Editor’s Note: The idea of creating space for art outside traditional galleries isn’t new, but it often slips under the radar. Some of the most intimate and memorable shows I’ve experienced have been staged in “found” spaces—sometimes semi-permanent, sometimes one-night-only. In that spirit, Allison Roberts brings us this story about Cherry East Gallery, a home-turned-art space at 2717 Jefferson Ave. Open to visitors by appointment (865-660-0919 or DM), the gallery is hosting a public reception for its new show, Place and Time, this Saturday, Oct. 11, from 6–9 p.m. – LWB
I met Josh Collins at Cherry East Gallery just off Cherry Street, where he’s turned his house into a sleek art gallery. Bathed in two-tone white, the majority of his living space is dedicated to displaying art, keeping his office intact. It’s a beautiful bungalow, with the house standing high, giving it a floating presence.
He’s preparing for his next show, Place and Time, which runs Oct. 11 through Nov. 15. The show is based on the experience of living in Knoxville — “the intimacies of culture,” Josh told me. His shows are always created by the group’s interest, and the theme remains an abstract idea until he sees all the pieces together. “The idea is to form the show organically, in this space, in an intimate frame,” he said.
Josh’s first show in February, Soaring River, was a collaboration with his sister Sarah Collins, a painter who works with acrylic on wood and currently lives in Nashville. Their show explored longing and the refusal of the dwelling place, delving into rhythm, shape and form of all things and their connection to home. He followed up that show in June with The Joy of Wrong Turns, “blending narratives of memory, landscape, surrealism, spirit, metaphor and humanity.” It featured Knoxville-based photographers Kyle Hislip and Wes Roden, program associate at Tri-Star Arts.
Josh attended Pellissippi State for graphic design but didn’t complete the program. He dabbled in clothing design but eventually picked up photography and began curating art shows along the way. Photography is Josh’s primary creative source, connecting with others through his photography business and his art. “My photography is all about light,” Josh said, “but it all leads back to curating.”
Josh shoots with a Nikon F3 film camera. He enjoys working in black and white and is drawn to the 35mm format, favoring Kodak Tri-X film for its grainy texture. “My inspiration is my spirit — my sense of connection to what feels like home,” Josh said. “This element is in every aspect of my work, but I’m also exploring what is not home, to frame a full picture. I capture going back to the spirit, not discounting despair, the mundane, the inside world — inside out, bottom to top.”
Josh grew up in West Knoxville and, after his college experience, moved to Texas, where he curated for a small gallery in Waco. After three years in Texas, he moved back to Knoxville a year ago to settle in the old Parkridge area. Josh loves the “beautiful tones of green” in Knoxville and enjoys the close-knit community. Josh’s perspective is to celebrate Knoxville’s rich culture and its creativity. “It’s a huge part of what I want to do — celebrating artwork, age, race and all the things that make up diversity.”
At 35 years old, his path has brought him back to his hometown, allowing him to reacquaint himself with Knoxville, meet new artists and form friendships. Josh has curated 12 successful exhibitions from Waco to Knoxville, and he’s redeveloping family and community relationships along the way.
Josh exhibited at The Emporium in February 2020 with his show A Story of a City, featuring images of East Knoxville, as well as at The Birdhouse in Fourth and Gill and in Waco, Texas. With his eye for curation, he’s critical of exhibit space in Knoxville.
“I love this space because you can focus on the work,” he said. “The space goes with the work. Lauren Adams at the Dogwood Arts Gallery was the perfect space for that work. The Emporium has curated some great shows downstairs. I think we can be more intentional about how we utilize our spaces. The space should frame the artist, and artists frame culture — it informs so much as a visual language.”
“It’s improving. More galleries are actually interested in local art,” he continued. “We have to look in different communities. We need to look in underutilized communities and discover hidden gems. But also, we need to explore how artists collaborate. A collaborative art space that’s open to the public would benefit Knoxville. I would love for Knoxville to form a more visual language. It could happen here. It will take some conversations.”
Josh is working hard toward the goal of revealing the spiritual nature of art — the inner and outer workings of life and love. “How are we loving?” Josh asked. “I want to show that in my work and plant that in my garden.” His fledgling gallery also reflects the spirituality of community. He’s crafting exhibits that form relationships and support local art.
In the future, Josh wants to travel more and explore new parts of his creativity. He hopes to try different forms of art, from printing to the darkroom. “I want to experience the vibrancy,” he said. “It’s what I love. It gives me life, and people’s full selves come to life.”
You can visit Josh’s Cherry East Gallery at 2717 Jefferson Ave. for the Place and Time opening Oct. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show runs Oct. 11 through Nov. 15.
Place and Time is an exhibition featuring Tennessee-based artists who present an interior monologue through folklore, mysticism, ancestry, craft and tradition. By utilizing elements of material and archives, a lyrical language is created through collage, mixed media, painting, ceramics, photography and poetry. The exhibition forms a biography of space and our identity with art in the East Tennessee region.
The featured artists are LaKesha Lee, Jaden Lynch, Ranee Taylor, Trisha Ram and Karley Kainz. The artists showing are supporting and creative members of the Brown House Collective, which promotes artistic collaboration and community.
