Community Calendar

The Place Speaks is an exploration of how sacred histories are presented through visual art in Appalachia. Artworks by the Rev. Jimmy Morrow center divine visions and East Tennessee folklore while thematically overlapping with other visual artists in Appalachia and the American South. Using Morrow’s works and significant artifacts in the permanent collection that are grounded in regional placeness, The Place Speaks honors and respects the fusion of deeply personal, regional, and universal philosophies and beliefs as they relate to Appalachian landscapes.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 16 from 4:30-7 p.m. for the exhibition reception. Programming will begin at 4:30 p.m. with live music by musician and visual artist Abe Partridge, followed by a panel of artists and scholars from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Panelists include Dr. Rick Cary, Dr. Jenna Gray-Hildenbrand, and Aaron McIntosh.

East Tennessee State University’s Reece Museum is hosting an exhibition that explores the intrigue of Blue Ridge Pottery in “Vintage Charm: The Collecting Legacy of Blue Ridge Pottery,” now on view and open through Dec. 12.

Southern Potteries’ process of hand-painting the bisque of produced dinnerware with distinct designs before it was glazed started around 1938 and came to be known as “Blue Ridge Pottery.” The pottery began operations in 1917 in Erwin, Tennessee, and became the largest producer of hand-painted pottery and china in the United States. By the middle of the 1940s, the company’s annual production was estimated at 17 million pieces. Southern Potteries produced some 5,000 different painted designs featuring flora, fauna, mountains, and people.

Due to foreign competition and the rise in popularity of plastic dinnerware, the Southern Potteries work force had dwindled to approximately 600 employees by 1956. A February 1957 article in the Johnson City Press stated: “Liquidation of the potteries was announced yesterday…Southern Potteries is reported to have one of the largest payrolls in Erwin, with an estimated 600 to 700 employees.” The liquidation of Southern Potteries greatly impacted Erwin’s economic development and population, as some former employees moved away to work in other potteries.

The Reece Museum received its first donation of one Blue Ridge Pottery piece in 1986. The museum has since continued to foster relationships with collectors, building trust within the collecting community as an institution that prioritizes the preservation of this beloved piece of East Tennessee history. Don and Susan Burkett generously loaned 21 pieces from their private collection to diversify the offerings in Vintage Charm, which features approximately 80 Blue Ridge Pottery pieces throughout the gallery.
The Reece Museum would like to acknowledge and thank volunteer Jo Harris for producing biographical research for this exhibition. Additionally, researchers interested in the history of Southern Potteries can view the company’s historic documents by making an appointment with the Archives of Appalachia, located on the fourth floor of the Sherrod Library on campus at ETSU.

The Reece Museum is a unit of the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, which is housed in the ETSU Department of Appalachian Studies. The Reece Museum is located on the campus of East Tennessee State University and is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow the Reece Museum on social media for more content and digital programming. For more information, please visit http://www.etsu.edu/reece or phone (423) 439-4392. ETSU is an EEO employer. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.

Pay What You Can - Family Movie Series at the Jackson Theatre in Historic Jonesborough, TN

Feature: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppets’ version of the Dickens holiday classic about a miser who’s visited by three ghosts features Kermit the Frog as the penny-pincher’s hardworking and loyal employee. ~ Rating G ~ Running Time 85 minutes

"Pay What You Can" means tickets can be purchased for as little as $1 per person (or as much as you are able). Tickets can be purchased at THEJACKSONTHEATRE.COM

Join us on Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 pm for a FREE screening of the 1964 Christmas classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at the Jackson Theatre in Historic Jonesborough, TN.

Burl Ives narrates this animated musical, first telecast in 1964. The Johnny Marks score includes the title tune, “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “We’re a Couple of Misfits.” ~ Rating G ~ Running Time 47 minutes

Because this is a FREE event -- sponsored by the Town of Jonesborough’s Department of Parks & Recreation -- we strongly encourage you to reserve your seats in advance. You can do so by visiting our website at THEJACKSONTHEATRE.COM

The Bristol Community Remembrance Project Coalition will dedicate a historical marker memorializing Mr. Robert Clark--the victim of an 1891 documented lynching in Bristol, VA. The Bristol Community Remembrance Project Coalition was formed in collaboration with the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL. The Equal Justice Initiative works with communities to commemorate and recognize the traumatic era of lynching by collecting soil from lynching sites across the country and erecting historical markers in these spaces. Since January 2023, the Bristol coalition has focused on creating awareness and understanding about racial terror lynchings and encouraging conversations that advance truth telling. The Robert Clark Historical Marker dedication will take place on Saturday, December 14, 11:00 am at Citizens Cemetery, Piedmont Avenue, in Bristol, VA. Parking and shuttle service will be provided at 10:30 am from State Street United Methodist Church, 650 Valley Drive, Bristol, VA.

This winter, kids will step into a world of wonder at the Fall Enrichment Camp: STREAM Spectacular! Designed for grades 1–5, this weeklong adventure combines hands-on projects with exciting carnival fun. Campers will engineer and build their very own carnival booths, explore the science and surprise behind magic tricks and optical illusions, and practice real-world skills by budgeting and “buying” with tickets. Blending creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, the STREAM Spectacular makes learning unforgettable—bringing together Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math in a playful and imaginative way!

Bristol Buzz was born from a simple idea: to make art—together.
Bristol has always been a
place for bold, original voices. Let’s carry on that legacy by creating something greater than
ourselves. When we support each other, we all move closer to our individual goals.

There are plenty of open mics around the Tri-Cities, but at Blue Ridge Comedy Club, we’re
focused on more than just stage time—we’re building a community. Our stage is your stage.
Come perform in front of fellow creatives you might never meet otherwise. All acts are welcome
(I.e. Comedy, Music, Dancing, Juggling, etc.)

This winter, kids will step into a world of wonder at the Fall Enrichment Camp: STREAM Spectacular! Designed for grades 1–5, this weeklong adventure combines hands-on projects with exciting carnival fun. Campers will engineer and build their very own carnival booths, explore the science and surprise behind magic tricks and optical illusions, and practice real-world skills by budgeting and “buying” with tickets. Blending creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, the STREAM Spectacular makes learning unforgettable—bringing together Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math in a playful and imaginative way!

UPCOMING Northeast Tennessee MASTER GARDENER CLASS
We all want to share our love of gardening.

The Northeast Master Gardener Association (NETMGA) membership includes volunteers from Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington, Carter, Johnson, and Unicoi Counties. Their many activities include information booths at various home and farm shows, answering Ask-a-Master Gardener questions, teaching classes in the community, and organizing new Master Gardener classes. Their presence can be seen in many local historic site gardens, demonstration gardens and community vegetable gardens.

A new Master Gardener class will begin January 28, 2025, and go through April 29, 2025. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Classes are available for the surrounding communities' participants and are held at the Sullivan County, Ron Ramsey Agricultural Center located at 140 Spurgeon Lane, Blountville, TN.

The cost for the class is $200 and applications are available online at the NETMGA website or UT website: https://www.netmga.net/ OR Call 423-574-1919 and press "0"

The Toe River Chamber Ensemble invites the community to its festive Annual Holiday Concert on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on Burnsville Square. Under the direction of R. Kevin Paul, the ensemble will fill the evening with festive classics and spirited sing‑alongs sure to spark holiday cheer. Composed of more than twenty volunteer musicians from Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, and Buncombe counties, the ensemble represents a wide range of ages and professions — from students and teachers to doctors, librarians, and retirees — all united by their passion for music.