“The Blue Trees” Celebration

This week’s installation of “The Blue Trees” will take place at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and will culminate in a weekend celebration of the artwork, of the MLK Neighborhood and the businesses along the corridor.

In October, Public Art Chattanooga welcomed world-renowned artist Konstantin Dimopoulos and “The Blue Trees” to raise awareness for our city’s natural asset and to demonstrate the role of art in highlighting environmental, social, and political issues.

So far, the artist has completed installations at the Hunter Museum of American Art, Riverfront Parkway and the Creative Discovery Museum. This week, the artist will lead Chattanooga Police Department officers, Brown Academy students and other community members in coloring 16 large trees surrounding the Bessie Smith Cultural Center lawn, making a bold, blue statement along MLK Boulevard.  

On Saturday, November 5, Public Art Chattanooga invites everyone to MLK Boulevard for a celebration, including a volunteer opportunity where the community can meet the artist and color saplings blue. The saplings will later be planted in three Chattanooga neighborhoods in need of trees: Highland Park, East Lake and Ridgedale.

The celebration continues Saturday with music and activities on the Bessie Smith lawn and at participating area businesses. Guests can grab lunch from a MLK restaurant or food truck and picnic on the Bessie lawn surrounded by “The Blue Trees” with music presented by SoundCorps. Throughout the day, MLK businesses are offering various specials in honor of “The Blue Trees.”