“First Friday,” which occurs on the first Friday evening of each month, is an event where many art galleries downtown open their doors, providing complimentary refreshments and allowing featured artists to mingle with the public.
With the reconstruction of the 100 block of Gay Street in downtown Knoxville came a wave of art galleries opening in an area that had traditionally been industrial. This block is where the bulk of “First Friday” galleries are located.
“When there are lots of empty buildings in these industrial areas, artists are the first people to come in and open studios, drawing inspiration from the desolate surroundings,” said Michael Monday, a featured artist at Gallery 133.
Monday had five paintings on display at Gallery 133, a gallery that he described to show more alternative pieces than some of the other nearby galleries.
“First Friday” had been happening for a few years with three main galleries pioneering the effort: Nomad Gallery, Susan Keys and the Candy Factory. The closing of the Candy Factory brought about a lull in Knoxville’s art scene.
When the Emporium Center, Knoxville’s first true arts center, opened on 100 Gay Street, other small galleries began to crop up on the block. There was a new energy to the area and “First Friday” then picked back up.
“Artists always are urban pioneers, they gentrify everything and it becomes chic and trendy,” said Liza Zenny, executive director of Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville. “They bring an energy, and we need it badly.”
The beauty of “First Friday” is that it happens like clockwork each month. Residents of Knoxville have come to depend on the predictability it provides. The crowd that the event brings in is very diverse. Zenny said that 65 percent of people who come thorugh the Emporium are younger than 35, whether they are art enthusiasts or young families strolling through before going out for dinner.
“‘First Friday’ — it’s free, it’s itinerant and it’s downtown outside on the street. There is food and wine, new places are always cropping up, and it’s an anything goes event,” Zenny said.
Gay Street is a short trek or free Vol Trolley ride from campus, and a few galleries surrounding Market Square also participate. This November, “First Friday” exhibited many very diverse artists and pieces, including paintings, sculpture and photography, mixed media art, jewelry and live music.
Each gallery downtown has something great to offer for all types, from hidden gems to big statement pieces, provocative photography to delicate portraits.
Anyone interested can visit knoxvillefirstfriday.com for a full monthly listing of artist openings at each of Knoxville’s venues, along with direct links to websites and short descriptions of the venues’ missions.
