Lush landscapes alongside the city’s vibrant downtown earn Chattanooga its official nickname, the “Scenic City.” Fortunately for local artists, this designation means they don’t have to look further than out their windows for inspiration.
We caught up with artists Brent Sanders, Kevin Livingood, Alan Shuptrine and Lawson Whitaker to find out exactly how the city inspires them.
Lawson Whitaker
The Tennessee River has always been part of Lawson Whitaker’s life and a love for the water is in his blood. Born on Georgia Avenue, Whitaker grew up in Chattanooga just blocks from the riverfront and says his great-grandfather pioneered commercial river traffic years ago during his career at Chattanooga Medicine Company, which eventually became Chattem.
Lawson Whitaker / File photo“My photography is a lot of riverfront because of being a native here for five generations,” he says. “Chattanooga is a river city. That’s one of the reasons that people like the river itself.”
Whitaker is known for his aerial shots, panoramas and interesting angles of the city – allowing viewers to see a familiar place in a different way.