Ever wonder what it’s like to stroll through a German art district?
This weekend, the neighborhood of 4th and Gill will provide the opportunity to do that right here in Knoxville. For the second year, ARToberfest is giving a platform to the artistic side of Knoxville, with a flair of German heritage.
Laurie Meschke, chair of ARToberfest planning committee, came up with the idea when she was asked to develop a large fundraiser as part of her role on the 4th and Gill neighborhood association. Meschke grew up in Minnesota with a strong German heritage, and said she has been strongly influenced by the artistic atmosphere in 4th and Gill since she moved to the area.
“I just put the two elements that I knew and appreciated here together and we got ARToberfest,” Meschke said. “The purpose of this event is to make 4th and Gill not only a historic neighborhood but also an artful neighborhood.”
On their inaugural year, ARToberfest had 600 attendees. This year Meschke said she expects that number to double.
“We’re definitely growing,” Meschke said. “Last year we had 35 art vendors. This year we have over 50 who will be selling their creative wares.”
Jerry Moll, director of art vendors for ARToberfest, has lived at 4th and Gill as an artist for more than seven years. During this time, Moll said he has seen the change and growth of Knoxville’s artistic community, contributing a large majority of this change to having a right amount of progressive people in the city at the right time.
“I think the arts scene and just the general liveliness of the city has gotten better every single year,” Moll said.
For Moll, 4th and Gill always seemed to have an intrinsic artistic atmosphere, from its multiple private studios to the community center that hosts the public art gallery, the Birdhouse.
“We have a lot of arts and a really interesting, diverse history over here in 4th and Gill,” Moll said. “I think just the fact that we are having this festival here reflects the kind of creative force we have at 4th and Gill and the Old North neighborhood.”
This year in addition to art displays, there will be multiple interactive demonstrations, including ceramics, metals, face-painting, puppetry and an appearance from the UT printmaking club.
Outside of just expanded artistic vendors, ARToberfest will also feature a wider range of food and entertainment this year. Last year’s German cuisine was limited to bratwurts and sauerkraut, but this year homemade pretzels will be added to the lineup as well as both beer and wine for adult beverages. For underage attendees, Crafty Bastards Brewery is providing its signature root beer and ginger ale recipes.
Also on the itinerary are a geocaching activity, a chalk walk competition and an appearance of the art bikes. Local musicians will be on hand to play traditional German polka music on two stages across the event space. And for football fans, the UT game against Alabama will be playing on the big screen in the beer hall.
According to Meschke, the greatest proof of ARToberfest’s growing popularity lies in the variety of its volunteers, over half of which are not 4th and Gill residents. Meschke hopes to continue ARToberfest in the coming years and to expand its open, artistic atmosphere into Knoxville life year round.
“We really want this to grow out to be an event that really stresses how important art is,” Meschke said. “It’s a part of why we give 10% of our profits to ARTreach, a non-profit that sponsors art activities for kids who would otherwise be unable to afford it.”
Tickets are $10 online at http://artoberfestknox.com, but if they are bought at K Brew, Three Rivers Market or any of the Bliss locations, the purchaser will receive a free drink coupon as well.
Last year's ARToberfest, on Oct. 19, 2014, was filled with art, music and other performance. ARToberfest 2015 will be held on Oct. 24 from 2-9 p.m.
