KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dogwood Arts said it is working to create a new space where artists can paint murals and the community can enjoy them.
It said it is working with Visit Knoxville and Lilienthal Gallery on the "Knox Walls at Emory Place" project. The project would transform a North Knoxville building into an outdoor art gallery, offering space for 13 permanent murals made by artists from across the U.S.
The Knox Walls project would be located near the intersection of North Central Street and North Broadway, inside a small square that's also accessible from North Broadway. The Knox Walls project would be adjacent to the Lilienthal Gallery, and nearby locations like French Fried Vintage and The Design Center.
Four out of the 13 participating artists are from Knoxville, according to Dogwood Arts. Among them is Megan Lingerfelt, who has worked with Dogwood Arts to touch up the Dolly Parton mural in Strong Alley and has painted her own creations across East Tennessee.
Artists from Denver, Oakland and Los Angeles are also expected to create murals for the project. Work on the murals is expected to continue through early September, with each artist taking up to 10 days to complete their own mural. Once the Knox Walls project is complete, Dogwood Arts said it would have more than 7,000 square feet of murals.
"With this project, it's unique in Knoxville too, because we're inviting so many artists from across the country in. So, you're gonna see so many different artists that you've never seen before, so many styles that we haven't seen in Knoxville before," said Shannon Herron, the marketing and creative director for Dogwood Arts.
Knox Walls at Emory Place is expected to open to the public on Oct. 4, according to its website.