When Sherry Jenkins came on as the new executive director of Dogwood Arts in October 2017, she had already served on the board of directors for several years and spent 18 years at a locally owned project management firm, all with a Fine Arts degree in hand from the University of Tennessee. She is keenly aware of how crucial art and culture are intertwined, particularly in a flourishing city.
“We always say that if a community has a thriving art and culture vein running through it, then you know it’s a healthy, bustling society,” says Sherry. “When you go anywhere in the world and see landscaped gardens, sculptures, and museums, you know you’ve arrived in a city that’s thriving.”
Dogwood Arts boasts nearly 70 years of “promoting and celebrating the art, culture, and natural beauty” of East Tennessee through special events and annual programming, all of which are designed to engage and support the local community but also to entice newcomers who want to build a life or business here.
“We are growing because East Tennessee is the sweet spot. We live in a beautiful community – the city and natural beauty but also the people. We have a long history of makers of all types, and we have new artists coming to Knoxville from all over,” says Sherry.
One of the most visible ways Dogwood Arts helps make Knoxville look its best is through its dedication to public art, specifically the mural and sculpture programs.
“There’s a big difference between an alley with two walls and an alley with murals. It’s more welcoming, more interesting. A park can be beautiful, but a park with a sculpture is more interesting,” she says. “It’s thought-provoking. It’s unifying. It gives people something to talk about.”
Next month, Dogwood Arts, in collaboration with Visit Knoxville and Lilienthal Gallery, will unveil a collection of 13 murals, covering more than 7,000 square feet, called Knox Walls at Emory Place.
“This came about when I saw that Ilana [Lilienthal] had redone the fronts of her buildings so beautifully. I texted her and told her we needed a mural on the back of the building, and she said, ‘No, let’s do all the buildings!’,” says Sherry. “We had been looking for just this type of thing.”
With the support of the other property owners, the prep work was underway by mid-summer. After a nationwide call to artists, armed with a simple prompt and a little regional history, the applications came pouring in. As a group, they selected 13 artists, including two locals, Megan Lingerfelt and Curtis Glover. The murals will take several weeks to complete, but the goal is to have them finished and ready for viewing by early October.
“We already have such a strong alliance with so many wonderful art organizations, so it’s an exciting time to watch how everyone evolves. That’s the great thing about art. There’s constant change and growth. I hope we can focus on some positive energy toward all our art organizations and keep them thriving. It brings great things for our community,” says Sherry. “Corporate support, patron support, and community support from our city and county leaders allows us to be successful, so you can’t stress enough that investment by all creates a better quality of life for everyone.”
Learn more at DogwoodArts.com.
"I hope we can focus on some positive energy toward all our art organizations and keep them thriving. It brings great things for our community."
“We are growing because East Tennessee is the sweet spot. We live in a beautiful community – the city and natural beauty but also the people. We have a long history of makers of all types, and we have new artists coming to Knoxville from all over."