Photographs Waiting for a Blog to Happen



Weather reporter Cheryl Scott on Market Square, Knoxville, March 2011

I've done this before, usually toward the end of a month when it becomes apparent that certain photographs, while fun, good or otherwise interesting, simply haven't attached themselves to a particular topic or haven't presented me with enough inspiration for an entire blog.

One more time - A really smart car would circle the block to avoid getting ticketed.

Dave is back in the house! (or out of the house and on Market Square)

If there is one theme to several of these pictures, as well as many throughout the history of the blog is this apparent, heretofore unknown-to-me fetish for vehicles. If there are any psychoanalysts among the readers, feel free to analyze me in the comment section.

Usually the Harley catches my eye, but how about this Honda? (Beside 36 Market Square)

Flow Mojo, still steppin' out around town, now hangs at the Transportation Center.

I hate to see them disappear into my files without ever surfacing, so I group them and offer them up as a collection of recent images of life in the city. So, in that spirit, here are a few from this month.

Maserati, Union Avenue outside Pembroke, Knoxville, March 2011

"My Maserati Does 185. I lost my license, now I don't drive." J. Walsh

No Music, Just a Cold, Snowy, Beautiful Night



Snowy Night in Krutch Park, Knoxville, December 2010

 Friday I looked in the Daily Plan-it to see what music might be coming up downtown that I needed to catch. Angel Martinez at the Preservation Pub caught my eye. I saw him at the Hola Festival and thought he was great. Unfortunately, as with the previous show I saw there, the music was not set to start until late: 10:00 PM this time. I found myself wishing he had been there on a Saturday night so I wouldn't have to go to work the next morning.

Arch on Market Square, Knoxville, December 2010

When the snow and cold set in and I learned I would not have to report to work I remembered the show and made my plans to catch it, after all. Life was good. At 10:00 when I arrived at the door no one was taking the cover charge and I knew that couldn't be a good sign. Sure enough, the bartender confirmed that the show was cancelled.

Flow Mojo gets the Christmas Spirit, Krutch Park, Knoxville, December 2010.

I walked around for a few minutes and took some pictures of late night Knoxville in the snow.  I was sorry the music didn't happen, but it forced me out into a cold night to see sights most people missed in the city. I'll say this: It doesn't take long in the twenty degree weather with a howling wind for the warmth of home to sound like a very good idea.

Union/Market Street entrance to Krutch Park in the snow.

Gay Street looking south, Knoxville, December 2010

Snowflake and Snowflakes

Suddenly we find ourselves beset by cold weather. And not just early December cold, but more mid-January to mid-February cold. I was surprised earlier this week when I walked out of my home to see the streets and sidewalks covered by a thin layer of snow. Now snow is in the forecast for this Sunday and Monday. Are we going to have another snowy, icy winter like last year? Who knows. Knoxville weather is capricious at best. The actual months of winter (remember this is still fall!) may be warm and dry.

"Snowflake" in Krutch Park, Summer 2010

It does remind me of a certain sculpture that adorned the center of Krutch Park this past spring and summer. Do you remember "Snowflake?" I've actually tracked Snowflake to its new home in a neighborhood in Oak Ridge. I have to say this was never one of my favorite of the sculptures downtown. I got it, but it left me a little cold (yes, intended). I like it better in its new home. I would not have imagined it would work in a suburban yard, but it does. What do you think?



"Snowflake" moves to Oak Ridge

Also, it made me wonder: Where did the other sculptures disappear to? Were they sold or returned to the artists? Does anyone know where any of them landed? Maybe I'll try to investigate. One other sculpture I can report on: Last time I checked, Flow Mojo is still hanging out on a corner in Krutch Park extension, bidding his time until the big Christmas tree is packed away for another year and he can resume his rightful spot at the entrance to the park.

In the meantime, there's a snowflake to hold you over until the real ones get here this Sunday. Everybody get your milk and bread and stay warm.

Then there's this other sculpture . . .

Previously I've talked about sculptures that I'd just as soon the city not purchase at the end of their exhibition downtown. I also pointed out some that I think are worthy of keeping downtown.

There are a couple additional sculptures among those in the current downtown installation, that I feel compelled to toss out for public discourse. I've walked through the World's Fair Park near the convention center a few times lately and they each beg me for inclusion in our little sculpture conversation, so here goes. I'll ask readers for help on this, since my understanding seems to be limited regarding such things.

Sailors Warning - Duke Oursler - Painted Steel - 13'X5'X5' - $12,000

The first isn't unattractive in some ways. It certainly has a good vertical leap, it's sleek and I like the primary colors. I'm not sure what it means and I'll have to confess it looks like a banana with an eye, to me. Sometimes I'm able to read the title and get some idea of what the artist was after, but in this case I have no clue. I can't find an allusion to a sailor anywhere in the piece. Can a reader help me?

Antique Picnic - Durant Thompson - Steel, Wood, Truck, Barbecue 7'X8'X17' - $5000 

The second piece gives me a stronger reaction. When I first saw it I laughed and thought, "What a clever idea, to take a broken down vehicle and make something useful (a picnic table and barbecue grill if you can't tell from the picture). The more I looked at it, the less enamored I became. I realize every artistic endeavor doesn't isn't making a statement, but this one seems to be. The more I thought about it, the less I liked the statement that was being made. What do you think it is saying, if anything? I started to feel it was a negative statement about our region, playing off the stereotype of broken down, rusted vehicles with flat tires sitting interminably in front of the house. Making matters worse, it is beside the convention center which hosts (when times are good) visitors from outside our area. Is this what we really want to present to them? On the other hand, maybe I'm making too much out of nothing or missing the point entirely. I'll happily be educated, if you want to weigh in. Just be nice. This isn't the comment board at the KNS site (thankfully).

Flow Mojo, Krutch Park, Knoxville

Finally, a reprise for a piece that I wrote about previously: Flow Mojo by artist Mike Roig. I picked it as my second most desirable piece to keep downtown and I later learned that it was voted the Best of Show by the Dogwood Arts judges. Maybe my taste is pretty good, after all. I do hope the city bought that one. If not, you only have a few weeks to come to Krutch Park and see it live and in action. The installation is due to be removed at the end of October.