Just three weeks ago, the boarded-up church less than a mile from Chattanooga’s riverfront sat empty without electricity or working plumbing. By last Friday night a giant banner hung outside, and the inside was transformed into a glamorously grungy showplace for the Ten Show, a state-wide graphic design competition hosted this year by AIGA 50.
Friday afternoon I joined around twenty designers from Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville for a delicious complimentary lunch at St. Johns Meeting Place and a red-carpet tour of Chattanooga’s redevelopment projects and the Hunter Museum of Art hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the River Corporation.
That night we attended an exhibit opening that was worthy of any arty crowd in New York or Los Angeles. The exhibit was juried by SupPop Records designer Art Chantry, and included juried awards in several categories.
When I arrived the party was in full force, with cars outside being valet parked and a good number of police officers made sure the area felt safe for the hundreds of people in attendance.
Inside music thumped and crowds swarmed among exhibits, portable heaters, and a theatrical lighting system set up for the exhibit. The crowd of business people, creatives, college students and artists chatted enthusiastically, lubricated with complimentary vodka and opening night excitement. A coat check, catered food, music, and luxury portable restrooms made the event worthy of the mayor and dignitaries present.
Chattanooga is clearly positioning itself as a creative city to be reckoned with, attracting creatives with forgivable real estate loans, moving expenses, and a growing art and design community. Young creatives would do well to put Chattanooga on their list of locations to begin a career.
