Scenic Roots - Tues 6/02/26

At The Hunter: A Tour Of Saya Woolfalk’s “Empathic Universe”

Saya Woolfalk at her exhibition at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/da48e1e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1440+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F1c%2F77199e524a299ac947c536055e8a%2Fsaya-woolfalk-a.jpg]Saya Woolfalk at her exhibition at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga.(Ray Bassett / WUTC) At the Hunter Museum of American Art, there’s an exhibition that is a world of its own. “Saya Woolfalk: Empathic Universe” is a two-decade retrospective of the installations of artist Saya Woolfalk. When the exhibition opened before Memorial Day weekend, I had the chance to speak with Saya for a talk and tour of the exhibition at the Hunter. Saya Woolfalk at her exhibition at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b532b72/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1440+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7f%2Fb5%2F2c453610407486c74d373044792d%2Fsaya-woolfalk-b.jpg]Saya Woolfalk at her exhibition at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga.(Ray Bassett / WUTC)

Meet The Artist Behind The Public Art Gates At Erlanger Park

Tommy Bronx in front of one of the public art gates at Chattanooga’s Erlanger Park. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1c5f660/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1440+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F48%2Fba34822844ed9cb237bb13fdd532%2Ftommy-bronx-erlanger-park-gates-a.jpg]Tommy Bronx in front of one of the public art gates at Chattanooga’s Erlanger Park.(Ray Bassett / WUTC) Play ball! With public art! Last month, a series of public art entry gates were unveiled at Chattanooga’s Erlanger Park, the new home for the Chattanooga Lookouts which opened in April. The gates are the work of local artist Tommy Bronx - who I spoke with gateside. Tommy Bronx in front of one of the public art gates at Chattanooga’s Erlanger Park. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e4273b/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1440+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2F3a%2F1bc4ecda4d72add3d63484d2c2ec%2Ftommy-bronx-erlanger-park-gates-b.jpg]Tommy Bronx in front of one of the public art gates at Chattanooga’s Erlanger Park.(Ray Bassett / WUTC)

For Learning And Leadership: Chattanooga’s Dr. Edna Varner

Dr. Edna Varner [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0ce87ac/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1067x970+0+0/resize/581x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2Fff%2Fb3cc452b46cabf2358728888cb87%2Fdr-edna-varner.png]Dr. Edna Varner(Public Education Forward) Dr. Edna Varner is a Chattanooga native and the first in her family to attend college. Her alma mater is our campus: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. During her career as an educator in Hamilton County, she was a founding faculty member at the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences - and later served as principal of The Howard School. These days, she is senior adviser for leading and learning at the local nonprofit Public Education Forward, formerly known as the Public Education Foundation when we spoke this spring.

Scenic Roots - Tues 6/02/26

Scenic Roots - Tues 6/02/26 [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d9cb358/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1080x1080+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2f%2F05%2F71d998b44549966319db050644e4%2Fsr-060226-after.png] * For learning and leadership: Chattanooga’s Dr. Edna Varner. * Meet the artist behind the public art gates at Erlanger Park. * At the Hunter: A tour of Saya Woolfalk’s “Empathic Universe.” * As you’ll hear - and more - on this episode of “Scenic Roots.”

Chords For The Next Generation At Chattanooga Strings

Logo for Chattanooga Strings. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ad372b0/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2048x2048+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2Ffc%2F114c6c1f421ebee82c1370d0e0d7%2Fchattanooga-strings-logo.jpg](Chattanooga Strings) (Aired Mon 6/01/26) Chattanooga Strings is a youth symphony program for the next generation of string musicians. Ben Van Winkle and Bryony Stroud-Watson are the co-founders. Brody Thompson is an intern with the program.