Bethel Cemetery

Bethel Cemetery
Location: Knoxville, TN


Bethel Cemetery was an interesting little adventure...



The adventure started when I tried to find the cemetery. That is one flaw, and a very real disadvantage, to the cemetery. The entrance to the cemetery was very easy to miss. In fact, it was so easy to miss that I actually ended up in the wrong cemetery at first. The entrance to the cemetery is a foreboding metal gate with a small sign. The cemetery itself is surround by a chain link fence that is topped with barbed wire. It does not have a welcoming feel. Once I did find it, I was unsure whether I was really supposed to enter. The gate had an elaborate clasp that could scare away any weary visitor. But I was determined, so I figured out the complex gate and managed to enter the cemetery.

Another problem for the cemetery is its limited hours. It is only open on Saturdays from 10am until 3pm. To visit at any other time, you must make an appointment. This could be a very easy deterrent for potential visitors. Luckily, I arrived at the cemetery within it's open hours.

Once I finally made it into the cemetery, I was disappointed by the lack of labels informing me about the cemetery's history. There was a large plaque indicating who was buried in the cemetery, but I would have liked more information. An information pamphlet would have adequately sufficed.




The obvious attraction of the cemetery is the large memorial to thousands of Confederate soldiers. Within the cemetery's four walls are buried 1600 Confederate soldiers and 50 Union soldiers. The monument clearly conveyed the importance of the cemetery. It's large and grandiose structure appropriately memorialized the more than one thousand soldiers buried there. There were also plaques listing the names of all of the Confederate soldiers who are buried there. The names are grouped according to which state the men were from. I thought these plaques were interesting, and I enjoyed searching for any names that might be distant relatives of mine.


Also on the property was an old white house. I think that may be where the grounds keeper lives. The house was actually quite creepy. The whole time I was in the cemetery, I couldn't help but feel like someone could be watching me from its windows.

The grounds were nicely maintained. The landscaping was beautiful and further helped to commemorate the soldiers buried there. It was obvious that someone was actively tending to the grounds because the leaves had all been gathered into large piles and were ready to be bagged. I was thoroughly impressed by the condition of the cemetery.

I don't think I'll be going back to Bethel Cemetery any time soon. The cemetery isn't in a very good part of town, and I wouldn't want to drive out there alone. Although the monument and the grounds were in good condition, the cemetery had a very eerie atmosphere. I am a fan of cemeteries and am not easily creeped out by them, but this one was a bit creepy. Whether it was the lack of any other human presence or the terrifying barbed wire fence, my visit to Bethel Cemetery was not a reflective or inspiring experience.

KMA

Knoxville Museum of Art
Location: Knoxville, TN


The current temporary exhibits at the Knoxville Museum of Art were excellent. I thought each exhibit was curated in a very professional manner. The entire museum was impressive.




I thoroughly enjoyed the "New Directions in American Drawing" exhibit. The pieces exhibited were not what you typically think of when you think of drawings. I think that was the curator's goal. I had never seen drawings like these before. Some were very large and detailed, which is not what I would normally expect. Some were so realistic that they could have easily been mistaken for a black and white photo. This exhibit made me reexamine some of my preconceived notions about drawing. Before today, I did not have a very high opinion of drawing. The KMA has changed my opinion.



A second exhibit that I really liked was "New Photography from the KMA Collection." This temporary exhibit was comprised of pieces from the KMA's permanent collection. It consisted of an eclectic mix of photography. I also thought it was smart of the KMA to create an exhibit based off of pieces they already owned. I really liked all of the photographs within this exhibit. They were all very different in style and technique. I especially liked "Untitled (ladies' man)" by Sarah Hobbs. The layout of the exhibit was also well done. It was all contained in a single room with the photographs hung at the same level around the entire room. There was also a seat provided in the middle of the room. I love it when museums provide a place to sit. Sometimes you just want sit and contemplate the art for a while.

There was also an showing of the east Tennessee student art competition. This exhibit consisted of hundreds of works of art which covered every inch of wall space. Although the show was a bit overwhelming in quantity, it was fascinating to see the works of blossoming young high school artists. It was a nice touch of amateur art, and it balanced well with the other exhibits.

I enjoyed my visit to the Knoxville Museum of Art. It is an art museum that is worthy of its accreditation. The quality of the exhibits was worth more than the $5 entrance fee suggested.

First Presbyterian Historic Cemetery

First Presbyterian Historic Cemetery
Location: Downtown Knoxville


I think this cemetery is absolutely stunning. Before I even realized the historic significance of this cemetery, I loved it just because it looks so beautiful. Tucked away behind the Tennessee Theater, the cemetery is not something that you would expect to see. It is situated right next to First Presbyterian Church and across the street from one of the parking garages I use when I go downtown. It is easy to overlook, but it is an important part of Knoxville's history.



Inside the cemetery are buried many of Knoxville's historic icons such as the Blounts, the McClungs, the Carricks, and even James White. The founding fathers of Knoxville rest in that cemetery. It was really neat to see the graves of all these people that I had recently learned so much about. From visiting the Blount Mansion and the James White Fort, I learned about so many of the people that were buried there. And many of the graves had names that I recognized from buildings around campus. These were not only Knoxville's founding fathers, but the University of Tennessee's too. It was unreal to visit the graves of people whose homes I had just finished visiting.



The cemetery is also on the national register of historic places. One thing I really liked about the cemetery was a chart it had of all the graves. This chart was next to the entrance, and it was very helpful. Many of the graves were worn down, and some of the names were no longer on the tombstones. Thanks to the chart, I was still able to locate the graves of many famous Knoxvillians, despite being unable to read the words on the tombstones.

The cemetery was also in very nice condition. The grounds were nicely maintained. The tombs, although worn with age, were not overrun with weeds or other plants. The grass was trimmed, and the paths were in good condition. This also added to the positive experience that I had.

I immensely enjoyed my visit to the First Presbyterian cemetery. It was both an educational and beautiful experience. That will not be my last visit.

The Decorative Experience

The Decorative Experience
Location: McClung Museum

This entire exhibit was a disaster. McClung Museum is so hit and miss with their exhibits, and this one was a definite miss. Before I even entered the exhibit I was in a bad mood. Entering into McClung was like entering into a tropical jungle. The lobby was more humid than the rain forest. This did not put me in the mood to visit a museum. There's nothing worse than feeling hot and sticky as you walk around trying to read museum labels. My visit did not start off on a good note.




The first thing that I noticed when I entered the exhibit was that the lights were not on in one of the display cases. It wasn't even that one light was out. The entire case was dark. This was an obvious problem that any of the museum's employees should have spotted and fixed. It did not reflect well upon the museum to have a darkened display case. The museum is dark enough as it is. The cases need lights so you can actually see the artifacts inside. This looked very unprofessional on the museum's part.



Another problem I had with the exhibit was the "Art of the Chinese Tang Dynasty" portion of the exhibition. This display case was the second thing I noticed when I entered the exhibit. It stuck out from the rest of the exhibit like a sore thumb. The background was a completely different color from those in the other cases. The presentation of the artifacts in that case looked much more professional that any of the other cases. Although that particular case looked nice, it made the poor quality of the other display cases stand out even more. I had trouble figuring out if the Tang dynasty display case even went with the rest of the exhibit. For a moment I wondered if another little exhibit had been placed in the room with a completely different exhibit.


A third problem that I immediately had with the exhibit was the awkward placement of a television at one end of the room. The TV clearly blocked part of the exhibit, and it wasn't even on. It wouldn't have been so bad if the TV had been showing a film related to the exhibit. But instead it just stood awkwardly at one end of the room. It looked like it was a remnant from a past field trip to the museum. This was another mistake made by the museum staff. The television should have either been showing a related film or shouldn't have been in the room at all. It distracted my attention from the rest of the exhibit.

Overall this exhibit was not a success. I left McClung not remembering the amazing artifacts that I had viewed but instead thinking of all of the annoying problems that the exhibit had. I know that McClung can put together an excellent exhibit. The Sacred Beauty exhibit is a good example. There was no excuse for such a poor presentation, and McClung failed to professionally maintain this exhibit like a university museum should.

Space+Technology+Place

Space + Technology + Place
Location: Ewing Gallery

This exhibit was a presentation of the works of University of Tennessee architecture professors. I am no expert in architecture, although I do find it somewhat interesting to learn about. I didn't really know what to expect out of this exhibit, and I was not left disappointed.



The layout of the exhibit was well done. I really like the Ewing Gallery, and I think it is an excellent space for shows. Part of the reason that it is such a good exhibition space is because of its high ceilings. This really gives the entire space a very open feel. Thus, the items displayed within any exhibit at the Ewing never feel crowded together, and the spacing never makes one feel claustrophobic. This was true with the design of the architecture show too. The items on the walls were placed at good heights and were not too close together. The items that were free-standing in the middle of the exhibit were placed with enough space between them to allow easy traffic flow. The dark gray walls were also an excellent color choice which provided a nice contrast to the white walls.



The works in the exhibit also surprised me. I generally think of architecture as boring blue prints and cute little models of buildings. Granted, some of those things were on display within the exhibit. But some professors chose to display work which approached architecture in a much more artistic manner. For example, the picture above shows an architectural creation, yet if no one told me that it had to do with architecture, I would have thought it was just a wonderful piece of fine art. This show forced me to step outside of my stereotypes about architecture.



Another series of works that made me look differently at architecture was those by Tricia Stuth. Her photographs were of architectural elements, yet that was not my first thought when I looked at them. Her photographs clearly evoke emotions within the viewer and cannot be viewed in a completely unemotional manner. The photographs could easily be displayed in a fine art setting and no one would question their artistic merit. For the first time, I saw architecture as more than just a career but as a fine art.

The Space + Technology + Place show was one that changed my entire view of architecture. Today I realized that architects are artists too.

James White Fort

James White Fort
Location: Knoxville, TN

James White Fort was a much more interesting experience than I ever expected. I really didn't know anything about the fort. In fact, I thought it was a military fort but found out on my tour that in fact it was just a fort for James White and his family. It was fenced in not to protect it from attacks but to keep its livestock from getting out.

The fort doesn't really look like anything impressive from the road. I had driven past it many times but never had any desire to take a tour of it. It also looked much smaller from the outside than it actually is. I was surprised by the size of the complex and by the amount of buildings within it. I thought the fort was free to tour, but it actually cost $5. The price was in no way unreasonable, and in return I received a cultural experience that I will never forget.



As I entered the front door, I found myself in a small gift shop/entrance area. There was a friendly old man sitting behind the desk. He informed me that I had two options: I could take the hand-out about the fort and take a self-guided tour or he could personally take me on a tour of the fort. At first I opted for the self-guided tour, but after about 10 minutes I realized that my entire experience would be far more enjoyable if I asked the man to take me on a tour instead. This was the best choice I made. The friendly old man was a retired volunteer who was more passionate about the history of Tennessee than anyone I have ever met. James White Fort consists of lots of buildings, but it isn't the largest museum complex. Yet, this old man managed to take me on a very detailed hour and a half guided tour. I actually didn't mind it at all. He was so passionate about the subject matter that it made it all very interesting to listen to.



The first building we entered was the main family house of the Whites. The interior of the cabin had been kept as much in its original form as possible. It was obvious that the Whites must have been a very wealthy family because the craftsmanship of the cabin was impeccable. The artifacts within the house were set up nicely. I'm not sure how many of the artifacts were original to the family, but the table in the middle of the room did belong to the Whites. The other items in the room were at least from the correct time period if not original possessions of the family. I really liked how there were no ropes or barriers blocking you off from any part of the house. I could get as close to all the artifacts as I wanted, as long as I didn't touch any of them.

As the little old man showed me each artifact in the house, he also told me about the history of behind each item. I learned more in that hour and a half than I have at all my other museum visits combined.

The fort also included a kitchen alongside the main family cabin. The kitchen was also very interesting to visit because it too was filled with many items from that time period. It also smelled wonderful on the inside, like a Cracker Barrel restaurant.



Besides the family home and the kitchen, there were many other cabins on the property. The family cabin was actually the original cabin, but the other cabins were reconstructed in later years. The other cabins originally served as guest houses for the many people who visited the Whites. Now each cabin is set up differently. One cabin contained all the artifacts that people had donated. It was like a little museum of random Appalachian artifacts. Another cabin was constructed on the inside to look like one of the original guest cabins. Inside of it was a real loom that I even got to touch. Yet another cabin was set up in the style of a blacksmith shop. There had been a blacksmith living in the fort with the Whites, and although this cabin was a recreation, it was historically accurate to some extent.

I give my visit to James White Fort two big thumbs up. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of preservation within the fort. Even more, I was thoroughly entertained and informed by my enthusiastic guide. James White Fort is definitely worth the $5 dollar entrance fee.

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Location: Knoxville, TN


The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is a hidden jewel among Knoxville's museums. I had seen it many times, but I don't watch women's basketball and thought that a museum devoted to that subject couldn't be very interesting. I was definitely proven wrong.

I should have realized that the museum would be impressive based on its exterior appearance alone. As you drive up to the museum, you can't help but stare in awe at the giant basketball that is on top of it. The architecture under the basketball even looks like a giant basketball net. The museum had begun to impress me before I even entered it. And if a giant basketball exterior wasn't enough to impress me, the museum even had its own exit off the interstate. Any museum worthy of having its own interstate exit surely must be impressive.

As I entered the Hall of Fame, one of the first things I noticed were the automatic lights. The lights throughout the Hall of Fame are motion sensored and only come on when visitors are in that particular part of the museum. Not only was the Hall of Fame impressive, it was also environmentally friendly.

The displays in the Hall of Fame were very colorful and detailed. Every one was professionally designed and put together. I had yet to visit a museum of this high of caliber the entire semester. Although the displays were excellently designed and constructed, they were a bit too wordy for my taste. They contained lots of writing, more than I ever want to read when I'm at a museum. The displays would also bore any school age child. Thankfully, these were not the only types of displays in the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame contained a good mixture of wordy exhibits that would interest adults and hands-on exhibits that would interest kids. Although displays like the one above would most likely not interest the average child, the Hall of Fame provided plenty of other types of displays that would easily keep them interested. For example, an animatronic women's basketball player from the early 20th century talks to visitors as they walk by, telling them about early women's basketball. I did not expect such a high-tech element in a Knoxville museum. Another great hands-on area for the kids is the fake locker room. There are benches and statues of fakes players that you can sit with. There are even four different coaches' locker room speeches that you can watch. It's like you are on the team as you sit on the bench with you're fake teammates and watch a locker room talk given by a real women's basketball coach.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame also does an excellent job keeping up with current events in women's basketball. There are display cases showing jerseys of the teams who made it to the NCAA final four. They also display the jerseys of the players of the year. They even display the jerseys of the high school state champion teams. These exhibits must constantly be kept up to date and changed annually. It seems like it would be a lot of work, but it created a very interesting exhibit.


The Hall of Fame also provides a great grand finale'. Once you are done viewing all the exhibits, there are three basketball courts downstairs that are there for you to play on. This is also an excellent idea for all the kids who visit the Hall of Fame. I can only imagine what this area is like when a field trip comes through. Although this area is primarily for entertainment, it is still somewhat educational. For example, one of the baskets is modeled after the old style of basketball goals. Thus, kids can have fun and experience a bit of history all at once.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is one of the best museums that I have visited so far. I had such low expectations for it that it completely blew me away when I visited it. I'd recommend a visit to the Hall of Fame for any person in Knoxville.

The Battle of Fort Sanders

The Battle of Fort Sanders
Location: McClung Museum


This exhibit was anticlimatic to say the least. I was suprised primarily by the size and set up of this exhibit. There is a banner hanging on the front of McClung Museum advertising the Fort Sanders exhibit as well as the Sacred Beauty exhibit. Both banners are equal in size and would lead one to assume that both exhibits would be almost equal in size too. Then, as you walk in McClung, the Sacred Beauty exhibit is immediately on the left in the very first room. The exhibit appears professionally done, has dramatic lighting, and contains very impressive religious artifacts. On the other hand, the Fort Sanders exhibit is not on the main floor but on the floor below. Luckily some wonderful museum staff member put a sign up in the lobby directing people downstairs towards the exhibit. Otherwise, I would have had a lot more trouble finding it. As I walked down the stairs, I still thought I might find an exhibit of equal size and pomp as the Sacred Beauty exhibit, although I was beginning to wonder where exactly such an exhibit could be held in the basement of McClung. Then I saw the Fort Sanders exhibit...an experience that was altogether underwhelming.


It's interesting that the Fort Sanders exhibit is even labeled as an exhibit because it's more of a display. It was located in the downstairs hallway of the museum, the hallway that leads to the auditorium which is used for classes. I have had many classes in that auditorium, and until today I never realized that the display cases in the hallway were used for actual legitimate exhibitions. I thought the museum staff merely filled the cases with random museum objects so that they wouldn't look empty and forlorn. The hallway is dark and a little bit creepy, and the display cases are not especially large or fancy. They remind me more of trophy cases. But today I learned that they were not trophy cases. Not only were the display cases being used, they were filled with an exhibit worthy of being advertised by a large banner on the front of the building.

Although the area chosen to display the exhibit is not the most impressive space in McClung, the exhibit itself was nicely done. The contents of the exhibit were interesting and presented well, especially considering the conditions of the space in which they were displayed.


Inside the display cases were pictures and artifacts such as the walking cane of Abe Lincoln. There were also lots of Civil War artifacts, which was fitting since it was an exhibit about a battle during the Civil War. The exhibit would be a Civil War enthusiast's dream. Although the artifacts and pictures were presented nicely, the descriptions were a bit too lengthy for me. Often, I could not stay interested long enough to read the entire description, and by the end of the exhibit I was merely looking at the objects and ignoring the written descriptions almost entirely. I did like the pictures which were displayed above the display cases. They showed Knoxville around the time of the battle. Their placement above the display cases was a good use of space, and seeing Knoxville in the photographs helped me to realize that this battle really occurred here.

My favorite part of the exhibit was the light-up map. The map showed the location of key events related to the battle and also contained little lights indicating where things were located today in Knoxville. This part of the exhibit really helped me to grasp that this battle had actually happened within a few miles of where I was standing. I really liked having these points of reference. Knowing where the battle actually took place helped me to think about it as a real event and not just some story from the past.

Although the exhibit was disappointing, especially in comparison to Sacred Beauty, it still contained some interesting artifacts. Generally, I don't find exhibits at the McClung Museum to be very impressive. Compared to most other exhibits at the McClung, The Battle of Fort Sanders actually ranked fairly high on the scale of impressiveness.

The World Series

World Series 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado


The World Series may not seem like a museum related event, but I believe differently. The World Series brings millions of Americans together each year, and it has become an important tradition in American culture. Therefore, how the World Series is presented is very important because it is such an icon to the American people. Besides trying to represent accurately the history and tradition behind the World Series, the planners of the World Series also must take into account all of the logistical aspects of the event, such as traffic and crowd control.


Overall, Major League Baseball as well as the Colorado Rockies representatives did an excellent job preserving the tradition of America's favorite past time. Baseball stadiums always do an excellent job recognizing baseball greats of the past, and Coors Field in Denver is no exception. Although the Rockies are a young team, started in the 90s, their baseball field by no means forgets to honor baseball legends from before the team's time. As you walk around Coors Field, your eye is drawn to various large statues commemorating baseball legends. Each statue is adequately labeled with a plaque specifying the player (or even coach) honored there and describing the player's achievements that led to this great honor. The statues have a nostalgic feel, and for a second it seems as though you're taking a step back in time. Baseball has such a rich history in America, and Coors Field does an excellent job reminding you of that before you even set foot inside the stadium.


The architecture of Coors Field also honors and preserves the history of baseball. Although a very large stadium, much of its design is based off stadiums from the early 20th century. This is another way that the Rockies staff reminds the fans of the rich history of baseball. As you sit in the middle of that stadium surrounded by thousands of people, you can't help but feel as though you are experiencing a piece of history. I especially felt like I was witnessing history watching the Rockies make it to their very first World Series. It was something that Rockies fans will talk about for the rest of their lives.

All of the festivities leading up to the games and the actual games themselves flowed very smoothly. Considering the number of people that were congregated within a few city blocks, the the crowd and traffic control was well planned and thought out. Not once did I feel like I was stuck in a really long line or in the midst of an unruly crowd. Entrance into the stadium was swift and stress free. Distribution of the free World Series souvenirs within the gates was also handled in a fairly un-chaotic manner. Members of the event staff were friendly and very helpful when I was trying to find my seat. Overall I had a wonderful time within the stadium.


I also was able to participate in some events that the general public did not get to partake in, thanks to my uncle who works for the Rockies. Prior to the 4th game, I attended a pre-game event situated in a big tent just outside the stadium. The tent was large and spacious, with plenty of room to accommodate the number of people within it. The set up was nicely themed, with a large World Series ice sculpture and even a chance to take photos in front of a World Series backdrop. The food and drinks were also free, which is always amazing, especially when you're a poor college student like me. The only complaint about the entire event was the lack of seating within the tent. Once I had my food, I had nowhere to sit and enjoy all of my free goodies. The pregame event did however do a great job of getting me in the mood for baseball. By the time I left the tent, I was pumped about the World Series and excited about watching another game.

Overall my World Series experience was excellent. Denver was prepared for its thousands of visitors. The Rockies staff was prepared to host the World Series and did so wonderfully. The timeless tradition of major league baseball was honored and celebrated.

Erin Leland's Senior Project

Erin Leland's Senior Project
Location: Fluorescent Gallery


This art show was nothing like what I expected. It was Erin Leland's senior project, which is a requirement for her major, College Scholars. I had very high expectations for the project, and overall I must admit that I was disappointed.

The Fluorescent Gallery itself was in no way a disappointment. I actually found the gallery to be a much nicer set up than I expected. This was my first visit to the Fluorescent Gallery, and all that I knew prior to this visit was that it was situated in a somewhat sketchy part of town. But I'm glad I ventured a little farther north on Central and made it to the Fluorescent Gallery.

The Fluorescent Gallery is in the upstairs of an old building. It's easy to spot from the road, which was good since I had never visited the gallery before. I also brought a friend with me because I didn't feel comfortable driving out to that part of town alone. That is one disadvantage of the Fluorescent Gallery. If there were an opening there on a Friday night, I would not feel comfortable visiting it unless I had someone accompanying me. But normally I don't go to art shows alone, so really it wouldn't be a very big problem. Once you enter the front door, you ascend a stairwell to the second floor. This is where the gallery is actually located. The gallery was much larger than I expected it to be. The room was open, with ample wall space and gallery lighting. It provided a great setting for the art show. The presentation of the show was excellent, due mainly to the spacious design of the gallery.


The show itself was uncomfortable and in my opinion not that great. The entire show consisted of large photographs of Erin's face. The pictures were harsh and made me uncomfortable. The majority of them showed her picking her pimples. These self portraits were supposed to tell some sort of narrative, but they altogether failed to do that for me. As I quickly walked around the room looking at each photograph, I couldn't help but think about how none of the photos really looked like they required much skill to make. I think that is the main reason why I was disappointed in this show. I had really high expectations for Erin Leland, and I'm sure that she has some work that I would find far more interesting. However, I don't believe that this particular show expressed her real artistic skill nor do I believe that any of the photographs possessed true artistic merit. I think true art is something that takes special skills and talent to create. These photographs seemed to require very amateur skills to create.


On the other hand, the size of the photographs and the placement of them on the walls was well done. Erin showed all of the photographs at the same size (about 3 feet wide and 2 feet high). She also displayed them not at the same level around the entire room, but instead in abstract arrangements. I liked how Erin chose to arrange the photographs. The gallery-style lighting also worked well with the arrangement, with each picture accented by a different light.

Although Erin Leland's senior project was nothing like I expected, I am glad that I experienced it. If nothing else, at least I finally visited the Fluorescent Gallery. Although Erin's presentation of her photography was excellent, it was the content of her photography which left me dissatisfied and ultimately disappointed.

Max Patch...Really Cool But Really Cold

Max Patch
Location: North Carolina off exit 7 of Interstate 40


Max Patch is an amazing place to visit in North Carolina. This mountaintop bald offers breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountain landscape that surrounds it. Only an hour and a half away from Knoxville, this beautiful mountaintop is well worth the drive.

I was personally very impressed by Max Patch. At first I was a bit hesitant about our adventure into the mountains. The only directions I could find to Max Patch were from other hikers, but I couldn't find directions from any national park or national forest websites. This made me a bit nervous. Also, the directions indicated that a few hundred feet after exiting the interstate we would be continuing our journey down a dirt road. This sounded a bit sketchy to me...and reminded me of a horror movie involving inbred, cannibalistic mountain men that I saw in high school. Luckily, my experience at Max Patch was nothing like what I saw in that movie.

One of the first things I was impressed by was how well the roads were labeled, despite being dirt roads. My directions indicated that the dirt road would fork and I would need to keep left. I envisioned this turn in our journey being badly labeled and quite confusing. Instead it was just the opposite. All along the dirt road, there were plenty of adequate wooden signs indicating that we were heading in the right direction. And when we reached the fork in the road, the signs were so clear and informative that there was not a doubt in my mind as I veered left at the fork. The directions I had printed off the internet also turned out to be extremely helpful and accurate. They even gave the approximate distances we would travel before reaching the fork and then continuing down the next road towards Max Patch. It was really almost impossible to miss Max Patch.

As you approach Max Patch, a nice gravel parking lot appears on the left. This parking lot not only indicates the trail leading to the top of Max Patch, but it also provides ample parking for the visitors of Max Patch. Although made of gravel, the lot was in good condition. It was obvious that the park rangers had not let the condition of the parking area deteriorate. It's always a great start to any hike when the trail can easily be found because of a well-kept parking area. Hikes are just not as enjoyable when you get lost just trying to find the trail head.


The bald itself was absolutely spectacular. You really feel like your on top of the world when you stand up there. Sadly, it was cloudy part of the time we were there, so our panoramic views of the surrounding Smokies were blocked by some heavy cloud coverage sometimes. The views we could see during the breaks in the dense clouds were breathtaking.

It's really nice to retreat from the city for a bit and take some time to just slow down. Places like Max Patch provide an excellent spot to do that. On top of that mountain, the only thing I could hear was wind blowing gustily across the bald. Up there you just stop, breath in the fresh air, and take some time to reflect on things. I think we all need this some time, and I wish I had time to do it more. There's just something peaceful and rejuvenating about spending some quiet time in the middle of nature.

Overall, I give Max Patch two big thumbs up. It's really nice to see that the park services have taken such good care of wonderful natural landmarks like Max Patch. Hopefully they'll keep up the good work so that our parks and national forests can be enjoyed for many generations to come.

Sun Studios...The Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll

Sun Studio
Location: Memphis, TN


Sun Studios was one of the coolest places I've visited in a really long time. Maybe part of the reason I like it so much is because it's something Memphis can be proud of...and we Memphians really can't say that too often. Yes, Memphis is the home of Elvis and blues, but more noticeably it's the home of one of the highest per capita homicide rates in the US and just some crappy city development in general. So to visit a Memphis tourist attraction that I can claim proudly is truly a happy moment for me.




From the outside, Sun Studio doesn't really look like much. It's just a little building on Union Avenue that I passed many times on my way home from downtown. I knew it was famous, and I knew you could tour it, but visiting it had just never been a priority on my list. It was actually my little brother who prompted me to visit Sun Studio. We wanted to have a little bit of brother/sister bonding time, and my mom suggested we go visit Sun Studio together. And thus began a very wonderful museum experience.

When you walk into Sun Studio, you don't actually walk into the studio or a museum-like lobby, but instead a quaint diner...souvenir shop included. Diner may be a bit of a stretch. The restaurant connected to Sun Studio is more of a gift shop that also serves coffee and sodas. It used to be a restaurant back when Sun Studio first started, and it remains pretty much in it's original form.

As you enter Sun Studio, you walk into this diner/gift shop and purchase your tickets for a guided tour. Tours leave every half hour. My brother and I got there with about 15 minutes to spare before the next tour, but we had no trouble keeping ourselves occupied until our tour started. Between the t-shirts, cds, and Elvis sunglasses, you can keep yourself pretty busy. And when all else failed, my brother and I resorted to an intense round of tic-tac-toe. (Did I mention that my brother's only 11?)

The tour begins in the back of the gift shop, where your friendly guide leads you up a set of stairs to the museum above the diner. Museum is a bit of an overstatement. It's a decently sized room with display cases around the entire perimeter. The guide takes you through each display case, giving you the history behind how Sun Studios started. This was actually really interesting and informative, and it only made the actual studio so much cooler when we finally did get to tour it. Sun Studios is the birthplace of rock n' roll, and it was really exciting to be there where it all started. I learned about Sam Philips, who started the studio, and the many famous musicians who came through that studio including Elvis and Johnny Cash. There was also a copy of a program from one of Elvis's high school talent shows. That was very cool to see.

After you're done with the museum, the guide leads you down a different set of stairs and into the actual studio. The studio has miraculously remained unchanged through the years, despite the fact that Sun Studios didn't occupy the building for a large chunk of time. During the years when the studio was not in existence, there was a scuba shop there instead. Luckily the owners of the scuba shop realized the historical importance of the old studio and didn't change anything about its interior. Thus, you can visit the studio today in its original and authentic state.



In the studio there are markers on the ground designating important spots such as the actual birthplace of rock n' roll...that is, where Elvis stood and recorded his first song. At the end of the tour, they also bring out an 1950s style authentic microphone that you can pose with just like Elvis. There are no roped off areas or display cases in the studio. It is a real, and still functioning studio, which I think makes it even more awesome to visit. Although tours of Sun Studio are offered during the day, at night you can still record there for a rate of $85 an hour. Sun Studio is not only a monument to the history of music but also a place where the future of music is being discovered all the time. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Sun Studio and would recommend it for anyone. Plus, I got a really great t-shirt from it.

Sacred Beauty

Sacred Beauty: A Millennium of Religious Art
Location: McClung Museum


I really liked this exhibit at McClung Museum. I definitely have to say that I was surprised by how impressive of an exhibit this one was. I never expected such a nice exhibition and such a cool variety of artifacts to appear in our humble little McClung. I personally have a love for archaeological artifacts...or anything that seems like something that Indiana Jones would go searching for. Thus, this exhibit tickled my fancy to the utmost extent. The exhibit dealt with artifacts of the five major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The exhibit as a whole was set up very nicely. The first thing I noticed upon entering the exhibit was the dramatic lighting used to accent each individual piece. I thought it was well done, with no main overhead lighting and the only light sources being the lights spotlighting each artifact. This created an environment where the lighting was subdued, yet without causing the artifacts to be poorly lit. I think this "mood" lighting also added a reverent atmosphere to the exhibit, which was quite appropriate since the exhibit dealt with religious art.

Also, in relation to the set up of the exhibit, I thought it had a nice overall flow. One thing that was a slight problem for me was initially differentiating between the sections. This was probably due more to me not paying attention than to the exhibit being laid out in a confusing manner. I did really like how the exhibit offered two places to enter or exit. This would definitely alleviate traffic jams that could be caused by school groups. It also gave the entire exhibit a more definite route, so that I as the observer was not worrying about where to begin or go next. Instead I could wander through the exhibit without a care. I also found the dispersement of the display cases to be quite well done. There were enough to keep the exhibit from seeming depressingly empty, but not so many that it looked cluttered or overwhelming. The display cases suspended on the walls were also great because they served their purpose without taking up any useless space.

The exhibit did a great job of giving a general synopsis of each religion and also of describing all of the artifacts. At the start of each section, a lengthy synopsis was given about the religion that section pertained to. I found these descriptions both interesting and really helpful because they greatly helped to clarify the artifacts I later viewed. I like how the synopses gave not only the historical origins of the religions, but also a general description of that religion's basic beliefs. Continuing on, the descriptions provided with each artifact were also extremely helpful and enlightening. They went above and beyond a normal museum description because they told not only what the object was, but also talked about its religious significance and how it was used in its original context. This made each object so much more interesting.

Out of all the sections, the Buddhist and Hindu art were my two favorites. I think this is mainly because those two religions seem to exotic to me. Buddhism and Hinduism are two religions that I know the basics about but don't come in contact with on a regular basis, thus their artifacts are much more intriguing. Plus, I think in a way those artifacts made me want to go watch an Indiana Jones movie.

I also thought that the Christian artifacts were really interesting because they weren't things that one would find in today's American Christian culture. It was like stepping into a different world of Christianity, based around religious dogma and seemingly archaic (and I believe some to be incorrect) beliefs. As a Christian in today's culture, I especially enjoyed viewing relics from the history of my religion.

The Islamic art section was disappointingly scarce. It consisted of a photo of a mosque, a rug, a few manuscripts, and a tile. I was really disappointed with this section because I think Islamic art is really beautiful and interesting. I really wish there had been more to this section of the exhibit, which seemed scantily supplied when compared with the other four sections. But I can see how it would be hard to collect a lot of Islamic art to display in the museum since it seems that a large portion of Islamic art is found in the actual architecture of their religious buildings.

The Judaism section was a good combination of religious artifacts and texts. Seeing as how great a role the law plays in Jewish culture, it was wonderful that there were actual examples of the Torah on display. I especially liked the Torah crown and finials because they expressed how great is the reverence for the word of God in Judaism.

Overall I give this exhibit two thumbs up. I could even see myself going back for a second visit just to enjoy the experience all over again.

First Friday

First Friday
Location: Downtown Knoxville


I'm very sad to say that this was my first time to visit First Friday. I don't know why I have never done it before, because it was great. I'm sad that it was not until my last year of college that I finally started enjoying this wonderful monthly event.



I actually started my First Friday at Holly Lucas' art show titled "Go Sorority!" in the Hoskins Library. It was an interesting show. She used what looked like a combination of print making and water color to create the posters depicting each of the 18 major sororities at UT. I liked the way she placed sorority books in front of the appropriate sorority posters, thus showing the historical documents that were the basis of her artistic interpretation. I also liked her choice of Hoskins Library as the exhibit site...mainly just because I think Hoskins Library is really cool architecturally, but also because the room she displayed in had a nice open feel to it. One thing I didn't like about the exhibit was that there was no general statement describing her thought process behind the entire series nor statements regarding each individual poster and how the elements involved represented that sorority. Although Hoskins provided an adequate space to show this particular series, it would be much harder to display any works that were heavier there, like paintings.

After Holly's show, I headed downtown to enjoy First Friday in all of its glory. One thing I really like about First Friday is the general atmosphere downtown. The place is hoppin' and lively on these days. It's great to see how much of the community comes out to enjoy the art on display.












My favorite exhibition from First Friday was the Shoebox Sculpture at the Downtown Gallery. I think the whole idea of sculptures that can fit in a shoebox is really interesting and unique. Because of the small size of the sculptures, many were able to be displayed in this relatively small gallery space. Another thing I really liked about this exhibition was how the artists statement about his/her sculpture could be found by almost every sculpture. This really added to my experience because it helped me to understand the work of art a little bit better. That little snippet provided a glimpse of the artist and thus helped me to look at the work from a perspective different from my own. I really enjoyed the layout and content of this show.

Boomsday!

Boomsday!
Location: Henley Street Bridge and surrounding areas


Boomsday is one of my absolute favorite things that happens here in Knoxville. Every year, I really look forward to "The Nation's Best Labor Day Fireworks Show," and it never fails to thoroughly entertain me. It really brings out the whole community of Knoxville and provides entertainment that Knoxvillians of every age can enjoy. It has become an annual tradition for me and my friends, and I can honestly say that in recent years I have looked forward to Boomsday more than I have the 4th of July.

Part of the reason I really enjoy Boomsday is because I love to people watch, and Boomsday provides a perfect atmosphere for that. The mix of people attracted to this pyrotechnic extravaganza is really an interesting hodge podge. I could sit off to the side and just watch the crowd go by for hours. Boomsday really attracts a variety of socio-economic levels. While I sit and watch the crowd go by, I can spot a variety of people ranging from rich suburban kids all the way to country hillbillies. It seems rare that you find one event that can attract such a diverse crowd of people. I can honestly think of very few other attractions that would draw in this same crowd. It's refreshing to be at an event that has no particular class association.


I also think that Boomsday is a really well-organized event. Considering the amount of people participating, the city handles all of Boomsday the best that could be expected. One huge factor in a crowd of that size is safety, and the Boomsday organizers make sure that there are enough police officers patrolling to ensure that. Although Boomsday is an excellently pulled-together event, there are some unavoidable setbacks that any major large even is going to face, such as traffic. Even before the fireworks begin, traffic is already backed up, and it only gets worse after the show. Luckily for me and other people living in the vicinity of UT, walking back to your apartment or home is almost always faster than attempting to get anywhere by car right after the fireworks. But the traffic congestion is not due to the poor planning of Boomsday officials. No matter the event, whether a football game or even a concert, traffic is always terrible when large numbers of people are trying to leave an event that took place near campus. The problem lies with the design of the roads in that area. Perhaps this problem could be somewhat alleviated if Boomsday were to relocate, but traffic congestion exists after any big event, no matter the location. Besides, Boomsday's location is perfect. It's purpose is to bring together Knoxville and the surrounding areas, and what better place to do that than in the heart of Knoxville.

The setting for Boomsday is somewhat cramped, although the space that is available is used as efficiently as possible. Vendors are set up all along Neyland Drive, and the fireworks can be seen from any vantage point along this road. One problem with this set up is that Neyland Dr. can get really congested and nearly impossible to even walk down. By about an hour before the show, the crowd has become so dense that there's no way to take a leisurely stroll through the Boomsday festivities. But this problem really can't be avoided, seeing as Neyland Drive can't be widened just for the sake of Boomsday...there's a river in the way on one side and a steep bluff on the other. Thus, the set up for Boomsday is really unchangeable, and they still manage to get the job done in the small area they have.


One really great feature of Boomsday was the more than sufficient amount of port-o-potties provided throughout the festivities. Bathrooms are crucial in any large event setting, especially one where lots of concessions are being sold. The organizers of Boomsday definitely provided plenty of bathrooms, and thus the lines for the port-o-potties were never too long. Although these portable bathrooms can seem a bit unsanitary at times, the area around the port-o-potties remained clean and sanitary throughout the duration of Boomsday. And in true Volunteer fashion, not only were the bathroom facilities ample, they were also appropriately school spirited.

The most essential part of Boomsday is that which the entire event is named for: the fireworks. Not only are they numerous in quantity, they are always immensely entertaining to watch. Shooting the fireworks off the Henley Street Bridge is an excellent planning move. That allows for maximum visibility of the fireworks, with spectators able to watch from both sides of the river. Setting the fireworks to music also adds extra pizazz to the entire spectacle. Although some elements of the firework show remains the same from year to year, the show never ceases to captivate and enthrall the entire audience. Fireworks bring out the little kid in all of us, and thus events like Boomsday will never cease to be a great success.

Unspoken Dialogues

Unspoken Dialogues
Location: Ewing Gallery


I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibition. All of the pieces in the Unspoken Dialogues exhibit related to the theme of visual narratives. This theme really added an interesting twist to the entire exhibit. With a few of the narratives, I felt like the artwork could be a narrative of my own.

The first thing I saw, and my favorite part of the exhibit, was the ABC Book by Avigail Manneberg. I really liked the way she created this artwork by stitching the scenes into fabric. I liked the quaint and crafty quality of needlework, but I also really enjoyed how these scenes were not your typical seen-on-a-pillow-in-your-grandma's-house needlework. The pieces moved out of the world of crafty hobbies and into the realm of fine art. I also really liked this series because I could relate to it so personally. The scenes depicted were very normal, every-day shots from life in Berlin. I spent two weeks last year in Berlin and this previous semester I studied abroad in Germany, so many of the pictures were of things I saw everyday during those two times. I especially liked how she chose to depict mundane objects such as the "Altglascontainer," which is a uniquely shaped container where you recycle glass. These containers are normal to the average German, but to the American exchange student, these funny shaped vessels are new and memorable. Her stitched depiction of this one mundane object brought back a tidal wave of memories which composed a unique narrative all my own.

I also enjoyed the disturbing paintings of Appalachian serpent handlers by Gary Monroe. Although the paintings were really creepy, I think the style he painted them in and the subject matter were extremely interesting. The paintings were based on the style of classical Renaissance religious and mythological art. Thus, the scenes were extremely dramatic and vividly colored. I'm glad he chose to paint them in this style because the dramatic nature of his style only further emphasized the bizarre subject matter of the paintings. Although these paintings were scary and unsettling, I just couldn't turn my eyes away from them.

On a final note, I also really enjoyed the Ewing Gallery in general as an exhibition space. One main feature I like about the gallery is it's convenience for me (since three quarters of my classes are in the Art and Architecture Building) and it's lack of entrance fee. Free is always better for me as a poor college student. I also like the setup of the Ewing Gallery...it's large enough to display a good amount of artwork, but not so large as to overwhelm you. Thus, my entire experience was very nice.