Please stop in Good Golly Tamale in the Old City (Knoxville) during the month of July to see some recent folk style paintings. The show lasts all month, and I'll be there during First Friday to answer any questions and sell work.
During the month, work is for sale and can be purchased at the counter. Hope you can pop in for a tamale soon!
There was a time not long ago when First Friday was just a small but wonderful spark of life in downtown Knoxville. Today, it is the night to be in downtown Knoxville. If you're an Artist, booking a First Friday show is the best way to share what you're making with Knoxville.
Since graduating from UT in 2007, it's been fun to witness its growth, and not only that, to be an active participant. If I had to guess, I'd say I've been a part of 50 First Friday shows in the past ten years, and I'd love to share some things I've learned along the way.
Showing artwork can be an intimidating venture if you've never done it before, but I want to convey just how valuable and simple it can be to schedule a First Friday show. I think it's safe to say that if you're an Artist in Knoxville, there is a venue for you.
So what are the first steps to booking a show? Here are my suggestions:
1. Visit some venues and determine what places will be a good fit for your work. First Friday is a great time to do this, or any other time they are open will work.
2. Meet the owner or find out the First Friday contact for the venue. Some venues have volunteers who coordinate their shows, but most of the time, it's the owner. See below for as many venues I know about and their contacts.
3. Visit their website to see if they have information on how to submit work for approval. If there isn't any information, contact the venue and start by asking them how to be considered.
I'll add and update the list below as often as I receive new information. It's a collaborative effort, so leave me a comment or email me at beth@bethmeadows,com with edits or additions.
KNOXVILLE FIRST FRIDAY VENUES:
1. The Emporium- Suzanne Cada: sc@knoxalliance.com; Visit their website.
2. The Central Collective- Dale Mackey: info@thecentralcollective.com
3. The Tomato Head- Bethann DeGrow: jbdegrow@hotmail.com; They choose artists for the next year at the end of the previous year.
4. Rala- Alaina Smith: shoprala@gmail.com
5. The Knoxville Visitor Center-
6. Gallery 1010 - reserved for UT students
7. The Fluorescent Gallery- David Wolff: davidawolff@gmail.com
8. Striped Light- Sarah Shebaro: info@stripedlight.com
9. The Hive- Rebecca Ridner: thehiveknox@gmail.com
10. Central Flats and Taps-
11. Old City Java- Meg Parrish: meg@oldcityjava.com
12. Good Golly Tamale- Beth Meadows: beth@bethmeadows.com
13. Magpies Small Hall Gallery- Beth Meadows: beth@bethmeadows.com
14. A1 LabArts- Visit their website. contact@a1Labarts.com
15. Preservation Pub-
16. Coffee and Chocolate-
17. Awaken Coffee- Matt Robbins: Go in and talk to him.
18. Tori Mason
Patrick Sullivan's paint pen and acrylic on reclaimed wood
For the past several years, I've been making artwork for the centerpieces at Knox Heritage's annual fundraiser, The Scruffy City Soiree. It's been really fun to showcase my artwork made from reclaimed wood this way since it's directly inspired by historic preservation, and Knox Heritage raises money through this event to help save historic buildings. It's a lovely marriage.
Mary Boyce Temple House
In past years, I've painted mason jars on slate and wood to display. This year, I showcased my prints of mason jars on wood but also added a new element: historic Knoxville buildings cut out of and painted on reclaimed wood.
Primed Wood Buildings
I used wood from The Salvage Room. It made sense to use reclaimed wood from historic buildings, but it proved to be a bit of a challenge. With these pieces, before I even touch a paint brush, cleaning, sanding, and cutting the wood is a laborious task. And while the thickest wood used (reclaimed stair treads) looks so great, it is definitely hard to cut with a small hand-held jigsaw.
Through this process, I've learned a lot about woodworking. I've gotten tips here and there from people, but I've basically been teaching myself. I'd love to invest in some really good tools in the future for projects like this, but for now, I'm using what I have. Not using the most efficient tools can put a damper on things, but I'm sure I'm building character with the added challenge. Perhaps.
The drawing begins
Once I cut the buildings, I add wood filler to those that need it and then prime the wood. My plan was to use carbon copy paper to trace the buildings on to the wood because I had to make so many in such a short time, but I had trouble getting the image to transfer so I ended up drawing several free hand.
If you haven't gathered it by now, I came up against many unexpected obstacles while making these. I learned a valuable lesson from these buildings: When creating anything new, I need time to hit obstacles. Lots of time. Procrastination is my enemy!
Applying paint
Each building uses a combination of paint pens and acrylic, so they are like little drawings and paintings in one. They are made to sit on a table, shelf, or mantel so there isn't a bracket on the back for hanging. I added information cards to the backs of them to give some current details about the buildings. I chose seven buildings to create and made two of each. They were all chosen based on their significance to historic preservation and Knox Heritage over the past year.
I painted Patrick Sullivan's (Old City), 18th Street IGA (Fort Sanders), Pryor Brown Garage (downtown), Westwood (new KH HQ), White Lily (Old City), Mary Boyce Temple House (downtown), and the McClung Warehouse (downtown).
The finished product. 18th Street IGA
The first set of buildings made their debut at The Scruffy City Soiree on September 27 at The Standard on Jackson Avenue. Those attending the event could purchase them at the end of the night and partial proceeds went to Knox Heritage.
White Lily Building at The Scruffy City Soiree
In the end, I wasn't able to finish all of the buildings before the event, so I'm currently creating the rest now. Ones leftover from the event are available at Nostalgia on McCalla. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in one!
The Scruffy City Soiree about to come to a close.
I currently have artwork on display at Coffee & Chocolate. Below are details and photos of the work. I hope you can find the time to see it this month!
Photo by Matthew Higginbotham
Models and Buildings
Drawings by Beth Meadows
at Coffee & Chocolate, December 2013
327 Union Ave SW, Knoxville, TN 37902
All work is priced upon request. Please contact beth@bethmeadows.com
Patrick Sullivan's (on black) paint pen and acrylic on acetate, lace and fabric, recycled frame
Artist Statement:
I have a strong interest in things that are beautifully crafted and designed to stand the test of time. I also listen to pop music and buy things that are made to be thrown away year to year.
My subject matter is historic Knoxville buildings and models from fashion magazines. The frames used for the models are recycled and the windows have been salvaged from historic buildings in Knoxville.
As I make these drawings with previously discarded materials, I think about their original creator, the time and thought they put into what they made.
Historic Knoxville Buildings paint pen and acrylic on acetate, lace and fabric, framed in salvaged windows and recycled frames. Photo by Matthew Higginbotham.
I wonder: If the flippant consumer determines the value of things, won't even the most well-designed objects be subject to the landfill?
I like to imagine that one day I might walk into a thrift store and see one of my paintings hanging on a wall. What one might regard as a debilitating thought has pushed me to make better work. Better work that does not become too precious to me as the maker.
Two Models ink, marker, and colored pencil on paper, recycled frames
Bio:
Beth moved from her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee to Knoxville where she graduated from the UT with a BFA in Studio Art in 2007. She currently manages The Salvage Room for the non-profit Knox Heritage, receiving and selling historic building materials. She is also the Director and an artist of 17th Street Studios, a work space for artists near downtown Knoxville.
Models in recycled frames. Photo by Matthew Higginbotham.