​New beginnings are often inspiring, whether they arrive in the form of a fresh change of weather or a trek back to school. And in downtown Franklin, celebrating the start of a new month means the return of the firstFriday art crawl. The community will be bursting with sound and color this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. during August’sFranklin Art Scene, as dozens of small business owners will be opening their doors and transforming their establishments into art galleries and performance spaces

Gallery locations can be found throughout downtown—including the Second South District and Bridge Street, as well as up and down Columbia Avenue—and will include local artist appearances, fine art exhibitions, live music and more. See below for information on a few of this months featured artists:

• Bagbey House Antiques & Interiors on 4th Avenue North will feature the work of Patrick McIntosh,a  photographer by trader and experimenter of many artistic mediums such as painting, drawing and crafting. After graduating from Nossi College of Art in 2012 McIntosh utilized artistic expression as a means of coping with skin cancer. Much of McIntosh’s work reflects the joy and satisfaction found in life as well as an embracement of eco-friendly lifestyles.

   

• Bob Parks Realty on Main Street will host artist Lauren C. Hood. Hood’s work explores a variety of mediums such as pen and ink illustrations, photography and mixed-media pieces.

• BoutiqueMMM on the Public Square will be welcoming the work of Denise Michelle. Michelle’s passion lies in conveying the energy of life in paintings, and includes traditional and creative approaches to landscapes, portraits and still life pieces.

   

• Heylee B. on East Main Street will lend its space to local Nashvillian Vicky Reddish. When not managing her entrepreneurial endeavors (Reddish is co-owner of Whistle Punk Men’s Grooming Co.) Reddish spends much of her time painting, designing and crafting.

   

• The Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church will feature the work of Paul Heller, a professional mosaic-stained glass artist. Heller specializes in large-scale and illuminated glass music pieces. His glass instruments can be found in the hands of stars such as Miranda Lamberts and as décor in many Nashville venues.

   

• Jack Yacoubian Jewelers will host work from Susan Goshgarian McGrew’s new series “Wildlife and Waterfalls of the South Cumberland.”

   

• Jamba Juice on West Main Street will feature live music with Graceman. Graceman is a band whose style of music incorporates elements of folk, soul and rock. Their original melodies are complemented by the soulful smoky tone of Anna Graceman’s voice and her skilled acoustic piano accompaniment. Allie Graceman on rhythm guitar and Landon Graceman on drums.

   

• Landmark Bank will be hosting Rachel. McCampbell’s work, which often reflects the play between motion and stillness. Much of her work conveys a narrative through movement which each viewer is free to interpret for themselves.

   

• Shuff’s Music on 3rd Avenue North is featuring the contemporary impressionist work of Franklin native Mike Moyers, who explores life and faith through his palette knife technique.

   

• And many more! These are just a few of the Franklin Art Scene’s August artists; organizers recommend referencing www.franklinartscene.com to be certain a favorite isn’t missed.

Many sites host live entertainment and offer complimentary refreshments to those perusing the work of their featured artist. Local musicians are welcomed with open arms at this monthly celebration of creative expression. Free trolley rides, provided by the Williamson Source, will circulate around all stops and patrons will be free to ride as they please between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. In addition to an online map and QR code, a Franklin Art Scene smartphone application is now available on Google Play. The download gives users up-to-date information on locations and upcoming events. The Franklin Art Crawl began in 2011 when a core group of local artistic influencers gathered to discuss the launch of an art crawl in downtown Franklin. Since then, hundreds of artists have been featured, and organizers say that they believe thousands of patrons turn out for the event each month–indicating steady growth for the Art Scene. Franklin Art Scene is a free event occurs on the first Friday of each month. For more information on the event or to download maps and applications, go to www.franklinartscene.com.