In anticipation of the Franklin Art Scene’s 5th anniversary, the free event is kicking off a year of celebration on Friday, Feb. 5, that will include unique perks each month, in addition to a diverse array of local artisans.
Coordinated by the Downtown Franklin Association, the February Art Crawl will feature 12 participating locations dispersed in and around downtown—including the Second South District and Bridge Street, as well as up and down Columbia Avenue.
Patrons will receive a “passport” card at February’s event, which will take place from 6-9 p.m. Participants who get their passport stamped at eight of the 12 locations will be entered into a drawing to win dinner and a movie in downtown Franklin.
Friday’s locations are slated to offer a sweeping variety of magnificent work, ranging from mixed-media pieces and handcrafted jewelry to turned wood and original paintings, including:
Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Main Street, will feature the works of Samantha Ornellas—a realist painter who manages to capture the human story with emotion and clarity in a detailed way that keeps her enthusiasts coming back for more.
Merridee’s at 110 Fourth Avenue South, is hosting Franklin local Susan Napolitano who will be showcasing her original art that she creates with acrylics and mixed media.
Parks Realty, located at 415 Main Street, is showcasing the works of popular landscape artist, James Redding, who just recently expanded his repertoire from watercolors to include acrylics on canvas in an effort to explore the brilliance of color hidden within his palette.
The Visitor Center at 400 Main Street will host Narrow Gate Artisans, a group of local artists who produce a wide range of beautifully handcrafted items made from raw materials. Also joining them is Mitchell Torrence—a Franklin-native and guitarist whose past performances include the 2012 Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, local restaurants and venues and more.
The Williamson County Archives, located at 611 West Main Street is featuring the works of Irene Bennett, a self-taught folk artist who was born and raised in Williamson County.
Many of the galleries and working studios serve complimentary refreshments during the evening, and some offer live music. Free trolley rides provided by the Heritage Foundation circulate among all the stops, and patrons can jump on and off at will from 6 p.m. to 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.
For more information on indvidual sites and artists, click here. To download maps and applications, visit www.franklinartscene.com.
This event also includes free trolley rides provided by the Williamson Source.
Click here to view the art crawl map complete with all locations and trolley stops.
