Ten years ago, no Knoxvillian would have considered bringing their child to an art class in downtown’s Old City.
However, today the Old City is in the midst of a transformation from a strip of bars, clubs and quick turnover restaurants to an artistic urban cultural hub. So it is the perfect time for The Basement Community Art Studio to move into town.
Co-owners Jennifer MacIssac and Brynn Crowell have been long-time friends for years, but it wasn’t until MacIssac moved out to Portland, Oregon that the two conceived the idea to become business partners.
“In Portland there are several community-based studios that I used to frequent with my kids, and when she (Crowell) came to visit, I took her to a few of them and she liked the idea,” MacIssac said.
Crowell, owner of Old City’s Lox Salon, recalled the experience as eye-opening.
“Just watching the kids go to town and seeing their eyes light up made me think,” Crowell said. “I’ve been in the Old City for going on ten years, and there is nothing like that in Knoxville that is kid-driven and that’s just for the community to come in and be able to create with all the materials already provided.”
Once MacIssac returned to Knoxville, Crowell mentioned the open space for rent below her salon, and MacIssac quickly got the ball rolling. The studio opened in June, offering walk-in times five days a week for any age to come use the art materials in stock. They also offer weekly classes geared mainly toward students and monthly rotating workshops conducted by either MacIssac herself or a guest artist.
Crowell emphasized that despite the studio’s inclination toward children’s programming, adults will also find the environment fun and welcoming.
“It’s definitely a very fun process, and it’s fun for adults too, whether they participate or just sit back and watch the kids have fun,” Crowell said.
MacIssac wants to be sure the studio remained truly representative of the community.
“I did not want to just have it for children however; I wanted to make sure that it was a space where adults could also feel welcome as well and be really representative of the community,” MacIssac said.
The studio has begun holding special event nights such as Ladies Night and Date Night, which are open studio hours exclusively for adults where patrons are welcome to bring wine and beer plus snacks.
MacIssac described the studio as a creative play area, open to amateurs and aspiring professionals alike, including, “people who are looking for a way to come together with friends and do something creative.”
“We have had a few people come in and bring their own things and work on their own artwork. I would love to do more of that,” MacIssac said.
Since the start of school, the studio has seen a decrease in walk-in traffic, and to combat this Crowell and MacIssac have recently made efforts to partner with local elementary schools, especially in the downtown area.
“We’ve been trying to get local schools in the area to participate as well at a discount rate, but I think what our goal is now is to work toward more of a non-profit,” Crowell said.
Crowell explained that despite many art teachers’ excitement and encouragement among their students, it remains difficult for students in downtown’s lower income schools to frequent the studio, even with a discount rate. Crowell and MacIssac are currently working out the details for a school scholarship program to the studio.
“I think our main focus was just community and being able to reach kids who maybe don’t have that outlet would be very rewarding but also very successful too,” Crowell said.
In addition to collaborating with local schools, Crowell and MacIssac have also begun discussing a form of community promotion with other local workshop studios in light of the artistic rebirth of downtown.
“I think there’s a great energy in the air right now. A lot of creative art type people are opening a lot of interesting businesses, and there’s a great vibe,” MacIssac said. “The area will always have a vibrant bar scene and night life, but I think we are going to start to see more of a daytime scene down here.”
The Basement Community Art Studio has walk-in hours Tuesday-Friday from 2:30-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Basement is a community art center located in Old City.
