From murals, commissioned pieces, sidewalk sculptures + hidden treasures, Chattanooga has quietly become a thriving arts city over the past 20 years. 🎨
It’s as if everywhere you look there’s something magical for your eyes to take in. 👀
That bronze Great Dane sculpture you high-five near the Walnut Street Bridge? Public art. The blue rhinoceros in Coolidge Park? Public art. The myriad sculptures along the sidewalk on Main Street … you see where we’re going.
Public art matters. It is a reflection of a city’s place and time + a collaborative effort among city leaders, artists, designers and citizens. In other words, public art is for everybody.
With so many existing projects, we wanted to highlight several of the newest public art installations in our city, so we reached out to the folks at Public Art Chattanooga (they oversee more than 180 works of public art in the city).
The pieces — murals, sculptures + an alleyway transformation — were all installed in 2018 and are ready to be consumed by the public.
But first, a little history on the city’s Public Art Chattanooga program. 🤔
Beginning in 2001, more than 500 citizens participated in a series of public forums that eventually led to the Public Art Plan (2003). The first project the committee tackled was a big one — the 21st Century Waterfront Project — a $1.2 million budgeted plan that produced three art projects: the Light Masts on the Chattanooga Pier, The Passage (a Native American art installation on the riverfront) and the First Street Sculpture Garden.
Now, 17 years later, Chattanooga is an art lover’s paradise with something interesting to see wherever you look … and there’s always more being added. (Follow Public Art Chattanooga on Instagram for updates.)
Below are five of the latest projects ... We encourage you to visit and check them out for yourself … and be sure to tag your photos with #NOOGAtoday on social platforms. 😉
Title: Embrace the Future, Remember the Past
Artist: Eddie Mendieta
Location: Milliken Park (100 W 45th St.)
Muralist Eduardo “Eddie” Mendieta sought to reflect on the “past, present and future of the Oak Hills and Alton Park community” with his colorful mural. As you can see above, the mural features “colorful depictions of children from the neighborhood, significant landmarks and a vibrant rainbow celebrating diversity, love and peace.” Mendieta’s piece is a part of the ongoing Arts in the Neighborhoods Project.
More of Mendieta’s work can be viewed here.
Funding was provided by the Benwood Foundation, The Footprint Foundation and the city of Chattanooga.
Title: “Scramble, Clamber, Traverse”
Artist: Adam Kuby
Location: Sterchi Farms (3000 Harrison Pike)
Part art, part adventure trail, Portland-based sculptural artist Adam Kuby has created a series of rustic trails designed to challenge both the mind and body. As an artist, Kuby creates “collaborations with the built and unbuilt world that foster a sense of connectedness” in what he calls an “increasingly fractured environment.”
View more Kuby’s work here.
Funding was provided by The Lyndhurst Foundation + grants from the National Recreation and Park Association + The Walt Disney Company.
Title: “See Me Shine”
Artist: Greta McLain
Location: Wilcox Tunnel (Wilcox Blvd.)
Led by GoodSpace Murals founder Greta McLain, the Wilcox Tunnel is now bursting with color thanks to a collaboration with Eastdale residents and a little elbow grease. Local artists and the community worked with McLain for more than 4 months ahead of the project.
Both sides of the tunnel were covered. The West entrance features themes of family and the home, including “traditional African textile patterns.” The East portion of the tunnel contains visuals of children, butterflies and cloth textile patterns.
See more of McLain’s work here.
Funding for the $75,000 project was provided by the city’s Art in the Neighborhood program awarded to the Eastdale Neighborhood Association.
“Resurgence” by Albert Paley (Photo: vantes_eye)
Title: “Resurgence”
Artist: Albert Paley
Location: Blue Goose Hollow (876 W 9th Ave.)
Adding a new section of the Tennessee Riverwalk calls for new art, right? Sculptor artist Albert Paley created two new pieces for the Blue Goose Hollow trailhead — “Resurgence” is the biggest and most colorful.
Paley said he is concerned that his work “emotionally and intellectually engages the viewer.”
Public Art Chattanooga director Katelyn Kirnie said, “Resurgence will have an iconic presence on Chattanooga’s west side, the colorful steel sculptures rise up in celebration of diversity and transformation - a material representation of Blue Goose Hollow’s industrial past with a symbolic and dynamic reach toward the future.”
Funding for Paley’s piece was provided through private funding from the Benwood Foundation and Lyndhurst Foundation.
View more of Paley’s work here.
City Thread (Photo: @downtownchatt)
Title: “City Thread”
Designer: SPORTZ collective
Location: Cooper’s Alley (730 Cherry St.)
The culmination of months of work, Passageways 2.0 debuted to the public in November with a huge block party. Designers SPORTS collective transformed an abandoned alleyway into “a space that builds upon the legacy of Chattanooga and the character of downtown by extending the attitude of adventure and exploration that the Scenic City is known for …”
Expect City Thread to be an active hub this spring/summer for concerts, movies, parties and more.
The project was made possible by River City Co., Lyndhurst Foundation, Benwood Foundation, First Tennessee and Tinker Ma.
