The finale of Spring in the Park at Sculpture Fields is a colossal sculpture burn, in which artist Andrew Nigh sets a 30-foot wooden structure ablaze.ArtBurst anchor events
Find more information at www.artburstchatt.com.April 5-8: Chattanooga Film Festival, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. The 5-year-old festival celebrates films, filmmakers and audiences with screenings, panels, workshops and parties.April 6-8: Burnin’ Bridges Mural Jam, 4310 Oakland Ave in Alton Park. The mural jam moves to a massive warehouse in Alton Park, where more than 25 professional mural artists from around the country will gather to paint in the largest street art project of its kind in Chattanooga.April 7: Spring in the Park & Sculpture Burn, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, 1800 Polk St. This family fun day celebrates the second anniversary of the Sculpture Fields with live music, food trucks, a beer tent, artists painting and drawing outdoors, a new children’s area and a towering sculpture burn to end the day.April 7: Art in Bloom, 10 a.m.-noon, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road. This nature walk with the Hunter Museum and Reflection Riding staff teaches kids how to become botanists and artists, using field journals to record their discoveries in nature and create prints inspired by the textures, sights, sounds and smells that accompany the blooms of spring.April 12: “Rooted in Color,” 5:30-7 p.m., Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, 1270 Market St. Jazzanooga presents this African-American visual art showcase, along with Jam Fest ‘18.April 12: Creating “Resurgence, 6-7 p.m., Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. The Hunter Museum and Public Art Chattanooga welcome sculptor Albert Paley to speak about his work, with a focus on his monumental “Resurgence,” which will be installed soon along the Tennessee Riverpark at Blue Goose Hollow.April 13: Meet the Makers: Sculpture & Whiskey, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall, 890 Riverfront Parkway. The Mid-South Sculpture Alliance and Public Art Chattanooga celebrate “Art on the Riverwalk - Sculpture Exhibition” with the creators behind four of the 10 featured artworks in the show. Andy Light, Roger Halligan, Eric Stein and Larry Millard will take part in a panel discussion and drinks with special guest curator and world-renowned sculptor Albert Paley.April 13: Laura McMillian: “Pounding Branch,” 6-10 p.m., Lit Art Gallery, 4015 Tennessee Ave. This is the opening reception for McMillian’s new installation and performance work developed during her time in Chattanooga with ARC: Artist Residency Chattanooga. The exhibition will be up for two weeks and, after the opening, may be viewed by appointment at the gallery.April 14: Art on the Riverwalk: Bike Tour, 10 a.m.-noon, from Wheland Foundry Trailhead, 1503 Middle St., to Blue Goose Hollow, 876 W. Ninth Ave., on the Tennessee Riverwalk. The Mid-South Sculpture Alliance and Public Art Chattanooga present this 3-mile bike ride and tour of the “Art on the Riverwalk - Sculpture Exhibition” with MSA president and local artist Isaac Duncan III. Bring your own bike, or rent one at the trailhead.April 21: Clean & Green, Waterhouse Pavilion at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Volunteer for cleanup and greenery efforts and temporary murals to beautify downtown.April 21: Artful Yoga: Sound, Sight and Sensation, 1:30-3 p.m., Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. Yoga Landing instructors Beth Keene and Jennifer Blaire lead a gallery experience, focused on sound, sight and sensation, followed by yoga practice.April 21-22: 4 Bridges Arts Festival, First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. Chattanooga’s premier outdoor cultural event, established in 2000 by the Association for Visual Arts, is a juried show offering awards totaling $15,000 and showcasing the creative talents of artists from across the country.April 28: Meet Me at the Park: Clamber, Scramble, Traverse, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sterchi Farm, 2700 block of Harrison Pike on South Chickamauga Greenway. Be the first to experience the environmental artwork and adventure trail by artist Adam Kuby called Clamber, Scramble, Traverse. There are opportunities to bike, kayak, standup paddleboard and explore the greenspace in the East Chattanooga park, along with barbecue, music and other activities for the opening, presented by the Trust for Public Land and the city’s Public Art Chattanooga and Open Spaces divisions.April 28: Art 120: Scenic City Art Car Weekend, Station Street and Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens, 1400 Market St. Art 120 kicks off this year with a Tailgate Party & Art Car Cruise-in on Station Street (9 a.m.-3 p.m.). On hand are artists, art cars, costumes, face painting, bubbles and the chance to vote for which school wins the Golden Gnome Award and $500 from Rock City. The fun turns to fantasy that evening (7-10 p.m.) at the Art Car Fashion Bar in the Choo Gardens. Guests will mingle in the glow of art cars and gowns reimagined/engineered by students from the Howard School Art Department and VWeLab. Howard’s Cosmetology Department will be in charge of makeup and hair.
Just as autumn leaves provide the backdrop for the outdoor events of RiverRocks each October, ArtBurst sprouts today, aimed at turning the city into a canvas of spring color.
Joining nature's parade of redbuds, daffodils and dogwoods is a monthlong series of vibrant art-related activities - exhibitions, walks, unveilings - all designed to stimulate the senses and bring new energy into the city.
Katelyn Kirnie, director of Public Art Chattanooga, says the focus this first year "is on getting people to experience the art and color already here in Chattanooga. However, the future is about turning the city into a canvas of color for everyone to enjoy."
Kirnie says timing ArtBurst to April was a no-brainer for reps of the arts organizations who met to talk about ways they could collaborate.
"Everyone had big things happening in April," she says. "There was a natural momentum that didn't feel forced."
"Big things" like the Chattanooga Film Festival (April 5-8), Spring in the Park at Sculpture Fields (April 7), the Art Car Parade (April 28) and 4 Bridges Arts Festival (April 21-22), the month's premiere outdoor cultural event.
"The thought with ArtBurst is giving people coming to Chattanooga a taste of what Chattanooga has to offer [in the arts]," says Jennifer Lewis, interim executive director of the Association for Visual Arts, which produces 4 Bridges.
Coming together under the ArtBurst umbrella helps further each organization's message, she says.
"It's letting people know that if you're going to come in for 4 Bridges, you should also go to the Hunter Museum and Creative Discovery Museum and Sculpture Fields."
The resemblance to RiverRocks, which brings in world-class and amateur athletes for a monthlong schedule of water, rock and trail events, is no coincidence.
"It seemed like a good model to replicate to promote Chattanooga as a destination for the arts when we have so much going on just in the month of April," Kirnie says. "It's an efficient and collaborative approach to promoting community-wide efforts."
Joining the established events are several new arrivals, including Chattanooga Whiskey's Meet the Makers session, with several regional sculptors as guests, and Jazzanooga's "Rooted in Color," spotlighting African-American visual arts.
"A big part of this effort is to increase access to and awareness of all the arts in our city for everyone," Kirnie says. "We definitely want smaller institutions to get involved. With ArtBurst, the hope is to create something that the entire community can appreciate and begin to participate in."
Local artist Isaac Duncan III, president of Mid-South Sculpture Alliance, says it's exciting to see this kind of attention brought to the efforts of the local arts community.
"We have access to world-class art all around Chattanooga, and it's important that we showcase how accessible it is and how much it adds to the quality of our lives," he says.
Kirnie says she's heartened by the initial interest of those involved, including ArtsBuild, Humanaut and the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau, in addition to the businesses and organizations with events on the schedule. The CVB's online calendar, www.chattanoogafun.com, is still accepting submissions from planners with events to add.
She and the other organizers anticipate that ArtBurst will grow each year as awareness increases and as they continue to tout the benefits of a vibrant art scene.
"We know these anchor events contribute to our city in many ways in terms of economic development and quality of life, but we should also consider the impact on workforce development," Kirnie says.
"The more that we can amplify how important the arts are to our city, the more we can attract and retain creative professionals like artists, designers, entrepreneurs and inventors, making Chattanooga a more viable and sustainable market for the arts and creative industries."
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.