4 Bridges Arts Festival hosted by The Association for Visual Arts

The 4 Bridges Arts Festival (4BAF) is set to unfold from April 19 to 21, 2024, at the First Horizon Pavilion in Chattanooga. This festival is a celebration of artistic expression and community exchange. The Association for Visual Artists (AVA) is known for fostering a deep appreciation for the visual arts and bolstering artists in Chattanooga, and this festival serves as a vibrant platform where creatives from across the nation convene.  

This juried art show is not only a celebration of creative prowess but also a competition. In its 24th year, the festival has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation's best art festivals by Sunshine Artist magazine, a leading trade publication for art festivals. We were very excited to catch up with some artists appearing at this year's festival! 

Some Artists to get excited about:  

This year, there will be 145 participating artists showcasing their unique talent from near and far. Let's dive into a special part of our festival journey where we got up close and personal with some of the local talent! 

Jamie Barks – Paint  


Jamie Barks creates super-saturated, dream-like paintings from her adventures in the Chattanooga wilds, which are “an excellent fit for creating nature-inspired art.” In her studio, she can convert her watercolor sketches to larger works, interpreting, “how it feels to be outside” vividly on to canvas. This will be her 5th year at 4 Bridges, where she has found a lovely art community.  

 

Kerry Leasure - Jewelry   


Kerry Leasure is returning to 4 Bridges for her second year. She crafts vibrant mixed-media jewelry out of found objects to create cohesive storyteller pieces. She works out of Hoover, Alabama, but loves to travel for art festivals. “In Chattanooga,” She says, “there is art around every corner.” This year, she is bringing her family up to see the festival! 

 

Matthew Monahan - Printmaking 


Matthew Monahan uses printmaking to inspire his viewers to “to see and care for the natural world.” Gyotaku is a traditional method of printmaking that uses fish or sea creatures as "printing plates". Using this technique, he applies ink directly to the body of his subjects and creates prints from them. He credits AVA for helping him build his love of printmaking into a career. His business, The Mighty Bluegill, operates out of Chattanooga where he has a large selection of flora and fauna to choose from to create his elegantly understated works of art. 

Local Emerging Artists: 

Keep your eyes peeled for emerging Chattanooga Artists as well! First Horizon is sponsoring the Emerging Artist Program at the 2024 4 Bridges Arts Festival to support local emerging artists, providing them with exhibition space, festival prep mentoring by Sarah Moore, AVA's Director of Festivals, and guidance from experienced local artists. The program offers a free booth, AVA's booth materials, and extensive marketing to help these artists gain visibility. Five artists have been selected to participate this year!  

Get to know one of this year’s featured emerging artists: Shannon Gonzalez 

Shannon Gonzalez is a Chattanooga local with a passion for creating mixed media works out of newspaper, paint, and encaustic wax. After 24 years as a creative director for a large corporation, she took a brave leap into becoming a full-time artist. She now exhibits her work for sale and works in design consulting at Starfish and Coffee Design Studio. 

Festival Details: 

  • April 20-21, 2024 — 10 AM - 5 PM  

  • First Horizon Pavilion: 1801 Reggie White Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37408 

  • $5 entry (purchase at the gate); students & children under 18 free