a monthly guide to art education
State of the Arts
L
etterpress printmaking is one of Nashville’s iconic art forms. From the commercial beginnings of Hatch to a budding local group of art printmakers, our local letterpress landscape is hot. I’m so thrilled to announce a new community public art project partnership: Isle of Printing dynamo Bryce McCloud and Metro Arts.
photo: jerry atnip
by Jennifer Cole, Metro Nashville Arts Commission
Our Town is a fifteen-month project during which McCloud will collect and exhibit portraits of Nashvillians from all walks of life via his mobile printmaking “art cart.” The cart that is one part art studio, one part old Good Humor ice cream truck, and one part pure whimsy will be traveling the city beginning in June 2013 through September 2014.
Bryce McCloud, Isle of Printing
Traveling to various community events and locations, McCloud and his participants will develop a series of prints “made by Nashvillians for Nashvillians.” When a citizen approaches the cart and participates by creating a portrait; they will be able to exchange their portrait for another individual’s print portrait. Featured prints are displayed and exchanged during the cart outings and will be part of a permanent collection at the end of the project.
Leslie Gregg helps a young boy leave his mark on the pavilion banner.
Art Oasis for CMA Festival Children by Rebecca Pierce | photography by Tiffani Bing
W
hen you think about the CMA Music Festival, you probably don’t think about children making art, but this year it happened for the first time in its 43-year history. Brainchild of Steve Moore, CEO of the Country Music Association, the Keep the Kids Playing Pavilion located in the new Music City Center gave children age-appropriate entertainment and the chance to create. Nashville Arts Magazine was thrilled to be a sponsor for this art booth, but it would not have happened without fellow sponsors the Tennessee Art League (TAL) and YMCA Art Embrace. Mar Augelli, Teaching Artist and TAL Board Vice President, and Leslie Gregg, Director of YMCA Art Embrace, worked tirelessly in assembling an enthusiastic and very talented cadre of artists who graciously donated their time and expertise so that the children’s art area could provide an array of artistic activities throughout the four-day festival.
The project is a key piece of the NashvilleNext (www.nashvillenext. net) citywide planning process. The goal is to engage a wide swath of Nashville in thinking about and participating in community planning via art-making. A final series of portraits by Nashvillians and McCloud will become part of the permanent collection of the Nashville Public Library and will be a permanent part of our city’s history. Those wishing to participate in Our Town and share their vision for Nashville can find McCloud and the portable print shop at NashvilleNext community meetings beginning July 9. McCloud will also make a number of spontaneous stops around Nashville each month, so watch out for Our Town on social media and around the corner! Follow @NashvilleNext and @MetroArts1 for Our Town updates on Twitter. www.nashville.gov/Government/NashvilleNext.aspx http://talk.nashvillenext.net 64 | July 2O13 NashvilleArts.com