Merriam-Webster Dictionary says, “An icon is a person widely admired especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere.”  Based on this definition, Bob Wright is, most assuredly, an icon.  
 
In 1999, the Annual St. Elmo Corgi Parade started as part of the September in St. Elmo Festival. Bob and his lovely wife, Sue, owned four corgis and knew a lot of other pet parents with corgis. Since Bob essentially had a parade every day with his own crew, he thought he should make it official. So the St. Elmo Corgi Parade was created and organized and made the world more fun for many people. At least for a day.  

It may not have been considered totally altruistic since the Wright’s own beloved corgis were participants, but there was never any nepotism with their corgis winning the awards (well, except for the year Billy Pritchard gave out the Queen of the Parade to Bob’s dog, but that was the judge’s prerogative).  

Over the years, some of the big parade supporters were Peter and Anne Platt, Lolly Burbank (who had a corgi named Elvis), Cay Brooks Ely and Susan Crimmins. Past judges have included Billy Pritchard, Addie Chapin, Ali Mills and Mimi Pond, who was a famous cartoonist for The New Yorker.  (You can google the cartoon chronicle of her experience as a judge.)

There have been different sponsors for the St. Elmo Corgi Parade, but in 2022 the Community Association of Historic St Elmo (CAHSE) took charge and now sponsors the annual Hello St. Elmo event. There have been lessons learned along the way, like the year the festival could not be organized until June, rather than April, and the corgis burned their feet and were way too hot in their fur coats, requiring strollers and booties.  

As for this year, on a cloudy April Saturday on 38th Street near the Incline, Bob asked me to be the judge. There was a pageant and then a parade walk along St. Elmo Avenue, as well as a ceremony where about 10-12 awards were doled out for various corgi attributes like best face, best tail (Pembrokes don’t have tails, Cardigans do!), luckiest, king, queen, best coat and best costume. My husband warned me not to do it. “You’ll make enemies. Haven’t you seen ‘Best in Show?’ People have been disappeared,” he said. I called Bob to ask if that would happen. He said, “Oh no, it’s all for fun.” And he was right, of course! 

There were 150 entrants this year. Whole families came with their corgis in tow - not just from Chattanooga but from all over the Southeast. Actually the Came the Furthest award went to a family from Indiana.

After wandering through the sea of bright faced (short legged) canines and their parents, I identified what I thought were the “best” in each category (sometimes with Bob’s wise guidance). As host Bob began emceeing the event from his ladder with a bullhorn, he began calling the winners to come up and collect their awards (certificates and, in some cases, crowns). With great generosity of spirit, everyone cheered loudly for each winner. Even the corgis barked their applause, given their non-ability to clap. All this was absolutely genuine. 

Corgi owners LOVE their fur babies and Bob created this special event in which every year corgi parents can come together to celebrate and show off. 

For that I believe Bob Wright deserves Best in Show! 
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by Marshall Persinger

The Hunter Museum is excited to announce a new work of art on its campus. Local artist Rondell Crier has created a 37-foot mural on the exterior of the museum’s east wing. In addition to its permanent collection and rotating special exhibitions inside the museum, the Hunter showcases artwork in and around its plaza as well as the greater downtown area, both for the enjoyment of the community and to make art more a part of everyday life in our city. Rondell Crier’s mural, “Flight of Hope and Healing,” joins the sculptural works that dot the plaza surrounding the museum, delighting passersby and museum visitors alike.

One of several Chattanooga muralists invited to apply for the mural commission at the Hunter, Rondell Crier was chosen for the commission because his proposal spoke directly to the museum’s goal of connecting people of every background to creativity, knowledge, and ideas. As Hunter Museum chief curator Nandini Makrandi noted, “Rondell’s proposal addresses the importance of interconnectedness and community - this is extremely important to the Hunter as we strive to provide a space for contemplation, conversation and inclusion”

The artist said of the project, “This mural will be a powerful and symbolic public art piece that captures the celebration of societal transformation and collective growth. In contemplating the idea of celebrating America, I see a diverse tapestry of values . . . Despite our many differences, we share a common identity - being human - and a shared responsibility to love one another, safeguarding the world we inhabit alongside other species.” Inspiring a shared responsibility to care for one another and the world, this is a work meant to help hope take flight.

Featuring elements pertinent to the Hunter Museum’s location on the bluff, including stylized depictions of a sunset, a bird, and water, “Flights of Hope and Healing” highlights the restorative powers of nature and community healing. Using a combination of soft and hard lines, wooden appliqués, and details that break the rectangular shape of the wall, Rondell Crier has created a dynamic and engaging composition to catch the attention and imagination of passersby.

Since moving to Chattanooga from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Crier, a multimedia artist, has become a vital part of the local artist community, and his sculptures, murals and installations have contributed to the vibrant artistic fabric of the city. The artist’s practice regularly involves community collaboration, an integral element of this new artwork and also an important component of the Hunter’s mission.

The Hunter looks forward to sharing “Flights of Hope and Healing” with the thousands of pedestrians and cyclists who traverse the museum’s campus each year on the city’s popular Riverwalk.  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @HunterMuseum to be the first to know about the public programming coming soon focused on Rondell Crier and his mural. Meanwhile, check out this work for yourself during your next visit to the Hunter Museum!

Generous support for this project was provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
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by Hannah Brawley