First Friday, Art and Passing Time in the City

Harpist on Market Square, Knoxville, February 2012

It's hard to believe how quickly the winter has passed. There hasn't really been much of one as far as the weather goes. It was just New Year and now it's almost spring. I've barely gotten used to the winter hours for Just Ripe and they will be changing soon to spring hours.

Jazz in the Art Market, Gay Street, Knoxville, February 2012

In the hurry through February, I realize I never mentioned anything about First Friday this month. I like to throw it out there for your consideration because the art openings that night are generally up for the month at the Emporium and the UT Gallery. We also had a harpist on Market Square, though she came with strings attached. Her compatriots hovering nearby passed out religious tracts to anyone who paused. As always, we enjoyed the jazz in the Art Gallery on Gay Street, so there was a little soundtrack to the night.

Art in the Balcony at the Emporium, Knoxville

I didn't particularly care for the exhibit on the balcony this go around. Somehow it just didn't reach out and grab me. Maybe it will grab you. It's called "Forward" and it is produced by Pellissippi State faculty. The piece pictured here looked like plastic that might have washed up on the banks of a polluted river - with a light illuminating it from behind. I'm sure I'm just not sophisticated enough to appreciate it all and, given the right tutelage, I might realize how incredible it really is.

Jake Livesay, Acrylic at the Emporium

Jake Livesay, Acrylic at the Emporium, Knoxville, 2012

Downstairs, two artists shared the space in a exhibition titled, "If Not Now, When? The emphasis for the artists, apparently is experiencing the moment. Jake Livesay exhibited works in acrylic, many of which featured a seemingly Native American motif. At first I didn't care for it, but the more I studied it, the more it drew me in. It's very geometric in nature, which can cause a work to seem cold or emotionally distant in my view, but that wasn't so much the case with these pieces.

Victor Schmidt, Emporium, Knoxville

Victor Schmidt, Emporium, Knoxville

Victor Schmidt, Emporium, Knoxville

Victor Schmidt exhibited forged works of steel and brass. I enjoyed those quite a bit. I'm sure I didn't gather everything the artist intended, being the rube that I am, but I did like the shapes and contortions and enjoyed imagining what the abstract expressions might represent, if anything more than beautiful steel and brass.

Japanese Art at the UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, February 2012

Japanese Art at the UT Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, February 2012

The UT Downtown Gallery is always interesting and this month it is no exception. Japanese artists are featured and particularly a technique of layering paint that I never did really understand. It is, however, beautiful, and impressive. The thing about Japanese art is that it has such a deep soul it bears up well under extended scrutiny. The longer I look, generally, the better I like.

Hopefully you still have another week or so to catch these fine exhibitions before they begin to give way to the First Friday openings for March which, incredibly, are close at hand.

East Tennessee Woodworker's Guild at the Emporium

Adult-sized Rocking Horse, Emporium, November 2011

I hate that this show has ended before I could write a blog and encourage everyone to come out and see it. First Friday at the Emporium I was lucky enough to witness a wonderful display of woodworking which was at turns contemporary, historical, serious and whimsical.


Tortoise and the Hare? Woodcarving, Emporium, Knoxville, November 2011



A perfectly fine roach for a coffee table

 Thirty-five craftspeople from the East Tennessee Woodworkers' Guild had work represented at the Emporium. Unfortunately, it was for a three day run, not the normal month-long exhibition, so it's too late for you to visit. I didn't do my best blogger diligence and document who constructed each piece, so if you see something you like, you'll just have to follow the link above and ask them about it.



Demonstrating wood-working technique



Explaining the process



The crowd at the Emporium, First Friday November 2011

The furniture was finely crafted, of course, and generally far beyond anything I'd ever be able to afford with prices in the thousands pretty common. Still, it makes me feel good to know in the middle of our iPad world, there are still people practicing woodworking crafts that are hundreds of years old. One of the members of the guild was on hand to demonstrate.


Beautiful Chairs, Emporium, Knoxville, November 2011



High seat chair, Emporium, November 2011

 

Cane-bottomed Chair, East Tennessee Woodworkers' Guild

Much of the furniture looked like replicas of eighteenth or nineteenth century work, while other pieces might have been inspired by Alices' Adventures in Wonderland. An adult-sized rocking horse was prominently displayed near the entrance as was a rabbit on the back of a turtle.

Kitchen Table with beautiful inlaid wood.

Coffee Table in multiple pieces and levels.

Some of the furniture was, by comparison, simple, while some of it must have been very difficult to make with inlays and curved contours. The stains and the grains of the wood were beautiful. I think that of the furniture, I liked the round table and curved chest the best, though I very much liked the coffee table.


"Monks Making Wine" by Robert Lowery



"Sharing" by Robert Lowery

 The one artist whose name I did catch was Robert Lowery whose inlaid wood portraits were exquisite. I liked the "Monks Making Wine" the best. The other work pictured here was listed for $1595, just to give you an idea on the price point.


Hand-made Curved Cabinet

I hope you enjoy the pictures. Don't forget, you have other options to view pictures from the blog. You can friend me (and I'd love you to) on Facebook here and you can "like" the Stuck Inside of Knoxville Facebook page here. I have over 900 photographs of Knoxville and people in the city loaded and ready for your viewing pleasure.


Unusually shaped Handmade Chest, Emporium, Knoxville, November 2011



More October First Friday

Hooping into the Night, Krutch Park, Knoxville

Everything wasn't serious Wall Street Occupational talk on Friday night. I made it a point to make my way to the Art Market where a neighbor had a showing and I always stop off at the Emporium.


Jazz inside the Art Market, Knoxville, October 2011

The jazz music just inside the door of the Art Market was excellent with the simple jazz guitar and a saxophone. I'm not sure if it is the acoustics, the ambiance or the talent, but this wasn't the first time I've heard great music in that entry-way.

Sold Piece by Morgan Fitch at the Art Market, Knoxville

Inside I talked to Morgan Fitch whose found-object art was on display. He'd sold one piece ("Don't Drink and Bike") already and the night was going well with a packed house several hours into the event. He told me that he finds objects in all manner of places along the journey to various animal or human forms. 

Sculpture by Morgan Fitch, Art Market, Knoxville



Sculpture by Morgan Fitch, Art Market, Knoxville

The bicycle pedals are obvious in his "Don't Drink and Bike" piece, but don't miss the little pictures of wine bottles as eyes. The pivotal pieces in the poodle pictured above are the metal wine glasses he'd had for sometime but no longer used. His art is still on display at the Art Market, so check it out if you get a chance.

"The Victor by Olga Noes

Painting by Gloria Nelson, Emporium, October 2011

By the time I got to the Emporium time was short. I was able to spot a couple of pieces upstairs that intrigued me and I listened to the singer downstairs for a few minutes. The highlight was talking to the good folks at Casa Hola. I met lovely Brenda and Carol and they let me take their picture, which was very cool. Good people and good times.

Singer at the Emporium, Knoxville, October 2011



Carol and Brenda at Casa Hola, Emporium, Knoxville, October 2011

I walked back to Krutch Park and ended the night watching the lovely lady pictured at the beginning of this post, hooping to the sounds of the small drum contingent on hand. I'll have more about the business end of the night and some updates on local businesses in tomorrow's blog post.

August 2011, First Friday

Buskers and Dancers on Market Square

Matt at Downtown Wine pours free samples, Gay Street, Knoxville

My biggest complaint against First Friday is that it ends too early. With most events starting at 7:00 and most shops and activities stopping at 9:00, it's tough to really enjoy everything as much as I'd like. Would it be too hard to stay open to 10:00? Could we be crazy and say 11:00? Seriously, unless you are able and interested in getting a table at 5:30, it's hard to eat and take in very many of the events. I find myself doing a drive-by on most things and not having time to sink my teeth properly into any one thing.

But enough with the complaints, already. My little party had a great time for as long as the lights stayed on. Some events are starting early to get things going when less competition is around. Downtown Wine hosted it's weekly tasting with Matt serving up samples of an unoaked Chardonnay and a couple of nice Riojas which seemed to be crowd pleasers. Henna art started early in front of Fizz served with a smile from a member of the Urban Nation. Both events started at 5:30.

Jazz at the French Market, Gay Street, Knoxville

Drum Contingent in Krutch Park

A Lovely Hula Artist

Dinner at the French Market is usually a good bet. It's busy, but not overrun like some of the restaurants on Market Square. It's also a bit faster and less expensive. Throw in delicious crepes, free jazz music and great people watching on Gay Street and in Krutch Park and you've got my favorite First Friday choice for fine dining. Krutch Park features drumming and hooping and doesn't seem to adhere quite as strictly to the 9:00 PM bewitching hour.

John Black hits the Bela Luna table in his studio, Union Av., Knoxville

Kelsey's Woods at John Black Photography, Union Avenue, Knoxville

John Black Photography on Union Avenue featured music from Kelsey's Woods and food from Bella Luna. Not a bad combination.

Informational tables and art from the Tennessee Reiki Connection

My party made it to the Emporium with only about fifteen minutes to spare. It had obviously cleared out a bit so that made it easier to take pictures of the fascinating art from the Tennessee Reiki Connection. Entitled “Enlightenment," and described as a Metaphysical, Spiritual and Energy Art Show and Holistic Fair." Much of the art was three dimensional and/or textured with mixed media.

It's a bit over my simple Urban Guy head, but they had cool art, information booths and a pretty girl with glitter make-up playing a Pink Floyd song on acoustic guitar. I'll admit that brought back some specific memories this Urban Guy will just keep to himself.

Emissions spewing on Wall Avenue

My least favorite sight of the night was of a very large travel trailer which was parked on Wall Avenue with its engine running for hours. How many miles must one Nissan Leaf drive to balance out the poison inflicted on our atmosphere by five minutes from that massive combustion engine? It's rhetorical, engineers. The fact that it appears to have been a Joe Hultquist campaign machine pretty much cuts his chances to about zero for my vote.

Urban Toddler, her fav urban sculpture and Miss Amanda's Animal Crackers

Then it was over. And too early for everyone except Urban Toddler who was up thirty minutes past her bed time and soaked in sweat from the heat and humidity of a hot August night on the town. Two books and one song later and she was dreaming of a fun First Friday.