Visit Able Trade for beer, bites, and local talent. Enjoy featured works from UT Grad Students: Ainsley Steeves, Brigit Ciskowski, Lindsay Skvarek, and Shelby Reed from the Architecture, Art, and Design departments.

5:30 PM—8:30 PM.

Addison's bookstore will be open for special extended hours First Friday! Plus they will be offering cookbooks at half-price on First Friday, as well as through the month of February.

6—9 PM.

Works from Selected National Workshop Instructors in the permanent off-campus exhibition space.

5 PM—9 PM.

March's featured artists are Carol Quinn and Patrick Deason. Carol has painted and exhibited since the late 1980’s, mostly in the Southeast. She has also been in exhibitions in NYC through World Fine Art Gallery, Ariel Gallery, and Abney Gallery. Carol is inspired by nature and the local beauty of her local area, as well as the psychological processes that create this inspiration. Patrick's art in metal grew out of other interests. His skills are self-taught and many of the tools he uses to shape metal were made by him. Patrick spent a large part of his career on the coastal waters of Georgia and Florida, hence the many marine related pieces. His whimsical works are intended to bring smiles and curiosity.

The opening features complimentary refreshments and music. Explore the marketplace of more than 60 juried-in East TN artists.

5:30 PM—9 PM.

Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for Emily McTyre.

Emily McTyre is a photographer, filmmaker, and mixed media artist from East Tennessee. Her photography is often inspired by travel, evoking a sense of place for the viewer. Emily enjoys working with black and white film as it emphasizes light and shadow, texture and pattern. Photos in this collection were taken around the world: England, Germany, Georgia, and Tennessee. Whether it be our own backyard or many miles away, we can capture moments and symbols of familiarity that tie us together.

Join Awaken for some amazing art and of course great coffee! 

6 PM—8 PM.

Visit Bethie Lou’s Fabulous Gift Store at their new location at 108 E Jackson Ave., Ste 1! ome in for a special experience of fun, laughter, and fabulous gifts. Extended First Friday hours.

Open until 9 PM.

Enjoy jazz with the Larry Vincent Trio. Great spot for dinner and cocktails.

8 PM—10:30 PM.

Enjoy music from Knox County Jug Stompers (21+).

9 PM.

Casa HoLa invites you to experience a sneak peek of their art and poetry exhibit. The featured art will be “Celebrating the Fall” by Susana Esrequis, and a the poem “Eva y Adán o la Celebración del otoño” by Carlos Trejo Pech. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of artistic expression!

5 PM—9 PM.

Original oils by Robin Rohwer and photography by Christopher Rohwer. The husband and wife artist duo is excited for Spring with lots of new work to share!

In studio until 9 PM.

Visit the gallery space located inside Digital Motif marketing & design agency to experience The Violins of Hope: Strings of the Holocaust exhibition. In this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, experience a deeply moving display of history, music, and resilience. This exhibition tells the stories of the Jewish musicians and their violins that survived the Holocaust. Restored and preserved, these instruments now serve as powerful symbols of hope and survival.

12 PM—6 PM.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents "No Bigger Than a Breadbox" – Biennial Small Works Show
This fourth biennial juried exhibition features selected works from 48 artists throughout the region. The exhibition was designed to celebrate the innovation of artists who create work on a small scale (under 12”) and in a broad range of media and styles. Over $1,500 in cash awards will be announced at a brief awards ceremony at 5:30 PM on Friday, April 4 with remarks from the juror, Julie Lohnes.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents Jack Retterer – "POETOGRAPHY; Blending Poetry and Photography"
POETAGRAPHY … Blending poetry and photography. On the surface, poetry and photography appear to be two very different and unrelated art forms. But, as legitimate arts forms, they have much in common. Both help us explore, communicate and understand the human experience. Both can bring our deepest emotions to the surface. They can also help us recognize how we are all more alike than different. As an artist, poet and photographer, my biggest challenge is maintaining a balance in my Poetagraphy creations so that the poetry is not just a caption nor is the image simply an illustration. Each poem and image must be able to stand on its own, and when presented together, create a new and more complete emotional experience beyond what either can accomplish alone.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents Roberta Smashey: "Birds and the Bees"
Roberta Smashey is a stained glass artist creating both nature-themed and abstract works using the glass foiling technique developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. By utilizing hand-made glass sheets of various colors and textures, she produces dynamic depictions of the beauty found in nature. The variations in artisanal glass give a unique feeling of depth and movement with this challenging medium. Using the Tiffany technique coupled with the beauty of glass and a lifelong study of wildlife, Smashey seeks to evoke appreciation of our natural world in all who view her creations. Whenever possible, she adds antique glass repurposed from old church windows and often incorporates at least one feature made from the older glass.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents works by S. Alexandra Simenta and Carla Taylor
S. Alexandra Simental is a Mexican American painter and multidisciplinary artist. Through the usage of paint, sound, and installation, she investigates the intersection of art and psychology. Carla Taylor is a multi-media artist based in Johnson City. Her practice spans printmaking, textiles, ceramics and collage. She has shown in both solo and group exhibitions, regionally and nationally. This new collection of 2D works invites viewers to examine the fragmented perspectives of memory. With subtle shifts in color, texture and line, each artist peels back the layered visions of the unseen.

5 PM—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.

April's featured exhibit is Cross Currents, curated by Kai Mote.

5 PM—9 PM.

April's featured artist at the Visitor's Center will be Jennifer Pinkner of The Art of Coming Alive.

5:30 PM—7 PM.

Underground @ Mirage with house music from Kevin Nowell, Chris Marc, Christian Ferrer, and Earl Grae. Featuring live percussion from "Legend" Cory Hodge. Enjoy house music all night long at this FREE event. (ID required.)

6 PM—1:00 AM.

Shop the Old City Market on West Jackson Avenue. The Old City Market transforms the historic Old City into a curated, outdoor market showcasing artists, crafters, and creative makers.

5 PM—9 PM

For over 22 years, the Pilot Light has been the go-to for independent and experimental music. On Friday, hear performances by CDSM with Skull Cult and Paperwork. Tickets at door.

8 PM.

Exhibition featuring works by Holly Pawlowski. They will be on view and available for purchase until the end of April.

6 PM—8 PM.

Hot shop Glassblowing Demonstrations at nationally known Pretentious. Don’t miss this.

5 PM—9 PM.

Join RALA for First Friday featuring the iconic work of Cynthia Markert's latest collection, Hello, Bridal Waltz & Other Musings. This debut continues her signature exploration of femininity, nostalgia, and timeless beauty. This new body of work showcases Cynthia’s delicate yet bold approach to storytelling through art.

6 PM—9 PM.

RED Gallery is proud to host the opening of Old Cityscapes, paintings by Robert Felker.

This body of work endeavors to honor the urban landscape, with a particular focus on Knoxville’s Old City. A variety of methods, artistic processes, and subjects are presented, but the aim is singular—to offer an exploration of this corner of downtown. Robert has peeked around corners, stood in doorways, walked sidewalks (and railroad tracks), on a personal scavenger hunt. There is pleasure and surprise in the search; in the seeing, and what he found was new perspectives, tensions, contradictions... the reflection of a scruffy exterior and the pulse of a steady heartbeat within.

5 PM—9 PM.

Music by The Coveralls.

8 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.

Enjoy music from Marlow and the Missing Characters. Just bring your appetite, thirst, and maybe a little something for the tip jar!

Music starts at 7 PM.

Poetry night featuring Ayesha Ahmed, Emma Thomas Jones, Alexa White, and Cheryl Whitehead. Join to hear poetry, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the written word. RSVP for this FREE event by visiting unionavebooks.com/events.

6 PM—8 PM.

Kite Symphony is a multidisciplinary exhibition by Roberto Carlos Lange and Kristi Sword. The project features a series of drawings called Radio Telescope. Two films, one experimental piece called Star Scores, will be scored live during the Big Ears festival, and a film documenting sculptural interventions during their time in Marfa, Texas. Sound is the throughline between these diverse elements of this long-term project. Lange is a musician (widely known as Helado Negro), Sword is a visual artist, and Kite Symphony is an extension of their collaborative practice where they create work at the intersection of music, performance, and visual art. Parts of the film were originally commissioned by Ballroom Marfa and organized by Sarah Melendez.

5 PM—9 PM.

The musical guest for First Friday Live April will be Tinca Tinca.

6 PM—7 PM.