This week in the Arts:

Special Events 

"Celebrate Winter" Kids' Days Out for children in grades K - 5 will take place at the Creative Discovery Museum Friday, Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.

m.-3:30 p.m. Call 756-2738 or visit www.cdmfun.org for more information.

Glass House Collective will host a Better Block Prep Meeting at 2523 Glass St. on Monday at 6 p.m. to help plan for their Better Block project event to be held on Saturday, Feb. 23. Visit www.glasshousecollective.org for more information.

To help raise awareness for the arts for elementary aged students, middle schoolers from The Center for Creative Artswill host Art N U, a festival for children to explore the arts through dance, acting, painting, puppetry, instruments, singing and more, on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit the group's Facebook page "Chattanooga Art N U."

Planet Altered will host CAFE, a Community Arts Funding Event, on Sunday, Jan. 13, from 6-8 p.m. For more information or to apply, visit www.planetaltered.com. 

 

Theatre, Music & Dance

        

The CSO Masterworks Series continues with the performance of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre. Call 267-8583 or visit www.chattanoogasymphony.org to purchase tickets.

 

New classes, including Introduction to Mandolin, Intermediate Bluegrass Guitar, and Introduction to Clawhammer Banjo, as well as classes for children, begin at Folk School of Chattanooga the week of Jan. 7. In addition, private lessons are available in guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, piano, fiddle, dobro, pedal steel, bass, banjo, singing, and ukulele. To register or for more information, visit www.chattanoogafolk.com or call 827-8906.

 

The Athens Community Theater will hold auditions for Evening With the Stars X, a Community Showcase of Talent, on Monday at 7 p.m. at The Arts Center in Athens. Visit www.athensartscouncil.org or call 745-8781 for more information.

 

The Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga will present their production of Avenue Q Friday-Saturday, Jan. 11-12, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2:30 p.m. in their new theatre space at Eastgate Town Center. Tickets may be purchased by calling 987-5141 or visiting www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com.

 

The Tennessee Valley Theatre will present Divas and Gents, four professionally trained singers who will perform selections of opera, operetta, and Broadway, on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 365-PLAY or visit www.tennesseevalleytheatre.com. 

Visual Art & Film

 

AVA will host the opening reception for an exhibit showcasing selections from Knoxville Arts and Culture Alliance Member Show on Friday from 5:30-8 p.m. For more information, visit www.avarts.org.

 

The opening reception for "Lucky 13," an exhibit featuring works in paint, photography, glass, clay, wood, fabric, metal and jewelry, will be held on Friday from 5-8 p.m. at In-Town Gallery. For more information, call 267-9214 or visit www.intowngallery.com.

 

River Gallery will host the opening reception for "Vivid Interpretations" on Friday rom 6:30-8 p.m. Artists Mike Berry, Algar Dole and David Swanagin will be present to discuss their works. Call 265-5033 ext. 5 or visit www.river-gallery.com for additional information.

 

Townsend Atelier will offer painting classes in watercolor  for beginning and advanced students Mondays, Jan. 7-Feb. 18, beginning oil and impressionist landscape on Tuesdays, Jan. 8-Feb. 19, and self portrait on Tuesdays, Jan. 8-Feb. 12. For more information or to register, visit www.townsendatelier.com.

 

An Architectural Photography workshop with instructor Stephanie Valencia will take place Saturday, Jan. 12, from 2-6 p.m. at Shuptrine's Gold Leaf Designs. Call 266-4453 to make a reservation.