As you wished

As I promised last week, this week is filled with enough art activities aroundNashvilleto keep you busy until the New Year … all in one weekend!  Without wasting your time, let me begin with Thursday night’s antics.

Regardless of whether you are lucky to find the time and/or email for a very special HOME concert tomorrow night, Thursday kicks off the weekend stretch of shows and artastic events all over town to get your out and about.  You can be sure as always about this time of the month that the Hillsboro Village Art Walk will be kicking it per usual with all of their fantastic shops, artists, and deals for you to fully enjoy.  One location I highly recommend dropping by thisThursday, December 1st, anytime during the 5-9pm Art Walk, is Zeitgeist.  This Thursday they have invited Nashville’s own, Hollow Ox, for an evening of crafted sound from a four-piece stellar ensemble of musicians. Also while there, you can catch artist Ward Schumaker’s “Geography Lessons” that will be on view through December 17th.  Geography Lessons is a showing of works on paper and handmade/handbound books.  And speaking of handmade books of art, Nashville’s Brown Dog Bindery will be at the Sarratt Holiday Festival this Thursday for you to meet the artists and their work on opening night, December 1st, from 4:30-6:30pm.  While perusing the Holiday Festival, you can shop with a purpose this Holiday by supporting regional artists (THAT should be a theme here and everywhere for your holiday shopping in my humble opinion).  It’s Sarratt Art Festival’s 21st Anniversary and it might just be the best yet (207 Sarratt Student Center).  Brown Dog Bindery will be on hand from Dec. 1st-11th with various times throughout and celebrating big time on December 4th from 4-6pm for Sarratt Holiday Arts Festival’s 21st Birthday party in case you wanted to know.

But before you go and get all festive out on the nightlife Thursday night, why not pre-game it over on the East Side of town to see their Watkin’s 2011 Senior Graphic Design Show called “Roast.”  Roast will feature works by BA Graphic design degree candidates Ryon Nishimori, Chris Stewart, and Anna Stout this Thursday, December 1st, from 6-9pm, at Anode (926 Main Street).  The one-night-only exhibition is FREE, open to the public, and will have refreshments on hand provided by Beve coffee.  Then, after you stop by that show to get a little education on, you can roll over to the pARTy that is a benefit art exhibition, sale & cocktail reception!  From 5-8pm, at 716 Division Street (next to FLYTE), “POW! Pop culture …” is a group exhibition that explores the various iconic artifacts of popular culture including mass advertising, mass product design, celebrity, and Americana.  10% of all art sales will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Nashville and will also serve as the launch for “Habitat for Artists”; a new partnership of creative talent and Habitat initiatives.  Sponsored by Budweiser and FLYTE, you know there will be ample amount of cold beverages at hand if you wish to partake.  There will be paintings, a short film, and also Richard Courtney (Co-Author of Come Together: The Business Wisdom of the Beatles on site to speak and sign books.  The exhibition isFREE and also open to the public so go tell a friend and run and tell that.

After all that, Friday seems to understand that you were all over the town the night before and really lets you relax by offering a casual night at the 5th Avenue of the Arts Downtown Nashville Collectors Art Night.  This Friday, December 2nd, from 5:30-8pm, you can obtain a few more cocktails to get back into the saddle again, with appetizers by Sambuca and desserts by The Cupcake Collection, and then enjoy art talks the rest of the evening.  At 6pm, at The Arts Company, you can join a conversation with painter Charlie Buckley and photographer Chuck Trotter about their Nashville-centric exhibits.  At 6:45pm, at The Rymer Gallery, join them and local collector and designer Susan Bashamspeaking about the art of purchasing and placing fine art.  At 7:15pm, be there at Tinney Contemporary to listen to New York-based artists Jaq Belcher talking about her new exhibition, Suchness, that features her process of creating beautifully patterned and complex works from single sheets of paper meticulously hand-cut (Suchness actually has an opening reception the next night, Saturday, December 3rd, at Tinney Contemporary from 6-9pm).  The 5th Avenue of the Arts is a RSVP event to attend.  To RSVP, please email5thAvenueOfTheARts@gmail.com like NOW.

And then there was Saturday, the first Saturday of the month of December.  Nothing gets me in a joyful mood about art and creativity quite like seeing original work from Twisted Sisters.  Lucky for all of us, they will have art at “See Art, Love Art, Buy Art!”  That’s right; this Saturday, December 3rd, from 10am-5pm, you can find the latest Twisted Sisters art at the Tennessee State Museum as part of theHoliday Artisan Bazaar.  Admission to the event is FREE, and I promise you that you won’t find any gift as original as these anywhere.

Then, if you feel the creative bug after seeing Twisted Sisters’ art, in the early afternoon, from 1-4pm, you can venture to Watkins College of Art, Design, & Film to visit their Open House.  There will be ample amounts of FREE, hands-on activities and demonstrations by faculty instructors in clay, printmaking, metal casting, book making and more.  All of this is fun is provided as a preview to Community Education’s “Unleash Your Creativity” Winter/Spring 2012 session.  It’s never too late to learn something new, and you never know … Watkins might just have the thing you are looking to get into this coming year in your spare time.

But back to that spare time you have Saturday night.  Here is a rundown of a few highlights around town that you can skip and jump to throughout the night:

 

*Art and Invention Gallery is having their Holiday Art Show Opening Night Party!  From 6-9:30pm, join Meg and Bret for their 10th annual “Holiday Art Show.”  A group of over 75 artists have handmade smaller works of art perfect for the holiday shopper looking for whimsical, exquisite, and everything in between in all price ranges to leave you happy and satisfied.

*While on that side of town, don’t forget to drop in at theBryant Gallery Christmas Show that will run through Christmas Eve.

*Or to see the great deals at the Hip Zipper!  Hip Zipper is proud to have their very own Holiday Open House from 6-9:30pm.  The Holiday Halls of the Hip Zipper will be “Decked Out” for the season with festive delights for you to enjoy and take with you.  Not only that, they offer a 25% OFF your total purchase when you ‘Check-In’ to Hip Zipper through Facebook while at the Open House!

*And before you leave the East side, don’t forget to make an appearance at the always fun Studio East before they shut their doors at that location for good to make way forLockeland Table in the coming year.  While they are stillStudio East, they are celebrating an artist’s reception this Saturday, from 6-9pm, for Paul Harmon’s latest work.  JoinJohn and Stacey for the big pARTy and open house!

*Downtown you will never be bored.  I say drop by the Arcadeto find a few regular spots of fun at the same location.  You never go wrong with Twist that’s for sure.  You can stop byCOOP to see “live-prime-real-time: Matthew Page, Dmitry ‘dima’ Strakovsky.”  You can mosey down the hallway to Blend Studio to see the opening reception for“Small Work: By 12 Nashville Artists” at the same time.  I will go into more detail for the above next week, but it is worth checking them out this weekend during the open receptions.

*Also Downtown and at the same time, be sure to take notice of LA Bachman.  She and others will be a part of the opening reception for “Small Packages Exhibit” alongside the “Gifty Pleasures Exhibit” at The Rymer Gallery from 6-9pm.

*Bennett Galleries Nashville will also have an opening reception for the annual exhibition of new works by Scott E. Hill.  If you are around, don’t miss it!

*One more gift for the night, since I’m on a roll here and have a little more time to divulge all this information your way, you should know about the deal that the Tennessee Art Leaguehas going on.  They have a special event for December in the form of a Holiday Art Sale!  TAL will again offer extraordinary smaller, framed and unframed artwork, created by its talented members at special, greatly-reduced prices.  Portions of the profits of any artworks sold will go to TAL’s Building Fund.  Also: found at Premiere Gallery, Ray Sandusky’s exhibit of“Lids & Finials,” and found at Ethel Smith Gallery, Elizabeth LaPenna’s New Horizons exhibit.

But before I leave you here for a much needed rest, be sure to mark your calendars, if for nothing I’ve said above so far this week, to visit The Family Wash this Saturday night at 9pm.  It is there where you will not only find the best food to warm your belly and soul during the cold weather, but you will find yourself back at HOME with the sounds of Humming House and the soon to be legendary Carolina Story!  Carolina Story has been hard at work for months on their new album called “Home”, and they are throwing a CD Release show/party at The Family Wash for everyone that wants to join them and the fun.  I have heard the CD and I must say that I’ve had it on repeat for several weeks now in my rotation everywhere I go.  It is very impressive and worth listening to … over and over :).  YOU can either buy a copy for you and all your friends at the live show or HERE!  Released online as of yesterday, Carolina Story shot up past the likes of James Taylor, Gillian Welch, and other household names on the iTunes singer/songwriter list all the way to #2 … FACT!  Christmas has come early again indeed!  Boom … go get you some.

I hope to see you at one or a few of those places above, but with or without you, there will be a fun time had by all who do.

much love,

chUck

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kins might just have the thing you are looking to get into this coming year in your spare time.

 

But back to that spare time you have Saturday night.  Here is a rundown of a few highlights around town that you can skip and jump to throughout the night:

 

*Art and Invention Gallery is having their Holiday Art Show Opening Night Party!  From 6-9:30pm, join Meg and Bret for their 10th annual “Holiday Art Show.”  A group of over 75 artists have handmade smaller works of art perfect for the holiday shopper looking for whimsical, exquisite, and everything in between in all price ranges to leave you happy and satisfied.

*While on that side of town, don’t forget to drop in at theBryant Gallery Christmas Show that will run through Christmas Eve.

*Or to see the great deals at the Hip Zipper!  Hip Zipper is proud to have their very own Holiday Open House from 6-9:30pm.  The Holiday Halls of the Hip Zipper will be “Decked Out” for the season with festive delights for you to enjoy and take with you.  Not only that, they offer a 25% OFF your total purchase when you ‘Check-In’ to Hip Zipper through Facebook while at the Open House!

*And before you leave the East side, don’t forget to make an appearance at the always fun Studio East before they shut their doors at that location for good to make way forLockeland Table in the coming year.  While they are stillStudio East, they are celebrating an artist’s reception this Saturday, from 6-9pm, for Paul Harmon’s latest work.  JoinJohn and Stacey for the big pARTy and open house!

*Downtown you will never be bored.  I say drop by the Arcadeto find a few regular spots of fun at the same location.  You never go wrong with Twist that’s for sure.  You can stop byCOOP to see “live-prime-real-time: Matthew Page, Dmitry ‘dima’ Strakovsky.”  You can mosey down the hallway to Blend Studio to see the opening reception for“Small Work: By 12 Nashville Artists” at the same time.  I will go into more detail for the above next week, but it is worth checking them out this weekend during the open receptions.

*Also Downtown and at the same time, be sure to take notice of LA Bachman.  She and others will be a part of the opening reception for “Small Packages Exhibit” alongside the “Gifty Pleasures Exhibit” at The Rymer Gallery from 6-9pm.

*Bennett Galleries Nashville will also have an opening reception for the annual exhibition of new works by Scott E. Hill.  If you are around, don’t miss it!

*One more gift for the night, since I’m on a roll here and have a little more time to divulge all this information your way, you should know about the deal that the Tennessee Art Leaguehas going on.  They have a special event for December in the form of a Holiday Art Sale!  TAL will again offer extraordinary smaller, framed and unframed artwork, created by its talented members at special, greatly-reduced prices.  Portions of the profits of any artworks sold will go to TAL’s Building Fund.  Also: found at Premiere Gallery, Ray Sandusky’s exhibit of“Lids & Finials,” and found at Ethel Smith Gallery, Elizabeth LaPenna’s New Horizons exhibit.

But before I leave you here for a much needed rest, be sure to mark your calendars, if for nothing I’ve said above so far this week, to visit The Family Wash this Saturday night at 9pm.  It is there where you will not only find the best food to warm your belly and soul during the cold weather, but you will find yourself back at HOME with the sounds of Humming House and the soon to be legendary Carolina Story!  Carolina Story has been hard at work for months on their new album called “Home”, and they are throwing a CD Release show/party at The Family Wash for everyone that wants to join them and the fun.  I have heard the CD and I must say that I’ve had it on repeat for several weeks now in my rotation everywhere I go.  It is very impressive and worth listening to … over and over :).  YOU can either buy a copy for you and all your friends at the live show or HERE!  Released online as of yesterday, Carolina Story shot up past the likes of James Taylor, Gillian Welch, and other household names on the iTunes singer/songwriter list all the way to #2 … FACT!  Christmas has come early again indeed!  Boom … go get you some.

I hope to see you at one or a few of those places above, but with or without you, there will be a fun time had by all who do.

much love,

chUck

Giving time to be Thankful

I typically throw as many art related fun events your way on a weekly basis as gallery owners, artists, and friends (all the same really) around town throw them my way to deliver to your virtual doorstep, but I think this week’s lull in opening receptions means that I should flip the script for once.  I mean it isn’t like the first weekend of December (the first weekend after Thanksgiving next week) is filled with a ton of pARTies covering the entire landscape ofNashvilleart galleries.  Wait; next weekend is filled with a ton of openings to keep you as busy with your schedule as trying to coordinate your football viewing plans over tomorrow’s Turkey day.  With that written, let me slow things down a bit (cue the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving theme music).

I think it is important, just as important in opinion and possible fact, as making the effort to visit your local gallery exhibition down the street that you take delight in the simple art that life offers you at every second you turn around.  Don’t believe me?  This weekend take the time to smell the proverbial sweet rose or potatoes.  Be thankful that you have a turkey to eat, shoes on your feet, a wishbone to pick and gamble on, and ample amounts of good-hearted people surrounding you to make any day a great one.  It is in this day and time in particular where we shouldn’t worry about making extreme last minute travel plans if they are stressful for everyone involved.  Simple gesture: be thankful where you are, who you are, and who you are with.

Quick note to help me flip the script this week, you don’t have to rely on others like myself to guide you where to view and purchase art.  Believe it or not, you might have it in you to make your own creative designs to brighten up your walls, homes, and life.  This long weekend ahead is a perfect time to disregard all of those Black Friday (in my opinion dark in so many ways) deals and spend more time looking close to home and seeing all of the little projects and things you can do for yourself to make your personal home a better place to live in (mind, body, soul, and do-it-yourself projects around the house).  No amount of coupon or money is worth spending when the best deal you could ever imagine is finding inspiration to get things done at home (plus you save gas money on top of the rest of the money and time you won’t waste).  Whether you do a painting, fix your bathroom, read a book, write a poem, or make a dinner with friends, creative inspiration is all around you if you take a second to dive in.

 

And if you try and don’t feel like the results of your efforts are worth hanging on the wall for others to see for themselves, you can always ask your friends over to help you.  I am lucky to be married to once such creative soul I can always default to at any second (I am thankful for her in my life every single day), but I am also fortunate to know other people to call friends who are simply amazing.  One such amazing friend that is currently making a few fun ideas into a reality to make our home (which not only serves as a lovely home but simultaneously as an art gallery for creative friends) better is the always smiling and very talented Miranda Crump.  If you don’t know her art, you should.  Click HERE to see a glimpse inside her artistic world.  But I’m getting ahead of myself here.

My point to all of the above, for stepping aside from my usual trip down Nashville art gallery row for one week before jumping back on board before next weekend, is that NOW (this weekend for starters) is the perfect time for you to slow your crazy and hectic life down wherever you are, feel grateful for everything you have, and be thankful that you are living in a time, place, and around so many good people (I say all of this because I am bias in thinking that if you are reading this that you are somewhat educated and hang around similar good-hearted people that I feel blessed to be around most of the time) that you can fully appreciate and find yourself in awe in the delight of a friendly, insightful conversation, in a single bite of a wonderfully made pumpkin pie, and any moment where you can simply close your eyes amidst company and feel happy and content.  There is art to be found everywhere as long as you are open to seeing and feeling it.  Don’t ever forget that or take it for granted (any day of the year for that matter).

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours this weekend.  And I would feel bad if I didn’t give you my annual recommendation that at some point this weekend you watch two of my absolute favorite holiday movies: Plains, Trains, and Automobiles (I’ll see you tomorrow then … Gobble, Gobble! J ) AND Home for the Holidays.  Watch them both and thank me later.  I promise if none of the above helps you feel better then I am at a loss of words.

much love,

chUck

ps- Go Centre College Football Praying Colonels!!!!!

On a moment’s notice … literally

Hello again my friends.  I’m sorry for the last minute shout but tis the week and my schedule to tell you about what is going on around town.  I won’t waste your time.Tonight, I repeat … TONIGHT, over at Watkins College of Art, Design, & Film, you catch the Watkins 2011-12 Visiting Artists Series Kick Off shindig.  Tonight, with a reception at 6pm and a lecture following at 6:30pm in the Watkins Theater, the Mexican Printmaker Artemio Rodriguez will be available to sign prints and books after his presentation.  Rodriguez is a contemporary artist whose bold black and white graphic works are rooted in the long tradition of Mexican printmaking.  It will be quite fantastico!Tomorrow, Friday, November 18th, be sure to check out the FristCenter’s showing of the “Femme Fatale” Film Series: Double Indemnity.  Inspired by the current exhibition of Tracey Snelling’s “Woman on the Run,” this 1944 classic with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck making their way through out aCalifornia of shady streets, supermarkets, and stucco houses.  Sound familiar?  The movie is FREE with seating being first come, first served in the Auditorium and it begins at 7pm.

Also Friday, November 18th, you can stop by LeQuire Gallery in Green Hills from 5-7pm for the opening reception for local legend Franne Lee’s latest works of art.  Franne Lee, artist, is an exhibition that will be filled with every aspect of Franne’s delightful imagination.  Because everything artistic with Franne is always so fantastical and creative, I really can’t tell you anything about it other than it will amaze you.  All I can say for sure is that it all will be exhibited through December and you should stop by to check it out.

Then, this Saturday, November 19th, marks the perfect time to drop byBryantGalleryto bypass the holiday rush just around the corner.  That’s right, The Christmas Show is starting. BryantGallery, starting November 19th, from noon-5pm, will be presenting 20+ artists showing work suitable for gift giving of any holiday occasion.  It is a bit early, but it might just be the perfect time to get exactly what you want if you are looking for something totally original, priced reasonable, and made locally.

And speaking of something fun going on throughout the entire weekend ahead, you definitely need to know about the weekend of fun to be had at Cheekwood.  On Saturday, November 19th, at the ‘Kids Corral’ from 10am-2pm, kids of all ages can make western-inspired art and craft projects, pioneer crafts and frontier games.  There will be guided tours at 10am and 1pm.  At noon there will be a demonstration and ‘fly by’ by S.O.A.R (Save Our American Raptors). And then on Sunday, November 20th, from 1-3pm, there will be live music by the Craig Duncan Cowboy Duo and a guided tour to boot.

Also Sunday, November 20th, back at the Frist Center is Artful Tales: “Never Rush to Judgment: The Mongoose and the Snake.”  Back in the Auditorium and FREE; first come, first served again, Artful Tales is a monthly interactive family program that combines the oral tradition of storytelling with hands on art-making activities to explore the stories and cultures mentioned from around the world.  This month’s story about the mongoose derives from an Indian folktale.  This program is part of theFristCenter’s wildly successful Connecting Cultures exhibition.  And to top all the above off, Monday, November 21st is Senior Monday at theFristCenterfrom 10am-5:30pm.  Seniors receive half-price admission, free admission for them if you bring a canned food item for Second Harvest Food Bank, and discounts galore in the gift shop and café surrounded by live music from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s prived by Snappy Pappy from 12:30-1:30pm.

That is all … back to the grind and loving it.

Thanks for dropping by again.

As you were, busy but happy.

much love,

chUck

ps- Before I forget about the best thing around combining books and art this weekend around town, you need to know that local artist Jeff Bertrand is having a “Turn the Page” (a Yeoman’s Book show) show this Saturday, November 21^st, from 6:30-8pm at Yeoman’s in the Fork (4216 Old Hillsboro Road, Franklin, TN  37064).  Bertrand is back to giving some old books new life and a new look by creating art on and in the covers and pages while exploring methods of his creative depth.  He has incorporated paint, photos, skeleton keys and colored thread to add to the overall feeling of the works.  It is truly remarkable work as always if you ask me.  Don’t miss out!

Long week = longer weekend of fun ahead

And that’s a good thing for all of us going forward … fact.  It all starts with mending your heart actually.  Mending Hearts, a non-profit community and treatment center that provides shelter, hope and healing to homeless women who suffer from substance abuse and/or mental/emotional disorders, is seeking donations to support the Moms and Kids programs.  They don’t want handouts for nothing.  Mending Hearts is having a banquet and auction TONIGHT at Rocketown!  Through story and song, you are invited to come out and support Mending Hearts tonight starting at 5pm.  From 5-6pmthere will be a silent auction and it will be followed at 6pm by the rest of the program and dinner.  Rocketown (located at 601 4th Avenue South) is honored to host such an event that will raise much needed money for the Moms and Kids program at Mending Hearts and to help Mending Hearts also properly rehab their newly acquired buildings purchased with the help from last year’s big event.  All donations and questions should be directed to Jennifer Hall:jenniferjessicahall@gmail.com.

With that said, I need to give a shout-out to the past and present at hand.  The past- last weekend I forgot to mention a nod to the 2nd annual “Salon des Refuses” at the Tennessee Art League that had a special pre-holiday art sale to benefit the Tennessee Art League.  Located at 808 Broadway, you might want to stop by and see the leftovers of their smaller and less formally finished artwork still available for purchase in the sale including works of canvas, paper, sculpture, jewelry, textiles and other stuff.  The present- alsoTONIGHT is another chance for you all to witness the rising local band Eastern Block at 12th & Porter (114 12th Avenue North) starting at 8:30pm sharp.  You won’t regret it!

Also going on right now something that you won’t regret being a part of is a one-of-a-kind kickstarter project that is made for kids and the kids inside all of us.  Local artist Lindsey Bailey has created a collaborative art project called Deliciously Happy.  It is a multi-faceted project that will culminate in a gallery installation at Belmont University with your help to complete.  It is a project about showing how important art is as a tool to spark people into sharing ideas and working together.  An offshoot of Bailey’s graduate research, the gallery show features partnerships with students from 3 Nashville-area schools: the University School of Nashville, Bordeaux Elementary, and Lead Academy and sculpture students from Belmont University.  Students of each school will construct social issue-based stories and create coordinating performance paraphernalia.  Each workshop session and the final performance will be documented in still images and video.  To this point, Bailey has completed 12 of the 24 workshops through self-financing it, but NOW help is needed to reach the finish line.  The project needs more supplies, an editor to pull all of the videos together, and transportation for the students to attend the gallery opening to see their work and talk about it to the public is also needed.  Take a look at the project and how your help will help it become realized and help make a difference for the future … the kids of today.  See that link HERE-www.kickstarter.com/projects/586300314/deliciously-happy.

All of the above brings me to this coming Saturday, November 12th, 2011.

First, if you are looking for unique, LOCAL, one-of-a-kind gifts for your friends and family, then yet again you should drop on by the next Porter Crossing Arts Market this Saturday afternoon from noon-9pm at the intersection surrounding The Family Wash.  It is FREE, INDOOR, and is a wonderful experience to be had by all every second Saturday of every month between September-December.

Second, The Arts Company is hosting the 2nd annual Ads2Art Charity Art Auction with the help of the Advertising Federation of Nashville.  The purpose of this event is to raise awareness for the Nashville Advertising and Arts Community and to also raise funds and awareness for the Nashville Downtown Partnership’s 5th Avenue of the Arts initiative.  The event will start with a Patrons Party and gallery tour at 6pm and the Ads2Art Event will go from 7-9pm.  It is $35 for admission at the door and $45 for the Patrons Party and event admission).  There will be food, beverages, jazz, and a chance to bid on some amazing works of art.  It is all sponsored by Nashville Arts Magazine and its feature editor Paul Polycarpou will serve as the guest auctioneer for the art live auction.  You can RSVP by contacting Samantha Pyle at 615-305-3460 or Samantha@werkshopmarketing.com.

Third, you should definitely at some point this weekend or month stop by The Rymer Gallery to see the legendary local photographer John Guider and his new work called “View From A Small Boat.”  Here is a sneak peek of what you’ll see HERE.  Simply put, Guider sees and captures things that we feel.  He is that good.

I think I’ve given you plenty to think about and go out and see for a few days ahead.  There is always more out there beyond the above, but I hope that you find everything you are looking for.  Thank you for reading and sharing with others.

much love,

chUck