City Portrait Series: Savannah Young

I always find it interesting to hear where someone feels most connected to a city. That's what my City Portrait Series is all about—seeing a place through someone else's perspective. When I asked local artist Savannah Young where her favourite place in Chattanooga was, her answer was immediate: the Hunter Museum of American Art. Perched above the Tennessee River, it's a place where art, conversation, and the city come together—a fitting backdrop for our conversation.

Where are you from?

I am originally from San Clemente, California.

How long have you lived in Chattanooga?

Two and a half years.

What do you do?

I am an artist and art handler.

Why is the Hunter Museum your favourite area of the city?

I was thinking about this quite a bit the other day when you asked me. I love being in a place where you are surrounded by the arts. Especially as an artist, it’s hard to get a foot-in in the professional world, so it’s comforting to be in a place where it’s so valued. I love going through and seeing artwork from previous generations of artists and being able to bond with them over something we both loved, even when they are gone.

And what about this area – the Arts Bluff District, what do you think makes this area so special and unique to Chattanooga?

I really like the lookout, it’s a beautiful place where you are able to see the river, and a lot of parts of the city. I feel this is where a lot of people, both locals and visitors, travel to. I just love seeing all the different people walking through this area.