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Forget all these words take me straight to the cybershot gallery for Yee Haw Renaissance! 

The last you checked in I was visiting Tony Lawson at WDVX Radio in Knoxville.  Tony was a nice man, living his dream of broadcasting the music he likes from his downtown radio station. In my humble opinion he’s also doing a fine job of fostering a cultural renaissance in the South.  Not only does he do it by keeping the tradition of local music alive he also does it by partnering and sharing tips.

One tip he shared changed my perception of Tennessee and Knoxville for the better, I saw it in new light.  As I walked out his office he told me to have a stroll up Gay Street and visit Yee Haw Industries, a letter press print shop that claims its “been covering America with unique, art-like products since 1996.”

Curious to see what this place was all about I strolled up the street looking for something that looked at least semi-artsy.  Past a couple of old boutiques and an office building I finally found the shop.  The store windows were decorated with old fashion looking posters, cards, invitations and t-shirts.  Interesting, I thought, I had to see a little more. 

The door was locked when I pulled the silver handle to enter.  The orange and black open/closed sign that are prevalent all over the south for small businesses read “closed.”  I knocked.  Nothing happened.  Disappointed and beginning to rationalize my destiny I turned to walk away.  As I turned a young man pulled up on a red scooter with keys in hand.  He hopped off, walked towards the door and unlocked the bottom lock.

As he reached towards the middle keyhole, I interrupted him and asked if I could step inside to look around.  I introduced myself and quickly told him my story.  “I’m from Paris, France” I said, “I’m doing a little personal research on Southern Culture.  Do you mind if I have a quick look around?”

“Nah,” he said.  “We do print press here, like Gutenberg.”

Through the doors and into the print press world of Yee Haw Industries my eyes jumped around to take in the sights.  My time was limited but I was fascinated.  I wanted to take in as much visually as I could.  Hundreds of posters lined the walls, stacks and stacks of paper filled shelves forced me into two very distinct corridors towards the back.  Wooden tables were littered with prototypes and ink.

“Wood press, huh,” I said to the large to the back wall.  As I strolled back towards to the front of the store taking as many pictures as I could I noticed a thirty-something girl frantically packing a FEDEX container. 

“Do you have time to run to FEDEX,” she screamed at her employee, “we gotta get this out before seven.”

Understanding I was in the way I quickened my pace to leave the store.  Just before I left I asked if and when they were coming back and if they were, could I just ask a few questions.  Julie Belcher, the Kentucky born, art director of the place said “sure, we’ll be back in just a few minutes, wait outside.”

I stepped out into the light glow of pre sunset, Gay Street, Knoxville.  Thinking I would definitely wait at least fifteen minutes I strolled further down the street to buy some cigarettes.

Back waiting patiently near the store, I shared a cigarette with a man guarding the entrance.  He was possibly a bum but it’s not for me to judge someone living from a shopping buggy with tattered clothes.  Happy to have some company in our mutual waiting times we talked of old Knoxville, the working situation and how much the city has changed.

As we smoked the man explained that he was a stock-boy by training.  He had worked in several small stores in the tri-city area.  (I don’t know what cities constituted the tri-city area nor did I ask.)  He gave up seeking a management level position when he realized the other stock boy had done the same job for 30 years and was still a stock-boy.  From then on he decided to wander the streets and observe.

Halfway through our cigarette a youngish boy, about 18, caught our attention by the way he was walking up the street.  He was ruff looking, a bit jittery and was punching, lunging and kicking his way towards us.  The closer he got the more nervous I became.  I finished my cigarette and lit another one.

“What you guys looking at?” he asked rudely.

“You,” I said.  “Wanna a cigarette?”

He thought twice and then took one from my outstretched pack.  I saw his fingernails were dirty and his hands were shaking.  I lit his smoke.

“I’m getting ready for a big fight.  They have open fight nights up the street,” he said, pointing east, taking in hard drags from the cigarette I gave him.  “I know Karate, I might win the 500 dollar prize for last man standing.”

He lunged forward, with a punch towards my face and then a quick raised knee to towards my gut.  He stopped his punch and knee a mere inch before making contact.  It happened so quickly I didn’t even flinch.

“You didn’t move,” he said disappointed.  “You a fighter?”

“Nah, I said coolly,” taking a drag from my cigarette, “I’m too slow.”

“You should come try your luck you never know,” he said as he walked by, patting me on the shoulder.

“He’s wrong, I do know,” I said to the other guy.  “The first one down doesn’t get a prize. I would definitely be the first one down in just about any fight.  Hell, I almost fell from his fake punches.”

We both laughed and slowly smoked our cigarettes until Julie came back.

Julie and her partner Kevin Bradley met in 1996, and the two first in a back-40 barn in Corbin, Kentucky, and now in 100+-year-old building on Gay Street in historic downtown Knoxville, established Yee-Haw Industries, a working letterpress print shop, graphic design and artist studio.

The studio comprises several floors.  The ground floor is a cavernous store window/print shop covered with posters and past work.  The second floor, the surprising and fascinating jewel of the place, holds the antique letter press. The walls are also covered with drying prints and more art.

It was there that I suffered a striking gut pain, while staring at one of Kevin’s “Storetrys”, and I decided to do what I have never done before.  I decided I would by original art as opposed to trading for it.  

I bought “Storetry, N°233 – Window Shopping”.  A beautiful red, white and black letter press print.  I also picked up a couple of t-shirts, postcards and calendars.

After a friendly conversation, exchange of ideas, contacts and dreams, Julie and I traded business cards just before I packed up for Asheville.  A tour through Yeehaw Industries left me with a Footloose feeling.  Like in the movie, I walked away thinking that something very special was happening in Knoxville, some people may not know about it, others may not approve of it because they don’t understand it, but its bound to catch on. 

As I drove out I tuned into a local radio station, not WDVX, but one that was a talk show format.  It was a religious program.  The announcer was asking people to call in and describe the moment they had been born again.  I listened closely to see if anyone shared my experience of the Yee Haw Renaissance.  None of the callers could really nail down what I had just lived.

I guess, in the end, it’s to each of us to drive through Knoxville, discover what we need to discover and believe what we want to believe.  I’m confident though a stop at Yeehaw Industries and a listen to WDVX will leave some of you feeling born again.

Cybershot gallery for Yee Haw Renaissance!