Skip to main content

UT’s School of Art is a co-sponsor of the 2016 Big Ears Festival film program. The unique and diverse multigenre music and arts festival occurs in multiple venues across Knoxville from Thursday, March 31, through Saturday, April 2.

The school is providing support for two events:

  • A screening at the Tennessee Theatre of the documentary Heart of a Dog at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2, followed by a Q-and-A with the film’s director, world-renowned composer and performance artist Laurie Anderson.
  • shambhavi-kaul-headshot
    Shambhavi Kaul

    An exhibit of acclaimed video and film artist Shambhavi Kaul’s video installation Modes of Faltering throughout the festival at the School of Art’s Downtown Gallery on Gay Street.

The sponsorship opportunity was made possible through the School of Art’s Programming Committee and initiated by Paul Harrill, the Dee and Jim Haslam Professor of Art and Cinema Studies, who along with Darren Hughes, UT Foundation director of online engagement, founded the Public Cinema in 2015. The Public Cinema brings contemporary international and American cinema to Knoxville audiences.

In his role in the Public Cinema, Harrill was asked by AC Entertainment to help curate the festival’s film program. Harrill saw the chance for the Downtown Gallery to participate in the Big Ears festival and brought the idea to the School of Art.

“Everyone is excited about this opportunity,” Harrill said. “This is the first time the school is involved with Big Ears, and we look forward to the collaboration.”

The complete Big Ears film program comprises over twenty hours of screenings of experimental films, narrative features, and documentaries.

The two School of Art–sponsored events are free to the public. For more information about the event lineup and ticket packages, visit the Big Ears website.

CONTACT:

Karen Dunlap (kdunlap6@utk.edu, 865-974-8674)