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Appreciating creativity
Here are some places for sparking your imagination by observing and listening.
Art museums
Memphis is home to a number of notable art museums, including:
- The Brooks Museum (18th through 20th-century art), 1934 Poplar Ave.
- AMUM, the Art Museum of the University of the University of Memphis (works from ancient Egypt to present), 3750 Norriswood Drive
- The Metal Museum (metalworks, foundry and blacksmithing), 374 Metal Museum Drive
- The Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art (historical and contemporary), 119 South Main St.
Garden strolls and art
Winter is a good time to heighten awareness of landscaping shapes, colors and textures (think bark, bare branches and berries) that we often don’t appreciate when blooms are abundant. Enjoy a winter stroll at Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Road, and check its website for outdoor art exhibits (Origami in the Garden2 through March) and special events like the Jan. 25 Incognito! Art Auction fundraiser.
Downtown mural walks
Take a virtual walk online or an actual one downtown in search of the city’s famous murals, from “The Sound of Memphis” to “I Am a Man.” The downtown Memphis website provides details.
Positively Creative Series lectures
In the spring, Memphis College of Art, 1930 Poplar Ave., will host a series of talks about subjects including entrepreneurial blogging, fashion design, and maximizing social following on websites like Instagram.
Babies at the zoo
What can be more creative than birth? The Memphis Zoo, 2000 Prentiss Place, invites you to visit three new babies — Winnie the hippo, Rowan the orangutan and Lua the Linne’s two-toed sloth.
Being creative
Memphis is home to a number of organizations that encourage you to be creative in a hands-on way. Here goes.
Events and skill camps for creatives
Creative Works, 516 Tennessee St., is an organization that provides a wide variety of networking and learning events as well as a marketplace for creatives. It’s a good place to connect with creative types including animators, entrepreneurs, graphic artists, marketers and screenwriters. Events range from free pub network gatherings to 16-hour skill camps (about $1,000) and an annual creativity conference.
Crosstown Arts, 1350 Concourse Ave., is another organization that promotes creativity with exhibits, presentations and workshops by many kinds of artists, including writers and musicians. It offers residencies as well as community art making areas.
Innovative workspaces and incubators
ArtUp, 138 St. Paul St., is a business hub for entrepreneurial creatives including artists, chefs and designers. It offers lofts and mentoring for about 20 residents in its incubator program as well as support for creatives who don’t live there.
Creativity and mentoring aid the success of all startups. The “Memphis Business Journal” provides a detailed list of local business incubators, including Emerge Memphis, which offers tenant space and technical assistance programs.
Mid-South Makers, 2804 Bartlett Road, is an organization that provides makerspace (aka “hackerspace”) for people who love to tinker and invent. It’s a good place to meet other makers, share ideas and collaborate on projects.
Check out Crosstown Arts Shared Art Making for access to shared art-making facilities and equipment in digital arts, music, woodworking, printmaking, and photography. This space is open to all types of artists – from professionals to hobbyists!
Musical gigs
Love to sing? Perk up your pipes and maybe your picking skills at the Memphis Songwriters open mic nights. They’re held Monday through Thursday nights and Saturdays at coffee houses, restaurants and taverns throughout town.
If you enjoy performing classical works, the Memphis Symphony, 610 Goodman St., holds choir auditions twice a year. If you have some training, give it a go.
Becoming aware of opportunities
Never stop looking for opportunities to experience and practice the arts and innovation. Memphis is a great place to grow creatively.
#WeAreMemphis and we heart our city’s art.
Additional reading:
- http://www.brooksmuseum.org/
- https://www.memphis.edu/amum/
- https://www.metalmuseum.org/
- https://belzmuseum.org/
- https://www.memphisbotanicgarden.com/incognito
- https://www.downtownmemphis.com/downtown-mural-guide/
- http://mca.edu/community/community-education/positively-creative-series/
- https://www.memphiszoo.org/babies-at-the-memphis-zoo
- https://www.creativeworks.co/
- https://crosstownarts.org/
- https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/07/12/creative-business-hub-launching-on-south-main.html
- https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/subscriber-only/2018/03/09/memphis-area-business-incubators.html
- https://www.midsouthmakers.org/
- https://memphis-songwriters.org/open-mic-nights
- https://memphissymphony.org/chorus
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A space for space
Victoria Jones, Executive Director of The CLTV explains that when searching for a permanent location for the organization, it was important to choose a space that represented the black culture and the future of black art in Memphis. After viewing locations in other sects of the city such as Crosstown Concourse and Midtown, the team realized that the potential creative energy of the already thriving Orange Mound would allow The CLTV to provide a platform for the black community in its entirety. Positioned in South Memphis, Orange Mound is historically known for being the first community established for and by African Americans in the South, as well as being an essential region for the establishment and prosperity of black-owned businesses and culture. The neighborhood was designated a Preserve America Community in 2016 by First Lady Michelle Obama who described Orange Mound as a “treasured place in the American story.” The Preserve America Community award is an honor which recognizes communities that protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs. Today, the area features some of the highest civic pride and engagement in the city as new developments such as the Orange Mound Senior Center become established. The CLTV’s new space features a large open gallery in the front of the building with walls that already mount local black photography and art projects. In the back of the building, artists and students have access to a large workshop stocked with art supplies and an ample amount of space for freedom of creative expression. Currently, the organization consists of fourteen staff members who work entirely on a volunteer status for students and local artists in the community. The CLTV is continuing to prepare the new space for its grand public opening on January 11th, 2019.
Art gives people hope
The CLTV focuses on caring for themselves and each other differently. By giving black artists the tools to ethically engage in communities, the organization fights to shift cultural inequality through elevating a consistent spotlight on art within the black community. Jones states that the significance and importance of black culture are rooted throughout Memphis history and The CLTV team seeks to make that known by showcasing and cultivating black art.
“The wider our platform becomes, the more black artists become involved and the louder their voices get.”
– Victoria Jones, Executive Director of The CLTV
Looking forward into 2019, The CLTV hopes to plant a strong stake in the ground with its new permanent space and residency programming. After the grand opening, there will be about twelve large shows every year and smaller-scaled shows every 3 weeks, along with performing arts and concert series all year long. Community members, as well as those looking to become involved, can donate money or feasible and age-appropriate art supplies to The CLTV, sign up for newsletters and volunteer events, and of course, continue to bring their soul to Memphis.
For more information on The CLTV, head to the official website!
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]]>Fortunately, businesses can’t pay to be included on Expertise.com, which means you can trust the site’s findings. This independent company researches more than 100 business categories in approximately 1,000 cities across the U.S, using criteria such as:
- Availability: Consistently approachable and reachable
- Credibility: Accreditation, awards, licensing
- Experience: A history of practical experience and education
- Professionalism: Respected locally for honesty and reliability
- Reputation: A history of good service
It’s all about art
Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.
-Edgar Degas
Human beings across time and place have created art for a variety of reasons—to express ourselves; to help others understand what we see, hear and feel; to validate who we are to ourselves and more. Whether this takes the form of acting, ceramics, textiles or watercolors, nurturing and developing an artistic passion is important, but it can be tricky to know where to start.
That’s where we come in. Check out this list of 10 establishments helping artistically inclined residents find and recreate the beauty of Memphis:
- Art Interior Murals & Design: Commercial and residential decorating, as well as private/semi-private art lessons
- Broad Strokes: Furniture decor creation classes and workshops
- Collierville Arts Academy: Fine arts, martial arts, performing (acting/modeling) arts programs
- Fine Art from Anne Enochs: Drawing/advanced painting classes, private lessons
- Flicker Street Studio: Drawing, oil/acrylic/encaustic painting and watercolor classes and workshops
- John Helms Gallery: Gallery and painting classes, including classes for adults and beginners
- Mery Pera: Beginner through advanced classes and events
- Pitter Potter Studio: Paint-your-own pottery parties and events
- The Art Project: Classes for kids in-studio or outside, art camps, adult workshops, events
- The Shorty Gul Art Shop: Drawing, arts and crafts, textiles, glassware/pottery/ceramics, furniture, traditional and digital art classes
Photo Credit: Pitter Potter Studio Facebook
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]]>If you’re eager to see more of the works that Memphis creatives have unleashed on our city, you might want to take the long route to your next destination. Here’s a rundown of some of the best locations to view urban public art in Memphis:
Broad Avenue Arts District
The name says it all. Broad Avenue serves as the canvas for some of Memphis’ most popular works of art—chief among which is the Broad Avenue Water Tower, which features a mural inspired by the Mississippi River.
At the base of the water tower, there are two more works to behold. At 200 feet wide, “This is We” by Guillaume Alby is the biggest mural in Memphis, and is situated adjacent to another mural named “Terpsichore.” Further down Broad Avenue, the Wiseacre Container Bridge plays host to an ever-evolving mural that changes every six to eight months.
Photo Credit: Broad Ave Arts District Facebook
South Main Arts District
Local artists are the focus of the South Main Mosaic Artwalk, a collection of eight temporary public art installations along South Main. On the way to the nearby train station, you can view “Modern Hieroglyphics,” a mural composed of eight song lyric snippets mentioning Memphis that celebrates the city’s unique musical heritage.
A self-guided walking tour will show you all the best art installations and architecture along the way. Learn more at gosouthmain.com.
Main Street Pedestrian Mall
When students from the Memphis College of Art set out to transform this mall, they left nothing untouched, from the green utility boxes to the pedestrian bridge near the law school. Highlights include “Quiltsurround,” a sculpture by Greely Myatt made of recycled street signs that is located behind City Hall, and “Roof Like Fluid Flung Over the Plaza” by Vito Acconci, located at the Cannon Center.
Crosstown
Thanks to the revitalization of the old Sears distribution center, the Crosstown community has a renewed interest in urban art. A piece titled “Beacon”—also known as the bicycle windmill—welcomes all to Crosstown, while the “Jackie in the Secret Garden” billboard beams down from high in the sky. Other art murals in Crosstown include “I Love Memphis” by Jay Crum and Kong Wee Pang, as well as a rotating set of murals known as The Moonpie Project.
Overton Park
Overton Park has long been considered the crown jewel of Memphis, and the UrbanArt Commission has further cemented this reputation. The public is welcomed to the park by a gorgeous arched gateway constructed by local artist Tylur French and composed of 300 scrap bicycles. In addition, the East Park Playground, Rainbow Lake Playground and Levitt Shell feature similar gateway installations, while the park’s golf course is adorned with a movable sculpture titled “Rhapsody.”
On your way to Overton Park, be sure to cruise through Overton Square and enjoy the assorted murals and sculptures.
Overton Square
Overton Square has been revitalized in recent years, emerging as a hot entertainment area that is home to one of the most stunning lovebird murals in the world. The mural is the most recent addition to the beautiful pieces of art that can be found in the area, and it’s unlikely that it will be the last.
Cooper-Young
The neighborhood around Cooper Street and Young Avenue hosts some of the most iconic works in all of Memphis. Perhaps most notably, the original “I Love Memphis” mural is situated adjacent to the Cooper-Young Trestle, a 150-foot steel sculpture that depicts the neighborhood. Those taking in the art by foot can also behold the numerous underpasses that have been transformed from eyesore to eye candy.
The fact that the Memphis arts scene is clearly alive and well is just one more factor that makes Memphis a beautiful place to live.
Additional resources
ILoveMemphis (map available!)
Choose901 (breaking news)
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]]>Brooks Museum
Situated in historic Overton Park, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art was founded in 1916 and houses the oldest and largest major collection of world art in Tennessee. The museum features more than 10,000 works from Ancient Greek and Roman artists, Renaissance masters, early American painters, cutting-edge art world disruptors and more.
Photo Credit: Brooks Museum’s Facebook
Box Gallery
The student-run Box Gallery is one of the premier places for Memphis art students to display their work. Located on the first level of the Arts & Communication building on the University of Memphis campus, it’s the best place to check out the works of young up-and-coming artists in Memphis.
Photo Credit: Box Gallery’s Facebook
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
When Hugo and Margaret Dixon founded the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in 1976, they combined an expansive fine art museum with a beautifully manicured public garden. Spanning 17 acres in the heart of Memphis, the garden and arboretum offer spectacular natural scenery, while the museum is home to more than 2,000 works ranging from French impressionist paintings to a 600-piece collection of German decorative porcelain.
Photo Credit: Dixon Family Garden’s Facebook
Withers Collection Museum and Gallery
Celebrating the lifelong work of Memphis-born photographer Ernest Withers, the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery preserves and displays this legendary artist’s priceless portfolio. Withers, who spent much of his life as a photojournalist, passed away in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of work that captures 60 years of African American history in the South.
Photo Credit: Withers Collection Museum and Gallery’s Facebook
Memphis Murals
You don’t have to go to a museum or gallery to see great art in Memphis, as urban art is everywhere. From the Artery Murals in Barboro Alley to Main Street’s Sound of Memphis Mural, the dozens of spectacular murals in our city make up one of America’s most impressive collections of street art.
Photo Credit: Downtown Memphis
Metal Museum
As the only museum in the United States devoted entirely to metalwork, the Metal Museum boasts a huge array of architectural ironwork, jewelry and sculpture, and regularly hosts exhibits by nationally and internationally renowned metalsmiths. The Metal Museum’s grounds come complete with 100-year-old trees and stunning outdoor sculptures, and are open to the public free of charge. Did we mention that this museum offers one of the city’s best views of the Mississippi River?
Photo Credit: Metal Museum’s Facebook
Memphis Botanic Garden
Spanning 96 stunning acres of meadows, trees, ponds and gardens, the landscape at the Memphis Botanic Garden is a work of art in itself—one that you can immerse yourself in any day of the week. Meanwhile, on-site galleries at the Memphis Botanic Garden show off an ever-changing lineup of exhibits by local and national artists.
Photo Credit: Memphis Botanic Garden’s Facebook
Flicker Street Studio
The classes and workshops at Flicker Street Studio prove that art is for everyone. The studio offers an opportunity to explore and create virtually every kind of art under the sun, from drawing and painting to printmaking and bookbinding. Flicker Street is a great place to learn and develop your artistic skills in a nurturing environment, while being supervised by some of Memphis’ most accomplished local artists.
For Memphis makers, musicians, artists and creators of all kinds, there’s no better place to call home than our fair city. If you’re ready to start exploring art in Memphis, you’ll find it everywhere you turn.
Photo Credit: Flicker Street Studio’s Facebook
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]]>Openings are basically big parties. There’s sure to be a crowd, odds are you can meet the artist(s), and at the very least you’ll get a free drink. If you miss the opening, no big deal – shows typically run anywhere from two days to a month. Visit during normal gallery hours when you can view the work in more serene conditions and possibly discuss the work with the curator.
The best nights are when there are so many openings that you have to make a plan of attack in order to see them all.
Want to know the best way to get in the loop on local art openings? Elizabeth Alley, whose “Two Stories of Iceland” is currently on display at Crosstown Arts, says that The Memphis Flyer has always been good about listing art openings, but these days she primarily uses Facebook. “I make sure to follow the ‘main’ galleries in town – L Ross, David Lusk, Jay Etkin, Crosstown Arts, Orange Mound Gallery, plus schools – U of M has two galleries, and CBU, Rhodes, and MCA all have galleries,” she says.
Alex Paulus, another local artist, says, “The best places to go are David Lusk, Crosstown Arts, and Tops. I think those are the 3 best galleries in Memphis right now. They’re showing really interesting work.”
Tops Gallery in the Madison Avenue Pocket Park. La Boheme by Motoko Fukuyama (showing until March 10).
Tops is located in the basement of the Jack Robinson Gallery and has an ancillary gallery in the Madison Avenue Pocket Park. While the artists who show there are not always local, curator Matt Ducklo (who is also a celebrated photographer) chooses unique and cutting edge contemporary work to highlight. Right now, you can see La Boheme featuring the multi-media art of Motoko Fukuyama. The gallery is only open on Saturdays from 1-6pm, but you can view her work in the park gallery 24/7.
Alley believes that it’s important for both artists and non-artists to go to shows. “If you are an artist, it is important to go to see what other artists are up to. There is a lot to learn from seeing a gallery show – are there local trends? How is this artist choosing to display their sculpture/drawing/installation? It is also a great way to meet other artists – there are so many artists in town that I know because I met them at an art opening,” she says.
If you are not an artist, Alleys says it is important to go to show your support for artists and local art. “And you can learn things and meet artists, too! Ideally you will buy something, plus there is usually free wine,” she says.
Crosstown Arts gets the best snack award. “The last show I went to there had bacon wrapped dates and potato skins!” exclaims Paulus. In terms of art, he offers an important etiquette tip: “Don’t touch the art, unless you are specifically instructed to do so by the artist.”
Here’s Alley’s primer on what to do once you are there:
Enter the gallery, do a quick survey of the room, then choose a place to start. Look at the art, but don’t fret about studying it (art openings are for socializing as much as they are for learning something, and often people are standing in the way of the art anyway). Make your way to the wine, relax, look at the price list. Drink more wine, buy something.
Buying local art is a great investment. Often, galleries will do payment plans so don’t be shy if there’s something that you really love but cannot afford all at once. Most galleries do get a percentage of the selling price. However, artists who show at Crosstown Arts keep 100% of their proceeds.
Alley also encourages visitors to say something to the artist if they see them. “We want to hear from you and part of our job requirement is to be able to talk about our art,” she says.
Many galleries like Lusk and L Ross will schedule artist talks with the artists currently on display, so you can hear even more about their work. These talks are generally the second Saturday after the opening, but that can vary.
Familiarize yourself with the following galleries, follow them on Facebook, and watch your Fridays fill up!
Galleries
Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM)
Beverly and Sam Ross Gallery (Christian Brothers University)
Clough Hanson (Rhodes College)
The Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art
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