Just in time for the celebratory mood surrounding one of our nation’s best holidays, the Franklin Art Scene will be pulling out all the stops for another artistic night of stunning canvases, handmade pottery and crooning musicians this Friday, July 3! Join us in downtown Franklin from 6-9 p.m. to appreciate the artisans and small business owners of Williamson County…. and help usher in Independence Day!
Our art crawl boasts dozens of participating spots, with locations dispersed in and around downtown—including the Second South District and Bridge Street, as well as up and down Columbia Avenue. Don’t forget to show us your amazing finds by tagging us on Facebook, or by using the hashtag #FranklinArtScene (find our Twitter account here).
Friday’s celebration of our local culture will showcase an infinite amount of talent. Below are just a few highlights:
- Early’s Honey Stand on Main Street will feature handcrafted pieces by Summer Triangle Pottery which emphasize summertime and entertaining through unique colors and glazing techniques. Early’s comfort food will feel right at home on these festive pieces!
- Yacoubian Jewelers will host the work of Sketch Bourque, a well-known local artist who has been featured in many esteemed establishments from Louisiana to Tennessee.
- The Historic Presbyterian Church at Five Points will feature Susan Jones, who describes her work as “Colorful and Charming Nostalgic Impressionism.” Sure to delight a southern fan, her work frequently features scenes of Historic Architecture, her hometown of Franklin, and rural lifestyles.
- Jamba Juice on W. Main Street will host works from Baya Design Jewelry by Linda Pelligrino. The Baya Designs mother and daughter team often combine past and present in their jewelry by repurposing vintage and antique treasures into one of a kind pieces!
- Hope Church on Fourth Avenue (down the street from Puckett’s) is hosting the art of Sharon Davis Register — and they’re providing live music too!
- The Visitor’s Center on Fourth Avenue welcomes the art of Carol L. Saffell, a self-taught abstract artist based out of Nashville, TN. Her lively pieces possess a raw or unfinished feel meant to reflect the unfinished nature of individual lives. Musical accompaniment will be provided by singer songwriter Carmen Brandy.
- The Williamson County Archives on West Main Street will host “Southern Charm in Williamson County: An Exhibition of the Nashville Artist Guild.”
- Heylee B will feature the work of John A. Witherspoon, IV, an experienced scuba diver and underwater photographer. With over 500 dives under his belt, John A. Witherspoon is sure to have found what you’ve been looking for!
- Golden Yeti Art Collective will be welcoming a crowd with the work of Brad Hill, Caitlyn Campbell, and Jeff Barnard. Brad Hill describes his work as “alive” while Jeff Barnard focuses his art in the mediums of oil painting and tattooing. The goal of Caitlyn Campbell is to identify with viewers through dark imagery.
- Much more! These are just a few of this Friday’s artists. Be sure to reference the online map or app to be certain you didn’t miss your new favorite.
Many galleries provide complimentary refreshments and live entertainment throughout the evening. Music is sure to be heard in the streets due to local musicians being featured at many galleries. Free Trolley rides, provided by the Williamson Source, will circulate around all stops and patrons will be free to hop on and off as they please between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
In addition to an online map and QR code, a Franklin Art Scene smartphone application is now available on Google Play. The download gives users up-to-date information on the upcoming art crawl and its locations.
In 2011, a core group of local artistic influencers gathered to discuss the launch of an art crawl in downtown Franklin. Since then, hundreds of artists have been featured, and organizers say that they believe thousands of patrons turn out for the event each month–indicating steady growth for the Art Scene.
Franklin Art Scene is a free event occurs on the first Friday of each month. For more information on the event or to download maps and applications, go here. For more info on participating artists this month, be sure to “like” our Facebook page!
Carol L. Saffell