For PARK(ing) Day 2024, MHM partnered with the Knoxville Arts & Culture Alliance, a local nonprofit organization, to raise awareness about The Emporium and celebrate local artists throughout the city. With a focus on sustainability and adaptability, the team designed a modular structure that is versatile, reusable, and purpose-built to maximize its value for the Arts & Culture Alliance.

The installation serves multiple functions, including acting as a stage backdrop, a space divider, a freestanding gallery, or even an outdoor exhibit for First Friday events. Constructed from birch plywood sheets—chosen for their natural aesthetic and alignment with The Emporium’s existing material palette—the structure is assembled using hand-welded brackets. This design enables two gallery walls in its main form while maintaining flexibility to meet The Emporium’s diverse needs.

Arranged in a zigzag pattern at a 45-degree angle, the plywood panels optimize art display space while minimizing the overall footprint. Designed for efficiency, the structure can be quickly assembled, easily disassembled, and folded flat for convenient storage. Its modular design and notch-style joinery allow for various configurations, from a single long gallery wall to smaller, separate two-panel displays.

Additionally, the structure incorporates functional elements, such as blocks that can be used as seating for artists or viewers, or as pedestals for displaying art. During PARK(ing) Day, the panels featured art in various mediums created by local artists sponsored by The Emporium. Like a traditional gallery, these pieces were available for purchase, showcasing the dynamic relationship between art, community, and sustainability.