When driving through downtown Johnson City it is impossible to ignore the abundance of unoccupied retail space lining the streets, but some die-hard business people feel a renaissance dawning downtown.Open doors on a long-lived elevator waited to take art junkies to the second floor of the former King Department Store for the first Creative Fusion art show at Venue in downtown Johnson City.

“We’re not a gallery,” said Brandi Woodall, who operates the space in the second floor of the 100-year-old King Centre. “This is a special event. We welcome artists of all skill levels.”

From 7-9:30 p.m., on the fourth Tuesday of every month, Venue invites artists to display and sell their paintings, photographs, jewelry, glass, pottery and sculptures. Woodall said she can accommodate about 15- 20 artists in the spacious former department store, and the first night was a full house.

Admission to the art show was $5 per person that included a $5 coupon for Main Street Pizza Company, located in the first floor of the building. The pizza company was also on hand selling giant slices of pizza and offering “financially friendly” drink specials.

Local musicians Jeff and Amy Benedict, Steve Cook, Joshua Price and Shane Roberts played music near a wall of windows that faced the traffic below. Laughter-filled conversations reverberated off the hardwood floors. Artists answered questions about their work from those who attended the event.

“I have been taking photographs since I was a kid,” said C. David Cook, who was a land surveyor in Florida for 20 years. “My work is all digital (photography) now.”

He motioned to a photograph of the Washington County Courthouse with an American flag in the foreground.

Cook described how he noticed the flag and courthouse from a certain angle after visiting the Jonesborough farmer’s market last summer. He returned with his camera a few nights later when the lighting was perfect to take the photograph that he had on display.

Another booth offered blown glass in the shapes of musical instruments, martini glasses, high-heeled shoes and jewelry. James Lang learned how to blow glass from a Venetian master at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina.

“I work with borosilicate glass,” said Lang. “It’s known as lamp work because when it originated, they used an oil lamp and a bellows to heat the glass. It’s come a long way since that.”

Pottery was the focus of Melinda Payne, who graduated with degree focused on studio art from ETSU in 2007.

She creates a wide range of pottery using different techniques including a potter’s wheel, an extruder and hand-made molds. With a website launching soon and some pieces already selling at local galleries, Payne said she is determined to make pottery her full time job.

“All my pieces have a personal story,” she said, pointing to a piece with a round face molded into it. “This one is Moon Pie Face, a nickname I had when I was a kid.”

Many artists at the Creative Fusion art show made jewelry. Angelica Miller made bracelets, pendants, necklaces and earrings from objects many would not consider a medium for jewelry.

Miller transformed poker chips, Scrabble tiles, dominoes and silverware from commonplace items to unique pieces of jewelry.

“I just look for different things,” said Miller. “I also make paper beads from old hymnals, use vintage flatware to make bracelets, and ‘junk drawer’ bracelets.”

Visitors to the first Creative Fusion night shopped a vast array of artistic works, with modest prices on many pieces of art. Even the art lover on a budget can expect to bring home an original piece by a local artist.

Artists who reserve a table for the next Creative Fusion night receive a six-foot table for the night at a rate of $35.

Woodall does not limit the number of items in the exhibit, but asks that artists use removable adhesive hooks for wall displays.

With 10,000 square feet of floor space at Venue, artists do not have to worry about being squeezed out by a neighbor.

“We hope to continue growing this event into an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work and network with other creative individuals, patrons and gallery owners,” said Woodall on Venue’s Facebook page.

In addition to Creative Fusion, Woodall sponsors other events in the space.

Sessions at Venue is open to songwriters and musicians, every third Tuesday of the month. Venue is also available for corporate functions and weddings.

Events like Sessions and Creative Fusion provide Johnson City with an injection of culture that adds to the growing arts district downtown.

“There’s no reason that if you make a living, you can’t give back,” said Woodall. “We know we are on the right path.”

Venue at the King Centre is located at 300 E. Main St. For more information, e-mail info@Venuejc.com or call (423) 946-2693.

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