Download - Eastside (part 1)
eastsidea retrospective of Gallatin Road through color, places, people and things
eastsideEastsidea retrospective of Gallatin Road through color, places, people and things.©Anna Thomsen
May, 2009 Senior Thesis University of Tennessee Graphic Design Program All content, book layout and Photography taken by Anna Thomsen
Size: 10X8 inches
Type: Cover and chapters- Times Regular 300 point Interview chapters- Times Regular 200 point Intro Paragraphs- Times Regular 10/22 point Interviews- Times Regular 10/18 point
All photography was taken or filmed by Anna Thomsen using either a Canon Powershot A560 or a Panasonic Mini DV camcorder.
This book was designed in Adobe InDesign CS4 on an Apple Macbook Laptop
It was printed by blurb.com
eastsidea retrospective of Gallatin Road through color, places, people and things
University of Tennessee Graphic Design senior thesis project by Anna Thomsen
This book is dedicated to my family, especially my mother, Kristina Thomsen.
Thank you for moving me to this wonderful place, and always having the
drive and ingenuity to make me do things that have been out of my comfort
zone. You gave me the confidence to take on this project and I know that with
you on my side I will be able to take on the world.
I love you Momma.
In 1993 my family moved us from a busy street on Music Row into a big house
on Fatherland Street in the heart of East Nashville. I fell in love. This new neigh-
borhood had a whole plethora of wonderful discoveries that made for a really
wonderful childhood for me. Suddenly I had a bunch of friends to play with and
parking lots to ride bikes in and hills to sled down in the winter. I spent the sum-
mers playing truth or dare and selling lemonade with my neighborhood friends. I
watched the area grow and change and move from a sketchy undesirable place to
live to a place that is hip, different and laid-back.
East Nashville is known to have some of the best neighborhoods as well as some
of the worst with its mixture of historical old Victorian homes and cottages
as well as low-income housing. For decades, East Nashville had slipped into
decline. The Cumberland River and interstates set it apart from downtown but
low housing prices may have been a blessing in disguise. As struggling artists
and musicians were squeezed out of more desirable neighborhoods, they landed
in East Nashville where rents were cheap. Ever since a devastating F5 tornado
hit in 1998, there was a revitalization of the area. People took their insurance
money and began to renovate their homes leading to many parts of East Nash-
ville becoming better than they ever were. Families and urban professionals
began to move in and before long there were all kinds of people living in the
area. East Nashville’s diversity is a big benefit. All manner of income levels,
ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation and lifestyles can be found here. A lot
of free thinkers are in East Nashville’s cultural mix. Now a hip and happening
area, there are a slew of restaurants and bars. People can eat sushi, traditional
southern, Mexican, Italian and just about everything else. Bars are choked with
people on Friday and Saturday nights and after Tennessee Titans football games.
The Titans’ 68,800-seat home, LP Field, is less than a mile from Five Points. Its
a very trendy area, which has its ups and its downs.
Having lived in this area since before it was “hipster and cool” I feel like I have
some sort of special claim to the area that other people don’t. While I certainly
love being able to get sushi without crossing the river and working in the
swanky art gallery during the summer, I feel like the old side of East Nashville
is disappearing. The grit and dumpsters and hand painted signage are becom-
ing a thing of the past, being quickly replaced by brand new “quirky” condos
and restaurants that bring in more big-sunglass-wearing hipsters than actual
locals. Now, this is not a popular train of thought. The new families and urban
professionals are all for seeing some of the things pictured in this book go away
because to them they represent a side of East Nashville that is attached to crime
and the low income population which used to make up the majority of inhabit-
ants in this area. But to me, these are the things that have always defined East
Nashville in my mind– amazing spicy chicken served in a paper tray or a 40 oz.
from the discount tobacco are as much a part of my experience of East Nashville
as the vintage clothing stores and historical home tours.
In the 10 year plan for Nashville, one section highlights Gallatin Road, and
illustrates it’s future as a renovated boulevard which looks more like the new
concrete sterility of Cool Springs than it does my eastside home. This book is
my attempt at documenting and preserving Gallatin Road as it exists today and
making a point of showing the beauty, uniqueness and creativity on this street.
I wanted to show Gallatin as I have always seen it and experienced it and invite
you all to experience it with me. In the process I talked to all kinds of people and
took over 500 pictures, breaking the book up into categories of color, location,
interviews and found objects. These sections really show how this area operates
and how beautiful and creative it can be, while still holding on to the grit and
authenticity of an urban neighborhood. I want people who read this to know that
this part of East Nashville doesn’t have to be scary or sketchy, and that while
you may feel a little out of place, the people are accepting and kind and eager to
talk about why they love East Nashville too. I know that it will only be a matter
of time before this street follows the suit of the rest of East Nashville, and I can
only hope that it can be done in a way that is tasteful and preserves the history
of this area. And if all else fails this book will be a legacy of Gallatin Road as it
exists today and why I, and everyone else, should appreciate it.
places
places
Gallatin Road is incredibly long and runs from Nashville all the way
to Gallatin Tennessee. I am looking at a section of about 5 miles- from
900 Main Street to 3623 Gallatin Pike. I have selected certain buildings
to highlight because of their architecture, signage, and because some of
them have a special place in my heart, and the culture of Gallatin Road.
Left is a full map of the area I am surveying. Each building will feature
a map like this one, showing where it is located on the street and where
it is in relation to the other buildings I have surveyed. I have included a
little personal comment on each of the businesses as well.
Fluffo Factory
900 Main Street
.
* Someone once told me that they toured this mattress factory as a child. Its been shut down for some time now.
Beauty and Beyond
710 Gallatin Avenue
* This beauty supply shop has some of the best signage in the area in my opinion. Human hair 1/2 off!
Beauty and Beyond
710 Gallatin Avenue
Tire Shop
828 Gallatin Avenue
* Since I took this picture they have painted this building grey. My reasons for documentation exactly...
Fast Stop Auto Repair
914 Gallatin Avenue
* I took my VW here and it sat outside overnight and someone came and smashed all my windows.
Graffiti Building
926 Gallatin Avenue
* A guy outside this place said it would be the perfect location for the bar I want to open. Hmmm...
Weathered Building
931 Gallatin Avenue
.
* I love this textured old painted build-ing. Apparently it used to house a screen printing shop that went under..
Hot Flix Video
1006 Gallatin Avenue
* The guy that owns this place would not let me interview him. But this “porno shop” has more family films than porn.
Big A’s Tire
1056 Gallatin Avenue
* The guy in this photo didn’t acknowledge me at all. He was not feelin’ it I guess.
The Old Krispy Kreme Building
1209 Gallatin Avenue
.
* I love this building, It has an awesome shape and these cool mirror windows with radiating bars. Super retro.
Coin Laundry Express
1204 Gallatin Avenue
* When I went in here to get some inter-views they got really mad at me. Some people feel threatened by cameras
Coin Laundry Express
1204 Gallatin Avenue
Abandoned Firehouse
1222 Gallatin Avenue
* I have always thought this building is so sad. It is the remains of a Gallatin Avenue that no longer exists.
Tight Fadez Barber
1464 Gallatin Avenue
* This is the best name for a barber ever. I bet they probably hook your fade up extra tight.
Street Customs
1102 Straightway Avenue
* Really awesome hand painted type with FLAMES up the sides! Totally hot-rod. Fabulous.
Collision Repair Service Inc.
1409 Gallatin Road
.
* I have always liked the blue of this building and the cool racing stripes that go around it. Its pretty bitchin.
Juncal’s Mexican
2412 Gallatin Road
* I took this picture in March. Now this store is gone and its only April! But I thought the yellow wall was striking..
Ghot Wings
2501 Gallatin Road
* I especially love the arrow in this shot. The light pole also made some conveniently complimentary shadows.
Instant Rental
2637 Gallatin Pike
* This is one of my favorite images in this whole book. I think its the simplicity and perspective that get me..
Fat Mo’s
2608 Gallatin Pike
* Wow if you want a freaking huge burger this is the place to get it. I think they have one that is seriously 2lbs.
Brown’s Automotive
2809 Gallatin Pike
* When I was taking pictures and filming this dude at Brown’s was watching. I think I weirded him out.
The Auto Lot
2812 Gallatin Pike
* This is pretty cool architecture that looks 50’s to me. I have always liked the moulding and big serif letters.
The Real DiscountTobacco and Beer
2828 Gallatin Pike
.
* Incidentally, I played “Hey Mister” at this location many a time before I was able to purchase my own alcohol
The Corner DiscountTobacco and Beer
* When we couldn’t get anyone at the Real Discount to buy us beer we’d try our luck here, directly across the street.
2830 Gallatin Pike
The Corner DiscountTobacco and Beer
The Old Caudle Vet Clinic
2986 Gallatin Ave.
* This is where we had our family dog put to sleep a few years ago. That was a sad day..
Household Pawnshop
3100 Gallatin Ave.
* When I went into this pawn shop
to see if I could interview anyone
they said no.
Household Pawnshop
3100 Gallatin Ave.
Eastend Appliances
3111 Gallatin Avenue
.
* The outline here reminds me of graffiti and I love that. The way the red pops against the brown building.
Inglewood Drive-In Market
3216 Gallatin Pike
* This place sells the cheapest Faygo and cellphone chargers in town. Plus you gotta love the retro-ness.
Aluminum Building
3253 Gallatin Pike
.
* I used to pass this place all the time and never knew what it was. Its right next to where my homeless friend Jerry lives.
Caudle Vet Clinic
2915 Gallatin Pike
* This is the NEW vets office. I love the architecture of the building- its really old, you can tell by the detail.