Nonstop hopping happens Saturday
Not too sure about “slop,” but you can definitely rock, roll and stroll at one of Chattanooga’s favorite art events, the annual AVA Gallery Hop. From 2 to 8 p.m. this Saturday, cats and chicks of all ages will be roaming the streets in search of the galleries and art studios on this year’s roster.
Many top Hop destinations are back on the map, and, as usual, there are some new ones as well, says AVA’s Lauren Goforth. “Both Chattanooga Work Space and Open Press are new this year,” she said. Chattanooga Work Space, at 302 W. 6th Street, is a new collective artists’ studio, and Open Press, at 1271B Market Street, is a new print art collective.
As usual, a number of galleries will be using the Hop to open new exhibits, including AVA with its always-anticipated FRESH (see sidebar for details).
Meanwhile, a very popular feature introduced last year is back, says Goforth—the “Win An Instant Art Collection” drawing. “Each participating gallery, studio or space has donated either a piece of art or a gift certificate,” she explains. “Hoppers are given a ‘bingo card,’ and those who visit at least 10 stops qualify for the drawing.”
Also back is the Hop brochure, which features a map and a description of each gallery and studio, and will be available at all participating galleries. This enables you to create your own route and ensures you don’t forget about that one place you really, really wanted to see. The Hop offers the rare chance for most folks to actually meet the artists, talk to them about their work, and in some cases, watch demos of their processes.
This year’s Gallery Hop line-up includes: AVA, Artifact, Atelier 18, Art at the INCubator, Art Connections, Area 61, Chambliss' Art Connection, Chattanooga Workspace, Gallery 1401, Graffiti, H*ART Gallery, Ignis Glass, In-Town Gallery, Miki Boni Studio, Open Press, Plum Nelly, River Gallery, Shuptrine’s Gold Leaf Designs, Tanner Hill Gallery, Townsend Atelier, UTC Cress Gallery of Art and Winder Binder Gallery & Bookstore. More information: avagalleryhop.com/
Goforth is also enthusiastic about this year’s FRESH Emerging Artist Exhibit, which opens the day of the Hop and will have its opening reception during that evening. FRESH showcases new primarily young artists “from throughout the Southeast,” she says. “As always, we have a great mix of types of work, both 3D and 2D, and this year, we are featuring drawings as well.”
AVA continues to maintain its core commitment to supporting “young and emerging artists,” and FRESH allows this group to both show their work and gain important professional experience. The exhibit is juried, so only top new artists are selected each year. They do not have gallery representation and have not had solo shows, and for many, this will be the first time their work is widely seen—and for sale. “There are only a few pieces in the show that are not for sale,” Goforth says, meaning it’s a prime opportunity for collectors to find a promising newcomer.
Among the artists featured are Chattanoogans Ken Herrin, Michelle Kimbrell, Turry Lindstrom and Stephen Nemecek, and from Collegedale, Marc Boyston.
“FRESH: Emerging Artists Exhibit 2013,”
AVA Gallery, 30 Frazier Ave.
(423) 265-4282, avarts.org
Opens Sept. 7, continues through Oct. 25.