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Explore the list below of what's happening this month and check back as events are added before each First Friday.
Plus, enjoy a special First Friday block party on the 100 Block of Gay Street from 5-9 PM! Please note, Gay Street (between Jackson and Vine avenues) will be open for pedestrians only between 4-10 PM
The Arts & Culture Alliance will host a series of First Friday block parties, featuring live music outdoors as well as artist booths/vendors by more than 20 local artists! In November, we welcome Robinella.
The Block Party aims to create a lively atmosphere in conjunction with the monthly First Friday celebrations. Closure of a portion of Gay Street will provide open pedestrian access and help build community. All are welcome!
First Friday runs 5—9 PM.
The 100 Block of Gay Street between Jackson and Vine avenues will be open to pedestrians only from 4—10 PM.
Visit Able Trade for beer, bites, and local talent. For November, L&N art students will be displaying their work.
5:30 PM—8:30 PM.
Join Dogwood Arts opening reception of 'Fragile' a group exhibition featuring sculptural and functional ceramics by 44 local + regional artists. Exhibition on display through December 6th.
5 PM—8 PM.
The Arts and Culture Alliance presents:
Greg Lach: Pixel Painting
Lach has exhibited in numerous shows, fairs and exhibitions around the country. He currently resides in Seymour. Lach continues his artistic growth by embracing digital photography and pixel painting. He combines traditional watercolor paintings with digital manipulation to create a unique image, inviting the viewer to wonder where the brush stroke ends and the photograph begins.
Dennis Sabo: Aqua
Dennis Sabo, a Tellico Village resident, is an internationally award-winning photographer specializing in contemporary fine art abstract, landscape, and seascape photography. His painterly and emotionally charged photographs are reminiscent of the best works of art by the legendary Impressionists while capturing light and its effect on the landscape with a contemporary vibrancy and energy.
Pastel Works by Allen Monsarrat
Allen Monsarrat’s college education began with three years of training in architecture and concluded with his BFA (concentration in pottery). His first art career was as a studio potter for 25 years, followed by careers in decorative wall finishes, faux painting and the occasional mural project. Studying trompe l’oiel (fool the eye) imagery with French master artist Michel Nadai nurtured his interest in creating representational art. In 2009 he turned his attention to fine art painting in oils, concentrating on photorealism – paintings intended to look like photographs.
John Edwin May: Judgmental Ink
John Edwin May has documented people with "ink", creating beautiful portraits and photographs of their favorite tattoos. When exhibited, an outer quad of large monochromatic portraits is displayed with four smaller interior color images of tattoos. Viewers are encouraged to guess which tattoo belongs to the correct owner. May hopes that the process of making assumptions that sometimes prove incorrect will help us all to be more accepting of one another.
A Dog, a Pig, and a Possum Walk into an Art Gallery
This new exhibition features artwork by Beka Addison-Browder, John Hilton, Michelle O’Patick-Ollis, and Ralph Slatton. Their diverse array of artistic expressions includes intaglio, relief and screen printing, and drawing, which the four artists use to convey a shared fascination of animal imagery. Their creations are like mirrors, reflecting their lives, dilemmas and journeys. They invite viewers to engage with their own identities, to reflect on the human condition, and to discover the beauty that exists within the interplay of humor, darkness, and imagination.
5 PM—9 PM.
Opening reception for oil painter Charlotte Brindley and woodworker Janis Proffitt. Complimentary refreshments and music. Explore the marketplace of more than 60 juried-in East TN artists.
5:30 PM—9 PM.
Join RALA for November's First Friday featuring Cold Gold! Alaina Smith’s handcrafted leather goods, bold gifts, and geometric jewelry combine quality materials with lasting style.
6 PM—8 PM.
A1LabArts will be hosting their Member Show at RED GALLERY in November. This year’s show theme is "Objects Lost and/or Found". The show expects to include several collaborative pieces by members; to be randomly paired with each other.
5 PM—9 PM.
The Shaydes will be performing, free admission.
7 PM—10 PM.
November's featured artist is William Downs. Downs' artwork explores themes of ambiguity and distortion viewed through repetition and representation of the human body. His drawings reveal "feelings of anxiety, fear, joy, angst" or desire with compositions inspired by Cezanne that appear dream-like or otherworldly. He often depicts "people who train their bodies to do inhuman things like run a marathon or bend and contort their bodies," in surreal-like, panoramic scenes. Multiple figures are layered with warped perspective, creating contrasting areas of compositional ambiguity and sharp focus.
5 PM—9 PM.
Hot shop Glassblowing Demonstrations at nationally known Pretentious. Don’t miss this.
5 PM—9 PM.
Enjoy jazz with Kimbro & Thompson. Great spot for dinner and cocktails.
8 PM—10:30 PM.
With artists & makers, caramel apple making, live music, and more. Wear your Halloween costume! Also featuring a chili cook-off! The Jackson Avenue Block Party is brought to you by The Old City Association, the Old City Market, and the City of Knoxville.
5 PM—9 PM
For November, Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for Kara Lockmiller. Please join them for some amazing art and of course great coffee!
6 PM—8 PM.
Casa HoLa invites you to experience their Día de los Muertos collaborative exhibit—a vibrant celebration of life, memory, and heritage. Local artists will honor this cherished tradition with powerful artwork and beautifully crafted altars that pay homage to their ancestors.
5 PM—9 PM.
Music from Corey James Clifton Band (21+).
9 PM.
Torrie Jones will be the featured artist for November. Her work is characterized by fearless use of color and bold interpretations of the world around her. Through her pieces, she translates the vibrancy she sees in everyday life into striking visual narratives that invite viewers to experience the world through her distinctive lens. Each piece serves as an invitation to share in Jones's vivid interpretation of life, where ordinary moments transform into extraordinary visual experiences.
6 PM—8 PM.
Join for Friday's Dia De Los Muertos Latin Party.
8 PM.
The DW Designs will be October's featured maker at the Visitor's Center.
5:30 PM—7 PM.
Works from Selected National Workshop Instructors in the permanent off-campus exhibition space.
5 PM—9 PM.
Stop in Studio 106 Art Gallery. Located on the lower level of the Emporium Center inside suite 106, the gallery will offer specials and discounts for First Friday!
11 AM—9 PM.
The Joy of Music School has partnered with Concerts For Our Own, a local organization committed to supporting causes in our community through live music. Here Come The Mummies with Wolves of Glendale will perform Friday, November 1 at the Tennessee Amphitheater at World's Fair Park.
Each show will spotlight partnering organizations. Proceeds will support the Joy of Music School, Knoxville Pediatric Cancer Collaborative and The Love Kitchen. All ticket proceeds will go towards supporting these organizations.
7:30 PM.
Kick-off First Friday with live music at Maker Exchange! The Jason Day Trio will be performing live from 4-6 PM. Stick around and browse work by 150+ local artists or enjoy a cocktail or bite in the Tavern.
4 PM—6 PM.
SOLD OUT! The Sunsphere is welcoming back Sunsphere Sunsets, a First Friday event. Visit the Sunsphere Observation Deck to enjoy refreshments from Status Dough, mingle with Maker Amber Rountree, owner of Sunsphere Scents, and watch the sun go down over Knoxville. Tickets are $15 per person, space is limited.
6 PM—7 PM.
Visit Bethie Lou’s Fabulous Gift Store for the Gift Store Galleria. Come in for a special experience of fun, laughter, and fabulous gifts. Extended First Friday hours.
Open until 9 PM.
Addison's bookstore will be partnering with KLiK Photography to host a free photo session. The photos will have a backdrop featuring Addison's antiquarian books; suitable for personal and holiday photos.
Photography session will take place from 6—9 PM.
Original oils by Robin Rohwer and photography by Christopher Rohwer.
Husband and wife artists in studio until 9 PM.
Gallery 1010 is the only fully student-run, non-profit, off-campus UTK exhibition space in the state of Tennessee. Gallery 1010 provides a location for School of Art artists to exhibit their work, curate exhibitions, and collaborate with other artists or disciplines outside of the School of Art.
November's exhibition is "IN SPITE OF: An Ode to Our Relentless Communion" curated by Bella Thomas-Wilson.
5 PM—9 PM.
Curated by UTK Photography Club, The Subjectivity of Beauty exhibition invites viewers to see beauty beyond societal ideals. Through personal and authentic perspectives, student photographers redefine what they find beautiful, from people and nature to culture and everyday life. Join Jacks of Knoxville to experience this unique celebration of diverse visions of beauty.
6 PM—8 PM.
For over 22 years, the Pilot Light has been the go-to for independent and experimental music. On Friday, hear performances by Skull Cult with Serial Bay, Tweejy, and Nervous Rex. Tickets at door.
8 PM.
The musical guest for First Friday Live July will be Adeem The Artist.
6 PM—7 PM.
Music from Knockdown Dragouts with The Lemons. Tickets at door.
8 PM.
Poets Anna Laura Reeve, Ben Groner, Ethan Palmer, and Merrick Sloane will be reading from their respective works.
6 PM—8 PM.
Underground @ Mirage 10.0 with house music from Matthew Brian and DJ support from Chris Marc, Kevin Nowell, Christian Ferrer, and Oli McIntosh.
6 PM—1:30 AM.
Music by Tess Henry.
9 PM—Midnight
Featured work from Gordie Puncheon, former hair designer for 38 years, turned oil painter the past 2.
5 PM—8 PM.
Get ready to dance! It’s Andres Tapia DJ Night. Tickets at door.
10 PM.
