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.

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

One of the best parts of the Dogwood Arts Festival for me, is the Chalk Walk. Held on Market Square, the event brings together families, school children and adult artists and gives them one day, one square of sidewalk and chalk. On my very best day with the best art supplies and the best surface I could never do what these amazing amateur and professional artists accomplish. At the end of the day judges hand out awards to the winners in the various categories.

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

I explored the scene pretty thoroughly last year and I'd caught bits of it in the years before. This year I saw a good portion of it, but conflicts in my schedule prevented me from seeing all the art. I hate that. I returned on Sunday, but it had faded substantially, so it wasn't the same. My judgement of what I did see was that it was perhaps better on average than last year, but the best of last year was superior to the best of this year. That said, I know I missed some of the very best.

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Almost as much fun as seeing the finished product was observing the process as a few lines or large smudges in the early morning progressed into recognizable, then finished products by the end of the day. There were categories for families and it was fun watching them and groups of friends working cooperatively. As always, the children were the most fun to watch.

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011 (for Shaft)

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

This year's event was blessed with perfect weather, whereas last year's had to cope with rain and the threat of rain. As the sun set on the square vibrant color poured from all directions on the square giving it a beautiful, cosmic feel that comes once each year. If you missed it this year, I hope you enjoy the pictures and I hope you'll make plans to check it out next year.

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, Market Square, 2011

Dogwood Arts Continues: Market Square Art Fair

What I think of as the primary Dogwood Arts Festival event took place this weekend downtown. It is actually only one piece of many as the festival expands in many directions. This portion focuses on art and while it is called the Market Square Art Fair, it spilled on down Market Street where the food vendors and a few artists were located and it virtually filled Krutch Park.

Music and a view of the center booths on Market Square, Knoxville, April 17, 2011

While not all the art was for everyone, there was a wide range of art to appeal to most people from pottery to oil paintings, from metal objects to wood-working.

Glass art at the Market Square Art Fair, Knoxville, 2011

Pottery at the Market Square Art Fair, Knoxville, 2011

Booths lining Market Square, Knoxville, 2011

I wasn't able to attend the first two days, but the weather wasn't very good and I suspect attendance suffered. The final day brought absolutely gorgeous weather and solid, though not spectacular crowds. My shots are from the first hour and the last hour. I was told it was more crowded in between.

Award winning Art, Knoxville, 2011

A stick, a Spam can and music, Knoxville, 2011

Cheesy Vendors abounded, Market Square Art Fair, Knoxville, 2011

One of the amazing things about these events is how rapidly they seem to spring from the earth only to disappear as rapidly to make way for the next event. I realize, of course, many people work feverishly to make it all happen, but it is striking.

Glass Art, Market Square Art Fair, Knoxville, 2011

Metal Art, Knoxville, 2011

Impressive Dogs, Krutch Park, Knoxville, 2011

Though there are on-going events, the festival seems to lay a bit low for next weekend, I assume because it is Easter weekend. The last weekend in April is a big one with the parade on the 29th and the Chalk Walk (one of my favorite events) happening primarily the next day.

The Ledbetters, Market Square Art Fair, Knoxville, 2011

Market Square Art Fair, Knoxville, April 17, 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

Ch Ch Ch Changes

Count the Changes, Krutch Park, Knoxville, October 2010

I took a little walk around downtown this afternoon to see what was going on. As always, the answer is plenty. The picture above contains subtle and not-so-subtle notices that change is afoot.

One of the first things that I noticed, and it's contained in that picture, were ribbons all along Gay Street on every light post and liberally hung on any available surface to which they might be tied. I don't know if I missed a parade or a patriotic event, but there were five ribbons in each bunch and they were inscribed with "Together we Stand" on one and the various branches of the military - including the National Guard - on each of the others. There must be a hundred or more running the length of the street. Do any readers know the story? Here are a couple more pictures of the ribbons along the street.

Arcade Building with Ribbon, Gay Street, Knoxville, October 2010

Ribbon close-up looking north on Gay Street, Knoxville, October 2010

Also in the picture at the top, if you look just behind the sculptures on the ground is a long piece of plywood where the fountain used to be. I suppose the covers mark the end of fountain season. I know it is too cold for children to play in them like they did all summer, but I'll miss them until spring.

The other news in the photograph might not be obvious to anyone who has not followed the Dogwood Arts Sculpture project, which I've previously discussed here, here and here. I had begun to wonder if someone forgot to gather the art that was scheduled to be downtown until - I thought - the end of September. It may have been October, because, as the month ends, the sculptures are on the move.

The one on the left in the picture has been mentioned here before and was originally located beside the convention center. It is titled "Sailors Warning" - yes, without the apostrophe. Why is it now on Gay Street? Does this mean we are keeping it, but in a new location? It is crowding Flow Mojo, also in that picture. I'm hoping Flow Mojo stays, but it deserves its own space.

Entrance to Krutch Park - without "Trinity" sculpture, Knoxville, October 2010

This sent me searching Krutch Park for other sculptures. "Trinity" was gone! I thought this one had the best chance of staying. I'm disappointed. The entrance to Krutch Park definitely looks like something is missing. Also absent was "Snowflake," and "Storyteller." The later is a real disappointment. I really thought it had found a home. Still, we enjoyed these and many others for months and they enriched us. I appreciate the Dogwood Arts Festival and Arts in Public Spaces for letting us borrow them. Still, I would like to see more great permanent installations around the city.