HALLS/FOUNTAIN CITY
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IN THIS ISSUE
Outdoors Outdoor Living Special Section Find out where the wild things are and much more in this month’s “My Outdoors.” See the special section inside
Paddling for kids With Jake Mabe off (tonsils, folks), Betty Bean did double duty including a heartwarming story about Wes Breitenbach, a Fountain City guy who is fundraising for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
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See Bean’s story on page A-3
Kroger guy And Libby Morgan came through with a tribute to Barry Hughes and his friends at the Fountain City Kroger.
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See Lib’s story on page A-2
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Lee to speak at Christ UMC On Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee will present the compelling stories of American soldiers captured and held as prisoners of war by the Germans in World War II. Although they were of different backgrounds and faiths and had different prison experiences, the young men shared some common qualities and traits that enabled them to endure and survive the difficult conditions of their incarcerations. Justice Lee will also share insights about serving as a Supreme Court Justice. A meal at the cost of $6 will be served before the program. Reservations: 9221412 or email cumckt@tds.net.
Sign gone Someone has taken the sign that marks the entrance to Lazy Acres subdivision, and the neighbors want it back. Richard Jett says the sign is about five feet by three feet, and residents will “ask no questions” when it’s returned. Contact Jett at 679-1261.
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VOL. 52 NO. 8
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February 25, 2013
Village Fine Art Gallery closing after 17 years By Betty Bean Come April, Village Fine Art Gallery owner Carolyn Mullins and her husband, Bill, are going to the house – the one near Pawley’s Island, S.C. – eight doors down from their 3-year-old granddaughter, Caroline. Her parents, Kathryn Mullins Edwards and Jim Edwards, live there, too. The other Mullins daughter, Sheryl Pless and her husband, Jeff, live in Knoxville. “Between the four of us, we keep the road hot between here and South Carolina,” Carolyn said. Bill retired from his job as a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace last year, and the Mullinses are now closing down the gallery that has been Carolyn’s labor of love for 17 years, the past 11 years at 4660 Old Broadway. Carolyn has notified her customers that everything belonging to the gallery will be sold at a 40 percent discount. Items there on consignment will be sold at a 20 percent discount. She and Bill have set up a booth in Harvest Commons on Commerce Street in Pawley’s Island, and plan to close Fountain City gallery by March 30. This means that prices will be cut on everything, from Ralph Watts’ exquisite wood turnings to Gary Manson’s vibrant textual paintings to Bill Lett’s witty metal sculptures and Valentina and Vladimir Amelyenchek’s sumptuous oils, shipped in from St. Petersburg, Russia, and an entire roomful of Terry Chandler’s Smoky Mountain paintings and another full of Ron Williams’ stunning landscapes à la the Hudson Valley School. There’s also a large and varied collection of artworks from the estate of the late Ted Burnett and original works by graphic designer Bill Davidson, who has worked with the gallery for many years. Longtime employee Lanelle Holley, whom Carolyn describes as “a very fine artist and gifted portrait artist,” is going to have an opportunity to work in her
Carolyn and Bill Mullins are retiring and moving to South Carolina. Photo by Ruth White
own studio now. Lanelle and her mother were the original owners of Variations by Victoria. Customers have been streaming in as word of the closing has spread. “I sent out 200 letters to our regular customers. If I’d been smart, I would have sent out 50 a week. It has been a deluge. I intended to wait to advertise the closing until March 1,” she said. “I didn’t expect the general public to find out about it so quickly.” “Word is getting out,” Bill said. “Yep, so I decided to let her rip,” Carolyn said, laughing. “After March 1, everything here will be for sale, including the furnishings.” The Mullinses have been married since 1965. Both are native Knoxvillians – Bill grew up in Corryton, Carolyn on Fairmont Boulevard. He went to Gibbs, she went to Fulton. Both went to the University of Tennessee. Carolyn worked for Eastman in Dallas for awhile, and a long-distance romance flourished and bloomed while she was there. That was also where she discovered her love for art, which she pursued after she returned to Knoxville.
“Basically what happened was I always worked until my girls graduated from UT. When that happened, I said, ‘I’m going to go a different direction,’ and I spent a year as an apprentice in an art gallery, then went to two framing schools. What really cemented my confidence were trips to museums in Europe.” Bill found Carolyn’s first gallery, on Rennoc Road near his office on Hillcrest. It was all very convenient, since they live on Mountain Crest Drive. “Our idea was to locate between our mothers. His was in Corryton, mine was on Fairmont,” Carolyn said. Over the years, she developed close relationships with her artists, many of whom had had to struggle financially. “You feel so for the artists, it’s so tough. It’s a tough way to make a living.” She worries about them and she will miss them, particularly Bill Davidson, who has done most of the gallery’s graphic design work over the years. “He’s very low key and would never promote himself,” Carolyn said, “but he’s absolutely the best there is.”
She will be leaving lots of friends behind. She has enjoyed a good relationship with other gallery owners, many of whom consider her something of a pioneer. And she worries about what will happen to the Ted Burnett estate, which includes many valuable works dating back to the late 1940s. Her best professional memory was being chosen to do all the art for the new St. Mary’s North (now Tennova) after an interior designer from Washington, D.C. said, “OK, you’re it.” Ably assisted by artist/sculptor/designer Phil Julian, she worked for weeks to make sure all the pieces fit perfectly. “I was just thrilled,” Carolyn said. “The best part of the business is when the perfect piece of art goes in the perfect place. That’s the most fulfilled you ever are. Anybody who has an appreciation for art, we get along really well,” she said. “It took her about five years to realize this was a gallery and not a museum,” Bill said. So look out Pawley’s Island. Here comes a Tennessee pioneer.
Kroger gains City Council approval By Sandra Clark Knoxville City Council has rezoned land so the Kroger Co. can build on a portion of the old Powell Airport site on Emory Road at I-75. The action came Tuesday after Kroger officials met Monday with neighbors at Tennova North. Mark Senn, president of the commercial development company that worked for Kroger, facilitated the meeting, which was arranged by City Council member Mark Campen. Paul Xhajanka from Kroger also was in town and spoke before City Council. Debbie Sauls, at the Council meeting, said she appreciates Kroger “ stepping up and meeting with the community.” But while Senn “offered solutions, all we have are promises,” she said. Gary Nelson, who lives on Overton Lane, said neighbors are not
Mark Senn is president of Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial, the firm that represented Kroger in rezoning land on Emory Road. Photo by S. Clark against the new store. “We merely ask that Kroger help maintain the beauty of Beaver Creek.”
TITAN A SELF-STORAGE “$25 total” based upon pre-tax total of private pay purchased medical items (not insurance). Not valid for uniforms, shoes, or nursing accessories. One (1) coupon per customer. May not be combined w/other promotional offers. Offer excludes previous purchases. Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase. No duplications accepted. See store for details. Exp. 2/28/13.
Nelson said Senn had clearly said how the property will change. “We want updated reports (as the development progresses) and also want a 50-foot conservation easement along Beaver Creek.” And he asked City Council to hold future development to the “same high standard that Kroger has agreed to.” Campen said later that he feels comfortable that the development will be an asset and the nearby residents won’t get more flood water as a result, “as long as (Kroger) retains its runoff on its own land.” He trusts city enforcement to ensure that happens. Renee Hoyos, executive director of the Tennessee Clean Water League, was not so agreeable. “Kroger plans to fill a wetland,” she said, asking for mitigation similar to that at Turkey Creek.
Campen, whose district includes the finger-annexation of commercial property near the interstate, asked city engineering chief Jim Hagerman if the city can guarantee that residents won’t be harmed. “We don’t regulate wetlands,” Hagerman responded. “That’s up to the (Army) Corps (of Engineers) and the state (Department of Environment and Conservation).” Campen made the motion for rezoning, which passed without objection. “This is the first step. Kroger still must get local and state permitting and (obtain) plan approval,” he said Xhajanka, Kroger real estate manager based in Atlanta, said Kroger is developing 18.75 acres of an 84-acre tract. He promised to “work for” a walkway along the creek as part of Kroger’s development plan.
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