Market Square is Knoxville’s hot spot for all things music, art and food.
Within walking distance of campus, it is still far enough away for anyone looking to have a night on the town. Jammed among the street performances and restaurants is a small store called Räla. Räla, an acronym for Regional and Local Artists, showcases just what the name says: art.
Open since June 2010, founder Nanci Solomon, said Räla’s mission is to sell original art and handmade artisan goods. Four years later, they have quickly become a favorite spot for artists and art lovers.
When customers first walk in, they are greeted with a friendly face and the smell of fine perfumes. The store may be a little small, but shoppers are encouraged to stay as long as they need to truly get the whole Räla experience. Everything they have to offer is laid out for the consumer to easily locate exactly what they are looking for or to let them browse with ease.
Customers are welcome to come in and soak up all they have to offer — everything from hand-drawn sketches to vivid paintings. Currently, Räla is featuring local painter Cynthia Markert. Future artists include Cold Gold, which specializes in jewelry and leather goods, and Brian Pittman, a free-hand sketch artist who draws imaginary cathedrals.
Räla also works with other artists on a regular basis include Meghan McCrary, Salt & Spirit, Urban Cricket, Church of Type and Nelson Studios to name a few.
Alaina Smith, Räla’s manager, said the store looks for cohesiveness when selecting art to feature.
“We look for the attitude and aesthetic of the work to fit in well with what we carry,” Smith said. “We like to create a visual story that shows our customers who we are as a store.”
If paintings and sketches aren’t quite up your alley, Räla has a variety of other items to browse as well. Decorative wreaths, handmade jewelry and funny-faced coffee mugs can all be found in the shop. Räla strives to incorporate enough variety without having too much of the same thing. It’s about carrying items which will interest their customers.
“There is something for everyone in Räla,” Rebecca Fechino, junior in public relations, said. “I could go in and find something, my best friend could find something and my mom could find something completely different, but it still has that Räla feel to it.”
Smith adds Räla’s clientele consists of “downtown-dwelling, local-loving, positive-thinking, connoisseurs of all things, goofy, gorgeous and good.”
With their loyal fan base and the constant submissions and applications from artists they receive, Räla can be sure they will always have a wide variety to keep customers coming back for more.
The store is proud of the impact they are having on the city of Knoxville, giving local artists a place to sell their work year round. Social media like Facebook and Instagram are drastically changing the conversation between artists and buyers.
“I think we contribute to our community by opening up lines of communication between artists and art appreciators,” Smith said. “There is no more hunt. The buy-local movement has grown tremendously since we first opened. It’s an exciting time in Knoxville to see how our community supports small businesses and locals artists.”
