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.

QR Codes Invade Downtown Knoxville

Urban Toddler and Urban Woman with "Day at the Beach"

I haven't found the proper time to explore the various sculptures placed downtown this Spring as part of the Art in Public Spaces. In a very cool move, the Dogwood Arts Committee decided the sculptures would be placed for a year only to be replaced, presumably by next year's works. I love this because it keeps art downtown while keeping it fresh. My favorite sculpture from last year, "Flow Mojo" did survive (at the transportation center), but most were moved out after a few months.

This year's sculptures have been given a bit of an upgrade in another way: QR codes have been added to markers beside each one. If you download a simple app to your smart phone, you can read the code and get a cool description of the work of art along with other information about the artist's concept, pricing and contact information. It includes the option of voting for the "Best in Show," though I believe that voting ended a few months ago. If you want to try it out, you can click the picture below to enlarge it, download the app to your phone and scan the code in the picture.


QR Code for "Day at the Beach," Downtown Knoxville

 Also included is a "map" link which shows you how to navigate to the other works downtown. This portion is fascinating because it makes me think of the new signage being planned for the city. It would be so simple to include these codes on signs labeled "Where Can I Eat?" or "How Do I Get to the River?" or "What Live Music is Available Tonight in the City?" which would be so useful for our out-of-town guests and for some residents, as well. It seems like a no-brainer.

Imagine QR codes applied to the various walking tours downtown. The History of Country Music Walking Tour could include the standard information along with links to recordings of the actual music being discussed. What if we had QR codes on the corners of buildings giving the history of the building? Maybe we would grow to love our buildings enough that we wouldn't want to tear them down. Not that we would consider that anymore, of course, but you get my drift.


"Day at the Beach" by Wayne Trapp, Krutch Park, Knoxville

I spotted another cool use, as well. I found a downtown building which is for sale and wondered what it might look like inside. I noticed a realty flier in the window and stepped up to have a look. In addition to the information you might expect, it contained a QR code which, when scanned, takes the smart phone to a website that offers a tour of the inside.
I'm not usually an early adopter of various bits of technology, though I'm not particularly technology averse and I realize this is not new technology to those of you who are into it to a greater degree, but this could really be an amazing technology.

What other uses can you imagine in the city? Leave a comment with your ideas. In the meantime, get out into Krutch Park or onto Gay Street or the World's Fair Park and begin exploring some great works of art aided by a cool new technology.

First Friday, October 7 - Downtown Hometour - And More

It's hard to believe another First Friday has rolled around. It seems like the last one was just here - except that the last one featured very hot weather and this one promises to be very nice, indeed. Come early and plan to stay late.
I'll hit some of the highlights of the weekend to come and I'll look for you when I'm out and about.

Friday

2 Many Pixels - An exhibition of Heather McClintock's photographs entitled "The Innocent: Casualties of the Civil War in Northern Uganda” will be featured at the West Jackson Workshops inside 2 Many Pixels photo gallery. Her photographs illustrate the dire circumstances inside Uganda. She will also be signing her new book and all proceeds go to charities inside Uganda.

The Art Market Gallery at 422 S. Gay will feature the found-object sculpture of Morgan Fitch and the photography of Bob Conliffe. Morgan is a neighbor of mine and his sculptures are always fascinating. Go by and check it out.

Blueslip Winery will have it all going on from 5 to 9 with a bake sale, poster sale, art sale and wine tasting. Proceeds there go to Habitat for Humanity.

The Emporium will feature a collection of seven regional artists including Lisa W. Ellis (Photography), Betsy Hobkirk (Oil and Mixed Media), Gloria Nelson (Oil), Olga Noes (Acrylics), Dennis Sabo (Photography), Jesse Sisken (Photography) and Regina Turner (Acrylics).

The Knoxville Museum of Art will host Jenna (Jefferson) and Her Cool Friends playing their excellent blues from 5:30 to 8:00. Wine and food are available for purchase and the Knoxville Writer's Guild's new anthology will be available there with a photograph by Cynthia Markert gracing the cover. Upstairs is free and downstairs is one of the best deals in the city.

Market Square:
6:00 Wall Street Protesters expand to a small southern city near you.
7:00 Bring your dog dressed for a Volunteer Fashion Show
8:00 Movies on the Square features "Clue."

The Oliver Hotel will feature food, wine and paintings by Andriy Halashyn from Costa Rica and photography by Andrew Stephen Cebulka, as well as vintage photos from the McClung collection.

Also:
Daryl Scott plays the Square Room at 8:00.
The Black Cadillacs: 10:00 Preservation Pub

Saturday

Market Square Farmer's Market: 9:00 to 2:00 - Come get those fresh vegetables (and great art and crafts) while you can.

The Civil Wars: 8:00 PM in the Bijou.

Angel and the Lovers (featuring Angel Martinez): 9:00 Preservation Pub

Sunday

City People Downtown Homes Tour: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. You have to attend this. It is just too fascinating. Homes all over the center city are featured and you get to meet the occupants, snoop through their home and ask them any question you want! Of course, you'll move down here after you do this a time or two, but that's a good thing. Tickets are $10 advance (Bliss and Abode) through Saturday. Sunday tickets are $15.
I'm tired, already. Watch for me out and about with Urban Woman and Urban Toddler. Please come up and introduce yourself. That's what we do in this little city. Happy Weekend, everybody.

The Art of Poland at UT Gallery

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011 

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011 (Last Supper on left)

It's easy to overlook the UT Downtown Gallery on the 100 Block of Gay Street. The entrance is nondescript and it nestles up to the Emporium where I, and I think many people, have come to see as the center of the downtown art scene. Still, it often warrants a closer examination. I've been to a couple of notable exhibits there, particularly the powerful Dali prints of Dante's "Divine Comedy."

Daliesque Painting in the "Art of Poland" exhibit, Knoxville, April 2011

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011

Their recent exhibit, "The Art of Poland," featuring original works from the collection of Victor and Joan Ashe, didn't initially excite me. I'm not sure why, but I missed it when it open on First Friday in April and I didn't make it into the gallery until it was almost ready to be replaced. My impression of it is that was fun. Much of it almost seems whimsical, with a Daliesque feel due largely to the prominence of disproportionate bodies in the portraits.

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011

Not limited to works on canvas, the exhibition included three dimensional ceramic and glass art. Some of the pieces reminded me of folk art in this country and I'd be hard pressed to explain why any of it would be likely to be unique to Poland. My favorite works were the less whimsical, more contemplative and geometric works on canvas.

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011

Today is First Friday for May and I'm sure many good exhibitions will be mounted to open all around downtown. As always, you can get the best listing of First Friday events here. I can post pictures on my blog of the events and exhibitions downtown, but there's nothing like being a part of it, so come on down. Just get here early, because if there is one complaint I have about First Friday it is that many of the events close the doors at 9:00 PM, which is so small town, but that's a blog for another time.

"Art of Poland," UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, April 2011

High Art in the City: First Friday, Take Two

Pamela Neal creation, Emporium, Knoxville, April 2011

Every First Friday features art with a capital "A." The Art Market features an artist each month and somehow I usually miss that, so I'm planning to put more effort into that next month. UT also has a studio on the 100 block of Gay Street and that is often interesting and sometimes the highlight of the night. Many of the shops around town focus on a local artist, so you never know what you might encounter when you enter their doors.

 I always make it to the Emporium to see their featured exhibition. Last month it was Keegan Luttrell and I felt she was one of the most creative people I've ever encountered. This month's featured artist is Pamela Neal. Her art is billed as "abstract impressionism" and maybe that's as close a description as any. There is clearly an abstract quality.

Often the themes are musical and guitars or pianos are never rendered precisely as most of us percieve them. The instruments become intertwined - much as their sounds do in a musical composition, and maybe that is the point. The subjects of the painting are never distilled quite to an expressionist level, though Pollock is hovering nearby. I also don't get the gentle warmth of an impressionist piece. I think this art is more provocative. The colors alone are enough to arrest a viewers attention and then there are the rich textures. 

Pamela Neal, Emporium, Knoxville, April 2011

We were able to meet the artist (who also does pet portraits for you pet lovers) and found her to be warm and charming. If you follow the link above you can see more works as well as better representations of the works pictured on this blog. She does works for commission and many of her pieces sell for around $750 to $850. The display will be mounted for the month of April and additional works are on display at Blue Slip Winery. I'd really encourage you to find the time to examine the work for yourself.

Structure made by UT architectural students

I also stumbled into some architectural art of sorts at the UT architecture outpost at 500 S. Gay Street. A visiting architect had assisted students in  a group design project of sorts. If I understood correctly, it was a crash course, rapid fire design and construction that resulted in what you see in the pictures. Cloth, wood, rope, lights and even bicycles were incorporated. I'm not sure the pictures capture it and I know my words don't. It's just one example of something you have to be in the city and see for yourself to fully appreciate.

Architectural structure on Gay Street, Knoxville, April 2011

It's Cold, It's Spring and Knoxville is about to Explode

Sculpture on Gay Street, Knoxville

Just when we thought we'd moved past winter, it has re-emerged from its lair. It was just cold and damp enough this weekend in the city, that short sleeve shirts didn't do the trick no matter how much you told yourself that April starts this week. It is that happy time of year, however, when I remind myself that in the battle between the cold, harsh winter and the warm, green spring, the good guys are definitely going to win.

Sculpture on the side of the Holston Building, Knoxville

Sculpture in Krutch Park, Knoxville

And that exploding part? Well, the Bradford Pear trees have exploded and so have the Redbuds. The Dogwoods can't be far behind - which brings us to that little festival that happens in Knoxville this time of the year.

Sculpture at Clinch and Market, Knoxville

The first sign in the downtown area that the Dogwood Arts Festival is gearing up is the annual arrival of the sculptures. This is the fifth year for the sculptures and this year they will remain on display for a full year - meaning, if that trend continues, we'll have a permanent rotating sculpture exhibit downtown. The first of these have arrived and are included in the photographs you see. Some of them may not be finished and none of them are labeled, so take them for the early photographs they are and check them out for yourself after the exhibit is fully installed this week.

Sculpture surrounding pool at Krutch Park, Knoxville

Sculpture in Krutch Park, Knoxville

Also of great interest to me this week is the annual Rhythm and Blooms concerts. Happening all around downtown and at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens this weekend, these concerts feature some excellent artists and favorites of mine, including Daryl Scott, Scott Miller, Robinella and the CC String Band!, and the Felice Brothers. The music onstage at the Market Square Stage is free Friday and Saturday night and that's where you'll find Robinella and Scott Miller on Saturday night. Some of the music will be held in John Black Studio in the Daylight Building, so if you've read about it on this blog but never made it there, this is your chance. Forty dollars gets you into anything any of the three days, twenty gives you one day.

Sculpture in Krutch Park, Knoxville

Sculpture in Krutch Park, Knoxville

It doesn't stop there, of course. This Friday is First Friday and this weekend is the Knoxville Marathon. I'll write more on First Friday later. In the meantime, catch up on your sleep this week because there won't be time for any of that foolishness starting this Friday night.

Sculpture on Gay Street at Krutch Park, Knoxville

Friday Night in the Art of the City: Keegan Luttrell at the Emporium

First Friday, Market Square, Knoxville, March 2011

I'm startled to realize I've got one more post about First Friday from March and just next week we have another First Friday. Where did the month go? So, here is one final post on the last one, just in time to write about the next one.

First Friday this month got a great boost from the unusually spring-like weather. A light jacket made strolling outside very comfortable. While the crowd wasn't as large as those from the fall, it definitely surpassed the last several very cold First Fridays. People were actually able to enjoy outdoor dining for the first time in a while.

Symbolizing "nature," this young woman performed at Urbana

One of the must-stop spots on a First Friday night - and I might even say the most important, to me - is the 100 Block of Gay Street. My group loved it before and all through the construction project when it was at its least lovable. Now that it is the prettiest block downtown, it simply sparkles. After a great meal at the Crown and Goose in the Old City, we started with the Emporium.

Downstairs at the Emporium, 100 Block, First Friday, Knoxville, March 2011

The increase in First Friday traffic was obvious downstairs where hors d'oeuvres and drinks are served and the resident artists display their work. Often there is music, though there was none playing while we were there.

Acrylic and other mediums - Keegan Luttrell

Kegan Luttrell, Emporium, Knoxville, March 2011

Upstairs, featured artist Keegan Luttrell's exhibition entitled "Uproot" excited the crowd with a wide range of works ranging from canvas to sculptures made largely of found objects. She says that her work explores, ". . . the linkage between life and death. The idea that a memory lasts beyond our existence has become the root of the reason why I create." While, no doubt, some of the works might appear inscrutable to those of us with less exposure to and understanding of artistic works, they were always challenging and sometimes exhilarating. She also has fascinating performance art video on her website (linked above).

Sculpture of found objects (wine cup not included :-))

Urban patrons look into the mysterious well

The bottom of the well - A shattered view

Each of the mediums engaged offered something to the viewer - or participant. The sculptures invited visitors to peer inside and see themselves, broken at the bottom of a well (of shattered wishes?) or to experience lostness in a white expanse accompanied by ambient sounds in the work, "Lullaby." If you put on the headphones, step inside and really shut out unrelated sensations (which I found really quite easy), the result is a surreal, almost out of body experience. It didn't actually take me where the artist described in the accompanying note, but it did transport me to a different place.

Young Woman experiences "Lullaby" by Keegan Luttrell

The inside view of "Lullaby"

The exhibition will be mounted most of the rest of this month. The experience of "Lullaby" alone is enough to make it worth the trip. Who knows? Maybe you are catching a major artist before the rest of the world tunes in.

Creative Explorers or Con-men wanting to see the World on Your Dime?

Justin Valee and Jeremiah Taylor create on Market Square

Sometimes it's hard for me to tell the difference between creative, brave and thus admirable people and others who are simply avoiding the real world the rest of us have to deal with. I don't want to be naive, but I also don't want to be overly cynical.

Not too long ago I met Justin and Jeremiah, pictured above, working on an artistic piece of some sort on Market Square. I think they've been mentioned in Metropulse and they've had at a least one show at Relix. They are hard to describe. Their website is Follow2Square and I get that they consider themselves artists of various sorts and that they decided to take, as they say, "the road less traveled." As far as I can tell that means traveling and hanging out and making art of different sorts while asking for sponsorships (AKA money) from businesses and individuals.

Here's a video below which gives a flavor of the guys.



Do you know them? Can you explain them better? I'd love to hear from someone who knows the story. I mean, I want to be open minded, but, well, I'd like to "travel between Europe and the United States" as they have for the last two years and be creative while someone else pays the bill. Anyone interested in donating? I didn't think so. Now I'm sounding cynical. Somebody set me straight.

Downtown Sculptures - Keep it or Lose it, Part One

I haven't taken the time to talk about one of the most conspicuous installations downtown. These are the several dozen sculptures displayed in various places around the area, but concentrated downtown, that were placed as part of the Arts in Public Spaces effort of the Dogwood Arts Festival.  I believe I mentioned them in the blog I wrote about permanent downtown sculptures, but I thought it would be fun to show some of them to everyone and give my opinion. I picked eleven that I happened to run into on this particular outing. This is only a small portion of the sculptures available.

My opinion on this topic is pretty worthless in some respects: I'm not artistically trained or inclined. I have no special gift of discernment on such matters, but I do have the experience of seeing these sculptures everyday for the last few months. I've seen people respond to them in one way or another, and I've responded to them, as well. I have no idea if it is possible for the city to purchase some of these for permanent exhibit, but I hope so, and that is the premise of this piece. Also, these sculptures are for sale, so some of them may already be headed into private hands.

Given all those caveats, here are the photos of four that I hope we lose:

Andrew Brewster - "Snowflake" - Welded Steel - 6x1x4 - $700

This one I'm cheating on. I don't dislike it, actually. Like many of the others, once I read the name given by the artist, I understand it a little better. I kind of get that it represents a deconstructed snow flake. The cheating part is that I know we are losing this one: a friend of mine purchased it to plant on the front lawn of his suburban home. I hope the neighbors don't mind. At a cost of $700, it is the least expensive of all the sculptures placed. The most expensive, which is not located downtown, costs $35,000.

Taylor Wallace - "Morgan County" - Steel - 7x4x10 - $12,500

This needs to be gone, yesterday. I'll acknowledge that it is interesting in the way that antique jail cells can be, but does that make it art? Called, "Morgan County," I presume because that is where it came from or because of the connection between that place and correctional institutions, I suppose the attempt is to make a statement. Does an object qualify as art simply because it is presented that way? I'm probably missing something. I just find it disturbing and not in an artistic sort of way, more of an inhumane correctional sort of way. Even if that was the intent of the artist, I still don't understand how it is art. If I put an electric chair on display it will be disturbing to some and interesting to others, but it doesn't mean that I created an artistic work. Maybe some of you can enlighten me.

Roger Halligan - "O.K. Bouy" - Steel, Concrete, Paint - 116"x25"x20" - $19,000 

Definitely needs to be gone. The word I hear most often around this one is "Doctor," as in Seuss. At first I thought it was stone, which would make it an interesting stone formation, but then I learned it is concrete. I guess it took some skill to shape the concrete in that manner, but to what artistic end? And the black and white stripes? I have no idea. I do suspect that I could have painted them, though perhaps the art is in imagining the black and white stripes on the concrete in the first place. I just don't know. Are there seriously people who will pay $19,000 for this?

Hanna Jubron - "Rising Sun" - Stainless Steel/Bronze - 8'x20"x16" - $13,500

The last piece I'll put in the "please get it out of here" category. It does not evoke a sunrise or any form of sunniness in my soul whatsoever. It is monotoned, jagged and harsh. Maybe it's supposed to be the opposite of a rising sun. I just don't think we'll be needing that one. It looks like a $13,500 torture device (notice the spikes on the top) to me.

If any of the artists or people who bought these sculptures happen to be reading this post, I'm sure you are all very great and talented people. Just consider this my ignorant analysis, or better yet, write a comment and explain my ignorance. I'd love to hear from you. For the rest of you, what do you think? Am I all wrong, or do you agree?

I'll follow up, soon, with a blog about some I really like and hope we keep.