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Explore the list below of what's happening this month and check back as events are added before each First Friday.
Plus, enjoy a special First Friday block party on the 100 Block of Gay Street from 5-9 PM! Please note, Gay Street (between Jackson and Vine avenues) will be open for pedestrians only between 4-10 PM
Experience Appalachian Aquarium, Ryan Blair's collection of folk art fish created from wood. Each piece showcases the artist's unique vision and craftsmanship.
6 PM—8 PM.
Carrie Hopper’s art is a reflection on her personal journey with mental health. She puts ink to paper in this body of work. Come out and support this new artist in her personal journey.
5:30 PM—8:30 PM.
Opening reception for Dream Realm, featuring paintings by Lauren Adams. This exhibit embodies the exploration of the marks our bodies leave after we wake from rest and the journey we take into the dream realm as we sleep.
5 PM—9 PM.
The Arts and Culture Alliance presents:
Farhad Naimy: Fluid Art
Farhad Naimy's creations come to life on Gesso boards or framed wooden painting panels, where he breathes vibrancy into each drop with acrylic paint. The final touch is a resin overlay, which enhances and illuminates the colors making them dance with brilliance and vitality. His paintings are a dance of contemporary and modern style, infused with the hues of nature. Each piece is a vessel of energy, capturing the essence of the world around us.
Steven L. Griffin: Life is a Fairy Tale
Steven has adapted a mixed media technique to increase the dimensionality by “floating” figures in multiple layers on a background scene, all enhanced by paint, stains, dyes, pyrography, acrylic resin, gemstones, and/or other materials. His current passion, mixed-media intarsia, began as a pandemic pastime but rapidly grew as he discovered the satisfaction of incorporating many of his previous skills into a unique art form.
Drew Turner: Smorgasbord 1
Drew Turner initially worked in clay, taking classes at Farragut High School, Mighty Mud Studios, and Pellissippi State with Jim Darrow. He has also taken classes in metalworking, including wire wrapping, soldering, and enameling. For the past ten years, Turner has worked with blowing glass, first at a small-scale production studio and later studying at Penland School of Crafts on multiple occasions.
Jake Barton: WIN THE FUTURE! (with support from Messer Construction)
WIN THE FUTURE!, created by Jake Barton, is an immersive experience allowing visitors the opportunity to interact with their future selves and see how their current decisions shape Knoxville’s future health and well-being. As visitors make choices, they will walk among the trees of the Smokies; then, while inside an interactive DreamCube, they may be invited to extinguish a forest fire, clear flooded streets, or plant virtual flowers. This unique experience, focused on the climate crisis, helps visitors discover actions that can change the future, for better or worse.
5 PM—9 PM.
Opening reception for painter Kathy Holland and Debbie Corley of DC Pottery. Complimentary refreshments and music. Explore the marketplace of more than 60 juried-in East TN artists.
5:30 PM—9 PM.
Hola Hora Latina is excited to announce the exhibition "Sueños", featuring the works of Honduran artists Sergio Martínez, Valeria Martínez, and Estefano Martínez. The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of August.
5 PM—9 PM.
The Dogwood Regional Exhibition showcases fine art of all kinds from emerging and established artists throughout our region. The juried exhibition takes place annually in August at the Dogwood Gallery andEmporium Center in Downtown Knoxville.
Hosted by Dogwood Arts, the Dogwood Regional Exhibition showcases artwork of all styles and genres created by emerging and professional artists working within a seven-state region. This year, they received 403 artwork submissions from 160 artists working throughout the Southeast. The 2024 exhibition, juried by Knoxville-based artist Chris McAdoo, will include work by 49 artists from six states:
5 PM—8 PM.
"The Bottom: Stories from the Neighborhood", an exhibition in collaboration with The Bottom, Good Black Art, and Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin.
5 PM—9 PM.
Hot shop Glassblowing Demonstrations at nationally known Pretentious. Don’t miss this.
5 PM—9 PM.
Enjoy jazz with Graham Monroe. Great spot for dinner and cocktails.
8 PM—10:30 PM.
Opening reception for artist Lauren Vaught Austin. Lauren’s work is inspired by tastes and textures of music, poetry, emotion, and atmosphere. This curation consists of female portraits in watercolor, graphite, and Chinese ink. Join Awaken for some amazing art, light refreshments, and of course great coffee!
6 PM—8 PM.
Music from Hatfield's Heathens (21+)
9 PM—midnight.
Browse work by 150+ local artists and enjoy a cocktail or bite in the Tavern during First Friday at Maker Exchange! Don't miss new work by Virginia Derryberry, Caitlin O'Keefe Robinson, Anna Grocholski, and many more on display now.
5—7 PM.
The Arts & Culture Alliance will host a series of First Friday block parties, featuring live music outdoors as well as artist booths/vendors by more than 20 local artists! In August, we welcome Robinella. Inside, the Emporium celebrates the opening of five new exhibitions.
The Block Party aims to create a lively atmosphere in conjunction with the monthly First Friday celebrations. Closure of a portion of Gay Street will provide open pedestrian access and help build community. All are welcome!
First Friday runs 5-9 PM.
The 100 Block of Gay Street between Jackson and Vine avenues will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 PM.
For over 22 years, the Pilot Light has been the go-to for independent and experimental music. On Friday, hear performances by Pale Misery with Primeval Well and Uberspeaker. Tickets at door.
8 PM.
One Knox Soccer Club will be hosting a special pop-up for First Friday and selling merchandise in the Visitor's Center.
5 PM—7 PM.
Works from Selected National Workshop Instructors in the permanent off-campus exhibition space.
5 PM—9 PM.
The musical guest for First Friday Live July will be Jon Whitlock. John's refreshingly unique sound is a combination of gorgeous original melodies and intellectual, poignant stories that will surprise you and move you.
6 PM—7 PM.
Poets Chris Barton, Shira Haus, and Micah Daniel McCrotty will be reading from their respective works.
6 PM—8 PM.
Underground @ Mirage 8.0 with house music from Bruno Browning (Las Vegas), Ben Welham (Cincinnati), and Jericho (Asheville).
6 PM—1:30 AM.
