Shine On, Newport!

Co-Authored by Kayliee Young

“Shine On, Newport!” brought music, art and a sweet sense of somberness to the city of Newport, Tennessee Friday, Sept. 27. The event highlighted local businesses and served as a milestone of reflection, marking a year since Hurricane Helene flooded three rivers and subsequently, the downtown area.

Local businesses and studios showcased their craft while patrons stopped by to check out food trucks including Carmelita’s Authentic Street Tacos and Cajun Cones. Additionally, College Street Dance Studio performed several dances to lively songs like “Suds in the Bucket” by Sarah Evans and a remix of “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne.

Newport’s Community Development Director, Gary Carver, attended the event held a year after the downtown area was heavily flooded.

“We wanted to reflect on where we were a year ago. So, we realize where we’re at now and look forward to the future,” Carver said. “We’ve got a $10 million rehab project going on just two blocks down. You know, we’re not just back, we’re better. It’s exciting.”

The event was home to several storyboards throughout the downtown area, looking back on what the area saw last September. Some marked the spot where a swift rescue took place by Newport and Cocke County first responders, and others told stories of business owners and residents.

One storyboard read a quote from the owner of Fruit Jar Alley, Allison Manis, “Resilience, respect for our fellow neighbors, compassion and true commitment from our community continue to bring our town back.”

Shanon Kelly is the director of East Tennessee Artscapes, a business in Newport’s downtown area with the mission of “Providing Free Artistic and Cultural Opportunities Since 2017.” Kelly wanted the “Shine On, Newport!” Mural to embody the sentiments that the event helped amplify. Her mural was unveiled during the community gathering on Friday.

The mural was painted onto the side of a previously abandoned building that had vines running up the side with dirt build-up, noting its untouched nature. Kelly’s students from Artscapes worked diligently to get the building’s exterior cleaned in preparation for the project, giving the weathered wall a completely new look for the upcoming chapter in the community. According to Kelly, five low-income apartments and a restaurant will be put into the once forgotten building. 

“I took the original design and made it more Newport,” she said.

With the mural’s design, Kelly added the mountains that surround the city, one of the rivers that run through it and one of the brick buildings that is featured prominently in the downtown area. The result is a picture for all members of the community to look upon and reflect on how far they have come.