Knoxville’s Pandemic Memorial to be ‘Place of Solace and Healing’ – Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has partnered with Dogwood Arts to commission a permanent public memorial to remember the more than 600 Knox County friends and family members whom we’ve lost to COVID-19. The memorial is also a tribute to the community wide sacrifices and heroic efforts taken to safeguard our most vulnerable residents during the pandemic.
Knoxville’s Pandemic Memorial to be ‘Place of Solace and Healing’
A mural will be painted next week on one of the Clinch Avenue Viaduct underpasses at World’s Fair Park by nationally acclaimed artist Kelsey Montague and her team. (Knoxville was the home of the 1982 World’s Fair!)
“Everyone has suffered and sacrificed over the past 14 months – and some much more so than others, our hope is that this memorial will be a place of solace and healing. It will recognize how we as a community came together to look out for one another during a public health emergency.”
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon
The new, more visible memorial will replace the temporary COVID-19 memorial on the front lawn of the City County Building that was started last December, during the pandemic’s biggest surge. Flags were planted in the lawn, commemorating individuals who lost their lives to the virus.
Kelsey Montague has painted hundreds of bright, larger-than-life murals, drawing inspiration from butterfly wings, balloons, dragonflies, hot air balloons and heart motifs for her work. Her 2014 mural in New York City with the hashtag #WhatLiftsYou was applauded by singer Taylor Swift, who then commissioned Montague to do a butterfly mural in Nashville for the release of her song “Me!”.
Montague’s memorial mural in Knoxville will feature a motif of brightly-colored flying birds soaring into a brilliant blue archway near the base of the Sunsphere.
It will be possible for a person to position himself or herself at the left of the mural and appear to be releasing the fanciful flock. Montague has created large-scale interactive street murals around the world, and each piece provides an opportunity for viewers to become part of a “living work of art.”
“Art can inspire us and comfort us, and we believe Kelsey Montague’s creation will be a special part of our post-pandemic healing,” Dogwood Arts Executive Director Sherry Jenkins said. “Likewise, Dogwood Arts is humbled and honored to help with such a meaningful project.”
Montague said her artwork will commemorate loved ones lost during the pandemic as well as celebrate the brave men and women who helped us get through this last year.
“I am beyond honored to create this COVID memorial piece for Knoxville,” each bird is unique and beautiful and represents a person we lost to the pandemic. I encourage people to stand in front of the mural and appear to be ‘releasing’ the flock to the heavens. I hope this mural is cathartic and honors all those we lost.”
Artist Kelsey Montague
Mayor Kincannon also noted Montague’s highly-recognizable signature artwork.
“Kelsey always aims to be inspiring, and I like how she invites passersby to make themselves a part of her art,” Kincannon said. “This artist was passionate about wanting to reach out and help families hurt by COVID-19 to heal and recover. She created a message with her memorial design that’s truly unique – you won’t find it anywhere else.”
The City will provide an agency grant to Dogwood Arts, with funding of up to $25,000 for the pandemic memorial.
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- National Laundry Day
National Laundry Day – a day to honor that loved home chore of doing laundry. You could use this day to do laundry or not do laundry. #Laundry #LaundryDay - Sewing Holidays
List of Sewing holidays and quilting holidays. (And some other craft-related holidays). #sewing #quilting - International Safety Pin Day
International Safety Pin Day is observed on April 10 of every year. It is an unofficial observance dedicated to the simple yet clever invention: safety pins. These unassuming little pins have a fascinating history and countless practical uses. Let’s delve into the story behind International Safety Pin Day and celebrate this ingenious creation. - National DIY Day
National DIY Day is an annual event celebrated on the first Saturday in April. It was founded in 2016 by the craft and DIY website, Craft Box Girls. The purpose of National DIY Day is to encourage people to take on creative projects and embrace their inner DIY spirit. - May the ¼” Be With You
May the ¼” Be With You: Celebrating Seam Allowances and Star Wars Day — As sewists, we know the power of a perfect seam allowance. It’s the force behind every crisp edge, every smooth curve, and every sturdy stitch. And what better time to celebrate this unsung hero of the sewing world than on May 4th, a day when fans across the galaxy proclaim, “May the Force be with you”? In the spirit of Star Wars Day, let’s explore the significance of the quarter-inch seam allowance and how it aligns with the precision and dedication of the Jedi.
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