Knoxville520.com

Of the group of seven touring artists, Sarah Maier, representing clothing makers Fort Cloudy of Baltimore, Maryland, put it most flatteringly after the show: “Everyone on the tour has decided that Knoxville was our best show so far. The folks in Knoxville that organized it did a really wonderful job.”

“Paul pretty much left it up to me to do as much as I wanted. So, I ran with it,” Starnes said. The next big step was finding a venue big enough to hold such a sprawling event indoors. “I left a press kit on Preston Farabow's desk one day. He was pretty into it. When he asked where it was going to be, I just said, ‘how about your new place?’

Starnes then flogged local media and community organizations and worked the internet, plastered flyers everywhere and talked to everyone she knew, especially her many contacts from stage and lighting work. New Knoxville Brewing Company stepped up with a generous price on beer and Sound Ventures donated sound. Volunteers came aboard to handle the background jobs: administrative stuff, sound board, lights and bartending.

“There were already two touring bands coming with the show, but we still wanted three more local groups,” Starnes explained. “I approached Phil Pollard and His Band of Humans, Chick Graning of The Skinwalkers, and Samuel’s group, What Have We Become (a spoken word/musical ensemble featuring the sibling renaissance team of Larry and Kari Hoffman) to fill those spaces.”

The Big Art Show was Starnes’ first big event. Even though it was a pro bono gig, she sees it as a great start-up for her production company, Dirty Sangria. “This town has been screaming for events like this for some time now and the prospect of being able to make this happen was by far worth more than any paycheck could provide.

“For years now I have come to know some amazing people in this town and the circles that intertwine them. I've always wanted to put those different circles in one room and stand back and just watch what happens.”

Cindy Farabow said events like hosting the Big Art Show and the First Friday celebrations are giving Knoxville a rising profile. A Nashville gallery owner told her “the artists here are all talking about the cool scene stirring in Knoxville!’”

Farabow said Ironwood, on Jennings Street across North Central Avenue from the Corner Lounge, continues to undergo renovation to suit their needs. “Our vision is that this little area will develop as sort of an alternative downtown with galleries, music, bistros, unique shops, all within walking distance of the historic neighborhoods.

(photo credit: Libby Morgan)