Art on the Block: First Friday on the 100 Block

Bluegrass in the Country Music Park

The center of my First Friday experience is almost always the 100 block of South Gay Street. The Emporium alone offers enough art of interest to fill the evening. This particular First Friday was like the usual 100 block experience on steroids. From the fire eaters to the acrobatics, artists in action, gallery openings and music at every turn, it was almost overwhelming.

Model at Art on the Block

Models and Giddy Guys at Art on the Block

Model at Art on the Block

Model at Art on the Block

The first point of interest walking from uptown across Summit was the fact that a bluegrass band played in the park. That's the Country Music Park. Perfectly fitting. I still miss the Treble Clef sculpture, but it showed the park's roots off beautifully. A small crowd stood and listening, but mostly people smiled and enjoyed the music as they passed.

Feather Earrings for Sale

Favorite people: Flossie McNabb of Union Ave. Books, Cynthia Market Artist

Live art on the 100 Block

Brian Pittman

Making art on the 100 Block

Checking out the Art, 100 Block

Fashion models circulated on the sidewalks posing for pictures and inviting passersby to an event they were promoting. A woman sold feather earrings from a small cart and attracted quite a crowd. Artists lined the western edge of the street. Cynthia Markert, Brian Pittman and others worked even as they talked to passersby.

Music inside Nouveau Classics

Music in 11 Cafe

Steph Mahon in front of Urbhana

Small, crowded gallery, 100 Block

DJ in gallery - and check out the rack on that other guy!

Music was everywhere. I listened to a guy in Nouveau Classics for a bit and then moved to 11 Cafe where I enjoyed a sample of a new dish they are offering and listened to a trio perform. It seemed to me every song was pretty adult themed, but they were interesting if nothing else. On the western side of the street there was a DJ in one of the smaller galleries and Steph Mahon played outside Urbhana. It was pretty much a street party.

Crowd outside the Emporium, 100 Block, Knoxville, April 2012

Emporium, First Friday April 2012

Torso, Emporium, Knoxville

I spent most of my gallery time in the Emporium and in the UT Downtown Art Gallery. The art openings here are always fun. Generally  multiple artists are presented and the space is so big that there's quite a bit to see. The art presented this month ranged from the object in the middle of the floor that looked a bit like train tracks to a very life-like sculpture of a woman's body. Specifically, her torso, which I believe was the title of the work. Why are so many women missing their heads in art today? Look at the cover of books in the book store. It's strange. Still, the sculpture is a beautiful work and I'd encourage you to go see it.

Kristen Kindall's "Kelsie, Venice, Acrylic

Hallerin Hill hangs out at the Emporium

Chuck Frye's "Between Heaven and Earth" Oil on Canvas

Oils and acrylics were also represented and I've got a couple of my favorites pictured here. They both look virtually like photographs. In the first, the woman reclining in a window, the viewer is drawn completely into her enchanting world. She's in a wonderfully exotic place and she enjoys it - but from a distance. In the painting of the line workers, entitled "Between Heaven and Earth" the viewer isn't there, but looks from a distance at this brave person suspended between heaven and earth, but also one wrong move from leaving one for the other.

John Cichon, "Ze Monsta"

Quintin Owens, "Protective Coloring"

Cindy Billingsley, "Shell of Self" Clay

Cindy Billingsley, "Shell of Self"

As is often the case, the UT Downtown Gallery offered very interesting works. A whimsical monster made of recyclable materials was fun. The terracotta installation on the floor was certainly interesting. The work that caught my attention, however, was a sculpture I immediately took to be a particular woman. Cindy Billingsly's "Shell of Self," hit me as a powerful work. What do you think?

Hooper on the Block

Drum Circle and Dancer in the Park, Knoxville

I spent my last few minutes in the park where I'd started. The bluegrass had been replaced by a drum circle. Fire acrobatics, ribbon twirling and hooping happened on the periphery of the circle and throughout the park. A good crowed watched as a woman performed an interpretive dance inside the circle of drums. I always enjoy the intoxicating repetitions and subtle alterations of a good drum circle. I wondered if this might be a good spot for future drum circles instead of Krutch Park where they've traditionally congregated.

Valet Parking at Shuck - every night

For many people the night wasn't over. Valley parking, which is always offered by Shuck, was doing a brisk business. More people were arriving to eat, drink coffee and enjoy the evening. It was a great night to be alive and in the city and the 100 Block was one of the very best places to relish what the city has to offer.

April First Friday, What to do?

New Sculpture, Krutch Park, Knoxville, April 2012

Happy Friday to everyone. It looks like the weather will be awesome for our monthly street party in the city and the crowds promise to be huge. As usual, there is so much to do in such a short amount of time, there is no way to catch it all. The most complete listing of events I've found is here.

A typical First Friday involves art openings all over downtown. Restaurants in particular are often the site of exhibitions of local or regional artists and this month is no exception in that regard. You might want to arrive in the downtown area as early as possible if you'd like to eat in a restaurant as the wait list grows rapidly throughout the evening. With any luck you'll be able to enjoy some art and good food without too much wait.

New Sculpture, Krutch Park, Knoxville, April 2012

While there is still daylight left you might want to wander around Krutch Park where you will find a number of new sculptures which have been installed in the last couple of weeks. The Dogwood Arts committee decided to expand this great program last year to allow for the displays of these works of art for an entire year. I always miss some of the ones to which I'd grown accustomed, but it is also exciting to see the new works as they arrive. I'm already feeling more connected to this group than the last as a whole.

New Sculpture, Krutch Park, Knoxville, April 2012

I also enjoy watching the people, of course. Some great people watching is to be found on Krutch Park where you might typically enjoy a drum circle. Gay Street and Market Square are packed with people ranging from west Knoxville suburbanites to friends from areas surrounding the city and the usual cast of characters from downtown. The crowd is never dull.

New Sculpture, Gay Street, Knoxville

An unusual addition to this First Friday, is  the second annual Salvage Show presented by Knox Heritage. The show includes art made from architectural salvage by a list of prominent area artists. The exhibition will be held on the second floor of 36 Market Square, meaning you get the added bonus of seeing the inside of that great renovation. More details may be found here.

Morelock Music 411 South Gay Street, Music Until Late

The heart of First Friday is the arts and, in addition to art in restaurants and music spread in every direction, there are, of course, the formal galleries and this is their night to shine. The Art Market on Gay Street often has the coolest music going and featured artists from their co-op on hand to tell you about their works of art for purchase. Music is also generally found nearby at Morelock Music (standing room only) and WDVX studios at the corner of Gay and Summit Hill.

Old Photo of the 100 Block

Knoxville also has an Art District and this is where I inevitably spend most of my time. A concentration of galleries and other creative venues is clustered on the 100 Block of Gay Street and this is also the  site this First Friday of special celebrations. You can find more details here (click Art on the Block). Not only are there openings at every turn, but there is live music throughout the block as well as a drum line, fire eaters, $15 all-you-can-drink beer at 11 Cafe and much more.

New Sculpture, Krutch Park, Knoxville, April 2012

What's not to like? Watch for me and say, "hello," if you see me about. It promises to be a great night for everyone.

Photographs in Search of a Blog

View from 11 Cafe, 100 Block, Knoxville

 Here are a few scenes that caught my attention recently. The photograph of the 100 Block is from the window of 11 Cafe. I love the little bar along the window facing the street. Sitting there reminds me of a similar bar looking out onto the street of Haight Ashbury and anything that reminds me of San Francisco in any respect is worth noting.

Couple reads James Agee inscription on Market Square, Knoxville

I love the couple standing in Market Square reading the words of James Agee. I'm always amazed at how many people read those inscriptions or the ones on the various monuments and statues around the city. I can't ever resist taking a picture of Harley the Magician. I think he's very camera-friendly. And the Whittle Building, well, I think it's pretty and I really liked the clouds that day.

Harley, Market Square, Knoxville

Whittle Building with clouds, Knoxville

Shuck opens at 135 S. Gay Street

Shuck Raw Bar and Ale, Gay Street, Knoxville, 2012

The word has been out for months that Shuck, a Raw Bar would arriving on the 100 block of Gay Street bringing another shot of life to a block that seems poised for greatness, but has had its share of ups (opening of Lululemon, Harry's, 11 Cafe) and downs (closing of Eleven, Unarmed Merchants, Havana Nights and Nama's move). Perhaps Shuck will continue the momentum started late last year with the opening of 11 Cafe and this great block will begin to realize its potential.

Sign on First Friday outside Shuck

Training and "VIPs?"

First Friday this month found the doors opened only a crack as staff training was underway. It built my excitement to see the rumor finally becoming a reality. Urban Woman and I grew up on the Gulf Coast and we do love our oysters, so our hopes were high.

Urban Woman can't wait for me to take a picture

We did something I'm not proud of Saturday night: We got in our car and drove down there. I never drive anywhere downtown, but people, it was twenty degrees and the wind was howling. I could take one or the other, but the two together was just too painful. Even the walk from the car to the front door hurt. I diligently stood against the elements and snapped a couple of pictures for you guys, so give me some credit. I'll walk next time, I promise.

Shuck Raw Bar, view behind the bar, Gay Street, Knoxville, 2012

Due to the small size of the restaurant, they do not take reservations. When we arrived, about 6:15 on Saturday night, the place was packed, which was encouraging to see. We were offered two seats at the bar, which we actually enjoyed, though I noticed a table was empty and apparently being held. From the end of the bar we were able to watch the oysters being pulled from their shells and the bar tender mixing drinks, so we had built-in entertainment. Speaking of entertainment, there are no television screens in the house - thank you! There was also no music playing as far as we could hear, which was fine because the volume was high enough without it. It was not too loud to talk, but it was certainly at a festive level.

Spanish-style soup with shrimp

Fried Oysters with Cole Slaw

We wanted to try a couple of different items and share, but neither of us could resist the fried oysters, so we'll have to branch out next time. They were tasty and fried perfectly with very little apparent grease, which is a feat. I did have a Spanish-style soup that was spicy and delicious. It looked a bit like gumbo, but didn't taste like it at all, with more (what I think of as) Mexican spices and less French, though it did contain a generous amount of shrimp.

Raw Oysters courtesy of the nice couple beside us

The couple beside us at the bar had the raw oysters which they said were good. One of the oysters was very small and when he pointed this out he was given a very large one to replace it. We also saw someone get the Torre de Crustaceos which is a tower, several inches tall of shrimp and crab meat and other ingredients. It look great. You can see the full menu here.

Booth seating parallels the bar

The staff was friendly and the atmosphere warm. It seemed to have a young crowd that night, although I don't know if that is typical. Without drinks a couple could eat for less than $40. If you add drinks and desert you could easily top $60. We'll definitely return and if that night was any indication, we will not be alone. Give them a shot and tell them Urban Guy sent you.