A short while ago, I began thinking about where I experience art in my own life by regularly documenting the little (and big) moments I see or create art by either taking photographs or writing down a short reflection in my journal. In this simple practice, I found myself more and more actively seeking out new art experiences. I asked myself, what do I call art and where am I experiencing it? How might other people experience it?
From murals in alleyways to symphonies at the Tennessee Theatre, publicly accessible art can take many shapes and can be instrumental to the health and vitality of a community. Through active engagement in the local arts, people can connect to their communities and build a stronger sense of belonging and a vibrant local identity. This project asks how communities can better engage with the arts, and how can local artists and performers encourage their communities to engage with their art? This project asks people to consider how public art plays a role, or a lack thereof, in their own communities and day-to-day lives.
The Downtown Knoxville Art passport is a printable, one-page zine featuring four art destinations dotted around downtown Knox. Small and lightweight, you can shove this passport in your purse, your pocket, under your hat- wherever! There are two versions of the passport:
Stamp Collection:
Travel to each art destination and collect a unique stamp specific to each location, including: The Knoxville Museum of Art, Charles Krutch Park, UT Downtown Gallery, and the Dogwood Gallery.
Drawing Prompts:
Travel to each destination (all are walking distance from each other or accessible by KAT bus) and create a small drawing based on a prompt for each location!
Introducing: The Mini Art Logbook; a small booklet to jot down places and moments where you see or experience art during your daily life in. The logbook uses the one-page zine format, so it’s pocket-sized and lightweight, allowing people to easily carry it in their pockets, purses, and wallets and keep it on-hand as they go about their day. The logbooks could be handed out at events or institutions, or they could be downloaded and printed by anyone from anywhere.
Art in Knoxville: Website & Zines
Spring 2026
@ University of Tennessee - Knoxville
GRDS 371 - Data Visualization