From book clubs to sports teams to packs of Harley riders, the idea of groups of people flocking together over a shared interest has been around since the beginning of time.
The concept of doing art as a social activity isn’t exactly new either — people have been “painting and sipping” since at least as far back as Painting With a Twist was invented back in 2007. That year, two friends created this organization in Louisiana, post-Hurricane Katrina, to encourage people to gather together and paint a picture while having a beverage, in order to take their minds off the stress of the storm’s aftermath.
But 17 years later, the practice of combining creativity and camaraderie in a social setting is still going strong. In fact, it’s catching on and expanding. While Painting With a Twist is the OG social-art experience, new groups focused on other art forms are popping up and gaining popularity.
Making art is fun. Hanging out with friends is fun. But increasingly, people are discovering that blending the two together brings it to a whole new level.
Read on to learn more about local Chattanoogans who think that the perfect pairing for a fine wine is a paintbrush or who know that a great night out on the town can involve both nachos and knitting needles.