. This is the world premiere of the comedy/drama by New York playwright Alex Gherardi and examines the lives of restaurant servers. In co-production with The WordPlayers, the college presents “A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas” Dec. 12-13.

The college celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in October and American Indian Heritage Month in November. Other upcoming Arts at Pellissippi State performances include musical concerts, such as the ever-popular Holiday Spectacular, faculty lectures and more.

For more information about these and other events in the 2014-2015 Arts at Pellissippi State series, visit www.pstcc.edu/arts or call (865) 694-6400. To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

Published August 1, 2014