Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
4 Bridges Arts Festival showcases best work of 153 artists.
SATURDAY -SUNDAY
Nearly 500 artists from across the country applied to show their work in this weekend’s 4 Bridges Arts Festival. Just 153 made the cut. Named one of the Prime 50 Fine Arts Fairs of 2016 by Art Fair Sourcebook, 4 Bridges will cast a spotlight on the works of those artists from 30- plus states. The two-day showcase will fill First Tennessee Pavilion on Saturday- Sunday, April 22-23, with some of the finest pieces by working artists to be found in one place. It will be a little easier this weekend for 4 Bridges visitors to determine which artists live and work in the region. “All local artists will be designated [ with signage],” says Michelle Kimbrell, who coordinates the festival for the sponsoring Association for Visual Arts. Mediums represented are mixed media, painting, sculpture, ceramics, basketry, jewelry, photography, printmaking and drawing, fiber and leather, metal, glass and furniture. Besides the wide variety of art to peruse, the festival includes a children’s art tent, live entertainment and food from local vendors. Kimbrell says food trucks are another new addition this year.
A preview party on Friday will offer exclusive early access to view the art, meet the artists and buy limited-edition works. Tickets are $75 in advance, but Kimbrell says tickets will be sold at the door for $100.
Jurors Susannah Darrow of Atlanta, Andrew Glasgow of Asheville, N.C., and Jeff Morton of Chattanooga selected participants for this show in November.
“They went through all 495 applicants and scored every one,” Kimbrell says.
Jurors also chose six of 19 applicants to be honored as Emerging Artists. They are Kyle Baker of Old Hickory, Tenn. (drawing); Alicia Williams of Asheville, N.C. (wood); Elena Burykina of Chattanooga ( printmaking); Georgianna Pollock of Rising Fawn, Ga. (oil painting); Will Jackson of Chattanooga ( sculpture); and Jason Rafferty of Asheville (oil painting).
“These selected emerging artists have never done a festival before, are early in their career and get to participate for free,” Kimbrell says.
Special recognition also goes to featured jewelry artist Erica Bailey of Asheville, who created the commemorative pin, and to poster artist Carrie Pendergrass of Chattanooga.