Scenic Roots

Sounds that stir and soar at Bessie Smith’s Big 9 Music Fest. Honoring Latino leaders across Chattanooga; Creative Arts Guild. “Transformation” reveals the art of Chattanooga’s Barry Moser. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga) Here’s how the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga describes its mission: “...to transform generosity into lasting change toward a prosperous and just Chattanooga where all can thrive and achieve their full potential.” Scholarships are part of that mission - and “Together We Can” is one of the most successful scholarship programs at the Foundat...

(Chattanooga Theatre Centre) “The Cake” is the next entree on stage at Chattanooga Theatre Centre. The comedy by Brenda Brunstetter - which opens on Friday, April 21st for mature audiences at CTC - tells the story of Della, a cake shop owner in North Carolina whose world is turned upside down. Scott Dunlap is the play’s director - and Lisa Cash plays Della.

A street sign in Chattanooga’s Alton Park. (2$ON The Prince / stories-of-resilience.com) If you’re looking for “Stories of Resilience,” you’ll find them in Chattanooga’s Alton Park. The audio / photo series - curated by the artist 2$ON The Prince - features conversations with three men from that neighborhood. On Tuesday, “Stories of Resilence” premieres with a panel discussion and a community gath...

(SoLit) Near the end of this week, writers from around the region will gather here in Chattanooga for the SouthWord Literary Festival. Now in its 40th year, the festival celebrates writers from - and now living and working - here in the South. SoLit - formerly Southern Lit Alliance - presents this year’s festival on Friday and Saturday at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Tim Mickel is SoLit’s Bo...

This year’s return of the SouthWord Literary Festival. From Chattanooga’s Alton Park: “Stories of Resilience.” “The Cake” serves comedic food for thought at CTC. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(SoundCorps) Each month, SoundCorps - the music nonprofit here in Chattanooga - showcases five locally-produced songs in “SoundBites,” which supports our own musicians. Stratton Tingle - executive director of SoundCorps - shares the latest SoundBites with us.

From Sculptures in the Sky. (Sculpture Fields at Montague Park.) Here come the kites. How high will they fly? On Saturday, April 22nd - from 12 PM to 5 PM - Sculpture Fields at Montague Park in Chattanooga hosts Sculptures in the Sky, its annual kite festival. Matt Carrington is a trustee for Sculpture Fields - and Jim Jagels is on its ambassador board. Sculpture Fields at Montague Park.

(Chattanooga Mayor’s Youth Council) As more children and teens here in Tennessee and elsewhere struggle with mental health issues, we’re seeing more efforts to shine a light. Next week, the Mayor’s Youth Council here in Chattanooga and Be the Change Youth Initiative are hosting “Breaking the Stigma” - a free event on teen mental health - at Waterhouse Pavilion on Monday from 6 PM to 8 PM. Manushre...

Aerial view of AT&T Field at Chattanooga’s Hawk Hill. (River City Company) What should the future be for Hawk Hill in downtown Chattanooga? Since the spring of 2000, the area has been home to AT&T Field and the Chattanooga Lookouts. But once the new stadium for the minor league baseball team is built on the old U.S. Pipe / Wheland Foundry site, AT&T Field will be demolished - and Hawk...

A survey on the next chapter of Chattanooga’s Hawk Hill. “Breaking the Stigma” for teen mental health in Chattanooga. Sculptures in the Sky - and SoundBites from SoundCorps. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, delivering his first State of the County Address at FreightWaves in downtown Chattanooga. (Robin Rudd / Chattanooga Times Free Press) On Friday, at FreightWaves in downtown Chattanooga, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp gave his first State of the County address.

The Hunter Museum: A space for African-American art. “The Breath of the City” podcast on Chattanooga’s public art. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

A display inside Immersion Gallery. (Immersion Gallery) At Immersion Gallery in downtown Chattanooga, you will encounter an ever-changing world of art - local and regional, accented in mystery and oddity. Brought to life by artist Kevin Bate, the Gallery opened in December at 231 Broad St., where the shapes will shift again for its next event for the public: on Saturday, April 8th.

At the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. (National Park Service) Abraham Lincoln’s success in ending slavery in this country often overshadows the dilemma he faced in achieving that goal. Tomorrow evening, two scholars of the 16th President during the Civil War will discuss that dilemma here on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - in the Guerry Center Reading Room, starting...

“Lincoln’s Dilemma” during the Civil War explored at UTC. Changing it up at the ever-changing Immersion Gallery. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

“Beyond the Surface” exhibit at AVA. (Association for Visual Arts) Joseph Goodman and Savannah Hodges are art students here at UTC. They are the latest recipients of the Lillian B. Feinstein Scholarship - named for the noted local sculptor. Their work - “Beyond the Surface” - is now on display at the Association for Visual Arts here in Chattanooga, in partnership with UTC’s Department of Art and t...

From the invitation ceremony for the Marching Mocs at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall at UTC’s Fine Arts Center. (Angela Foster / UTC) The Marching Mocs are the marching band on our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Each year, the band performs at home games at Finley Stadium and select away games for Mocs football. Last week, in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall at UTC’s Fine Arts Cen...

The Marching Mocs, invited to London’s New Year’s Day Parade. Student stories from UTC: The PodLab, our interns & Rising Rock. “Beyond the Surface,” art by two UTC students on display at AVA. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(National Park Partners) If you stop by Chattanooga Green Park on the Riverfront in the next few weeks, you can enjoy the larger-than-life spinning tops known as Los Trompos. Next week - from Monday, April 3rd through Saturday, April 8th - that’s where you will also find National Park Partners leading Spring Break History Tours for 4th graders. Jennifer Crutchfield is with National Park Partners.

Staffers at La Paz Chattanooga during Women’s History Month. (La Paz Chattanooga) Partnerships between nonprofits can spell success for all. A case in point: the partnerships with La Paz Chattanooga, which serves the Latino community in this city. Lily Sanchez is with La Paz.

(CO.LAB) The Company Lab - or CO.LAB - here in Chattanooga defines “sustainable mobility” as “the equitable movement of goods, people, energy and data.” Think of electric and autonomous vehicles, freight logistics, urban planning, smart traffic solutions, technology for auto batteries and for quantum computing. This spring, CO.LAB hosts its first CO.MOBILITY Summit - Tuesday, May 9th through Thurs...

The CO.MOBILITY Summit,coming to Chattanooga and UTC. At La Paz Chattanooga, partnerships en la comunidad. Spring Break History Tours along Chattanooga’s Riverfront. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

A piece by one of the artists featured at this year’s 4 Bridges Arts Festival. (Association for Visual Arts) A crescent moon hovers at the top of the poster for this year’s 4 Bridges Arts Festival. Chattanooga’s premier showcase for the visual arts - presented by the Association for Visual Arts - returns to First Horizon Pavilion on Saturday, April 22nd and Sunday, April 23rd with a preview party...

(guitar.com) The recent results from the Chattanooga Music Census are just the latest reminder of how music is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of this city. Opportunities to showcase young musicians are part of that fabric - and next month, the Songbirds Foundation will host its Youth Talent Show: Friday, April 21st at the Songbirds Guitar and Pop Culture Museum. Reed Caldwell is the Foundat...