UT Student Pop-Up Gallery
During a work-related visit to Knoxville, TN I had the opportunity to explore the city’s vibrant downtown culture. Fortunately I was there at the right time to catch a terrific farmers market with great food and homemade goods, a poetry/music show at an historic local divebar, a costumed march/demonstration protesting rape and a pop-up street show of student art.
The pop-up gallery, organized by art students from the University of Tennessee, was a clever re-appropriation of a temporary sidewalk construction shelter. Coming upon this was unexpected and added to the delight and pleasure of the experience. Some of the work was your typical student painting and drawing, but other pieces fell more along the lines of installation, inviting the passer-by to become involved with the art. The more memorable was a fabricated wall, built out a few inches from the structure of the sidewalk shelter, with a small viewing window the piece demand that the viewer pause long enough to stop and see what was on display. Too bad for me though, because I am only 5’5″ and the viewing portal was a bit too high for me to be on my tip-toes long enough to read the writing behind the surface.
Kudos to those art kids getting out there and making something happen. Knoxville is a special town with a great heart and soul. I will definitely be heading back soon!
Optic Ink 