Heavenly, Heavenly Day(s)

I have been taking it easy lately, soaking up every last bit of summery goodness I can. So I haven't blogged, painted, worked new shows, etc- I 've just been taking time to enjoy all the rest my life has to offer. This past weekend I had the joy of visiting and celebrating with a handful of people who mean so much to me. Old friends, new friends, family; time spent with them reminds me of what is important, what I need.
Let me just run through the weekend from start to finish just to share it all with you (and maybe some of you HAVE already shared it with me)! Friday evening Jon and his band, Eastern Block, played at Exit In. They played a tight show, and were supported by fans, friends, and family. It's so good to see people doing and succeeding at what they love. Even after Eastern Block played, I stayed for the WHOLE show. For me, that's almost unheard of! If it's late and I don't feel like sitting through a mediocre band's set, I leave. Not Friday night- the following bands were so good I didn't want to leave, or even sit. All the Relatives rocked, then Star Death and the White Dwarfs did their own bad ass thing.

On Saturday aches, a sore throat, and congestion let me know I was coming down with a cold. Bummer, but it wasn't bad enough to keep me at home. My dear friend Brandi Holley came in from MS for the weekend. Her brother (and his family) also live in Nashville, so lucky me, I get to see her whenever she visits them. Her company feels so comforting; we sat for hours on Bongo Java's porch catching up. She has been a good friend since college- it's one of the oldest friendships I have. Brandi, I hope you know how much I love you! Saturday evening was the wedding of super sweet newer friends Emily Harper and Chuck Beard; the celebration so perfectly suited them, too. They held a small ceremony in the Japanese Gardens at Cheekwood, and then had the BEST reception at Werthan Lofts. Emily was the most beautiful I've ever seen her; she wore the prettiest vintage style gown and a smile that didn't stop! Guests were invited to wear Derby hats to the reception as a nod to Chuck's KY roots. I spotted some killer feathery numbers, but the best were the handmade pieces by Mark Sloniker. All fairy tales and magic, they were the most intricate and imaginative hats you've ever seen. I'm really hoping the photographers got good shots of those; I'll share them if they did. Also, longtime favorite Venus Hum played! Annette sang "Heavenly Day" by Patti Griffin to Emily, and it truly was heavenly. Emily Beard. That's going to take some getting used to. Mad love to newlyweds Emily and Chuck!

Sunday morning I continued to ache and cough, but I was so looking forward to our afternoon plans, I didn't stay in bed. Jon and I drove out to the Jone's for lunch and swimming. They got a brand new pool, perfect for playing around and seeing Blake and Luke's excellent swimming skills. Blake can swim all by himself! Can you believe it?!!!Later that evening I had dinner and some chill hanging out time with Brandi. Hmmm. If only she'd move here...

Monday, thankfully, brought a much less sickly me. Della, her mom, and sister, were in town to do a little dress shopping and stopped to eat lunch with me at the Cheesecake Factory. Yay- for yummy food and for the chance to hang out with those 3 wonderful ladies; I wish that happened more often. Full belly and all, I headed to the pool, where I spent the entire afternoon. I slept, I rested, and I even got to visit with Liz when she came by after work. We talked about art, what we're doing with it, shows, and all kinds of good stuff. It's nice to relate to and bounce ideas off of other artists, and I value her openness toward doing that. She's such a hard worker, too, which brings me to my next point...

I'm over the frustrated/ discouraged slump (for now). I'm officially back from my self- imposed hiatus!

Be There & Be Scantily Clad

YESSSSS! I never thought I'd get to use that as a blog post title! I feel it's very applicable, reasonable even, considering the occasion. The artists in residence at the Downtown Presbyterian Church (myself included) are happy hosts of an open studio tour on Saturday, July 11. from 6- 8:00 pm. This will also be the evening of July's Art Crawl, so you multitaskers should be happy about that. Oh, if you don't already know: the studios are NOT air conditioned! Hence, the comment about scant clothing!

Opening Preview

This afternoon DPC hosted the opening preview for the annual D.I.G. (Dialogue:an Interaction for Growth) show. It marks the time which Lent is traditionally observed during, and the shows theme is "Embodiment". The theme has been interpreted by 30 artists, each in a distinct way. The grand opening for the show will be held March 7th from 6-9 :00 in conjunction with the First Saturday Art Gallery "Art Crawl" in downtown Nashville. If you're a first time "art crawler" click here for my suggestions. At the grand opening there will be a pot luck dinner, to which all are welcome, and the purchase prize will be announced at 7:00. Here is a little sampling of what awaits:
Julie Lee's triptych

Elizabeth Streight's mobile

Stained glass

Mixed media

Richard and Phillip Feaster's collaboration

Andee Rudloff's paintings on wood panels

The first wall of work, and possibly the most vibrant, too


This magical Dr. Seuss-ian cake will be gone by the time you get there Saturday, but come on anyway! Oh, and the D.I.G. show reaches beyond just visual art. Check out the poster (at the top of this post) for the film series and spoken word event!

Intro to First Saturday Gallery Crawl in Downtown .Nashvegas

This Saturday, the 7th, is the first Saturday of the month- hence the First Saturday Gallery Crawl. I realized there will be some peeps I know going that have never been before, and decided there should be an illustrated intro to this whole dealio. This is a basic map pointing out my favorite stops in the area. There are several more places along the way, so if you've got time by all means check them out. If you're not good with time, and need to prioritize destinations, these are my top picks for February.

1) Downtown Presbyterian Church (Yes, it's a church. Enter the big dining hall on the 5th Ave side.): Elizabeth Streight and Sarah Hearld exhibit photography. They got the Scene's "Critic's Pick"!
2) the Rymer: Looking forward to paintings by W.B. Tomkins.
3) Tinney Contemporary: "Stop Look Listen" Three unique artists focusing on the human body and communication.
4) the Arcade Building: the mini gallery mecca. There are quite a few of my favorite galleries on the upper level of the Arcade, such as Twist; just make a loop around the upper level and see! Oh, and, Eastern Block will be preforming live in the Arcade for this evening. YES.
5) Estel: It's worth the stroll over several blocks to 8th. It's a beautiful space that always hangs quality work.


I believe that sums it up! The only other detail is time; it goes from 6-9:00. Six may seem early, but I recommend not waiting till too late, because it's not fun to feel rushed (and the wine will run out by the end of the evening).

Save~the~Date: February 7th

Photo by Sarah Hearld
Photo by Elizabeth Streight
The Holiday
An escape into the everyday
An art show

A 10-year-old's birthday party, a couple's embrace, a woman's toil in domesticity, life on the street in Delhi—all are expressions of the everyday, the commonplace, and the holidays that can be found in the images that capture them.

In an exhibition to be held February 7-28, Photographers Elizabeth Streight and Sarah Hearld invite you to explore two very different worlds and the correlations between them in photographs that range from affectionate portraits to psychologically challenging images. Hearld will show photographs of street children and the humanity of the streets themselves in Delhi, India. Streight's works explore her own immediate American environment, in which she focuses her camera on her own friends, families, and personal histories.

In October 2008, Hearld traveled to India to work with Street Children through an organization called Project Concern International. As a photographer, she found a lot of inspiration to pick up the camera on the trip. "As time passes and the distance between my days in Delhi and the present grows, the louder these images speak to me as captured moments and important reminders," said Hearld.

Streight's works explore our needs for human connection as well as the universal sweetness, sanctuary, and joys of daily life. "I compose and capture images in ways that reveal the intensity of the moments that bring everyday holidays to life," said Streight.

Nashville-based photographers Elizabeth Streight and Sarah Hearld are pleased to present their exhibition at the Downtown Presbyterian Church, from February 7-28. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 6 – 9 p.m., in conjunction with the First Saturday Art Crawl.

The Downtown Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of 5th Ave. North and Church Street in downtown Nashville.
154 5th Ave. North Nashville, TN 37209 615-254-7584 www.dpchurch.com




***This is the press release for the show opening this Saturday, February 7th. It's gonna be good! ***

Newest Neighbor, Liz

After working in the isolation/ distraction of my house since graduating from college, I feel fortunate to now be part of a community of artists in the Downtown Presbyterian Church studio spaces. I 'm happy to announce: I have a new studio neighbor, Elizabeth Streight. Liz's art is photography, which you can see on her photoblog. It's a documentary of her life, and the many people that are part of it. I enjoy the candid shots, and the celebratory feel they capture. I can't wait to watch as her work develops right next door. Haha. "Develop"- get it- that's a photography joke. Ok, I'll stop. P.S. The photos are ones she took at Monteagle mountain; Seamus, Liz, and I spent a lovely fall weekend hiking in the mountains and realxing at our friend, Tom's, cabin. Click here to see more!