And now let us proceed to the rollercoaster ride of events this week and weekend ahead in your sights. First, this Thursday will provide you a grand opportunity to stroll around Hillsboro Village for another HillsboroVillageArt Walk. This Thursday, May 3rd, from 5-8pm, there is a plethora of cafes, galleries, and stores filled with art for everyone to view. In fact, you might even find yourself walking into the Belcourt Theater to see the final weekend of artist and Twist Art Gallery superstar Beth Gilmore’s show Mischief and Mayhem: dating in the present tense. The show ends on Sunday, May 6th, and that just so happens to be the same day as the opening reception for Watkins College graduate superstar Mandy Stoller and her Funky Catsterz In Outer Space exhibition at the Belcourt Theater. Stoller will be on hand on Sunday, from 5-6:30pm, to sell large prints displaying fun-filled images of how cats created the universe we live in today (you have to see it to believe it). Stoller’s show will run through June 9th.

And then there was the 41st Annual TACA Tennessee Craft Fair for the entire weekend. The Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA) will have 170 artists and an expected crowd of over 50,000 visitors on the lawn of Centennial park to unveil and sell finished local, handmade products such as wood, clay, glass, weaving, papermaking and much more. Everything available to visit and see for FREE, this event will go down May 4, 5, and 6, beginning at 10am each day and continuing until 6pm on Friday and Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. The Parthenon lawn will hardly ever look as good as it will this weekend.

So, before I talk about Sunday and the end of the week, I shouldn’t forget to tell you about a few poignant events taking place this Saturday night.

First, The Arts Company is welcoming the annual artistic pilgrimage of Brother Mel to Nashville. As part of the First Saturday Art Crawl, May 5th, from 6-9pm, Brother Mel will be bringing some special, Nashville-themed sculptural pieces. There will also be large and small abstract paintings, modern abstract guitars, signature large sculptures featuring an art bench, music bench, reading chair, and other sculptures based on art, music and books. Everyone is invited to preview Brother Mel’s latest work in person and wish him well on the occasion of his 84th birthday. Happy Birthday Brother Mel!

Second, over at Blend Studio, you can totally check out the fresh, interactive installation by artists Lindsay Black and Tiffany Dyer titled My Home is a Nest. This is a community collaboration with participants reflecting on their idea of home. It started with an empty nest and viewers are invited to interact with the installation and whatever is already on hand within the nest by entering it and finding their own personal refuge, comforting space, much like home. On top of the gallery exhibit, Black and Dyer will also host a FREE workshop on May 26th, from 12-2pm for all ages.

Third, I need to remind you about Jon Morgan’s one night only show with his American Dreaming photography. It is Saturday, May 5th, from 6-10, at 328 Hill Avenue. As you read last week, and here right now, Morgan’s photography not only captures live in still motion, it truly focuses on what so often is observed as blurred chaos on a daily basis. Again, you need to see this in person to really understand what I’m talking about. Don’t be scared.

AND NOW … the next big preview for next week’s post to keep you hanging cliff-like like no other. Many thanks already in advance to Bradly Bratten, Dane Carder, Adrienne Outlaw, Brandon Gnetz, Oscar Zezatti, Threesquared Gallery, Seed Space, Number magazine, and everyone at 427 Chesnut Street for that matter. Why am I so thankful? Well, we are having a fun get together to help raise more awareness for said galleries and the release of the latest issue from Number … Number: 71! As you will see in the following video promo clip that is loosely based on “Caine’s Arcade” (which you may have seen or posted yourself already). Basically, you should visit us at 427 Chestnut Street, Nashville, TN, from 6-9pm, Saturday, May 12th, for a great time getting to know the people at Number, get FREE magazines, and enjoy other art and FREE music, and fun to be had with quality people with quality hearts. And if you like our video, please feel free to post it and share it with any and all of your friends and family, both near and far.

Here it is- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsz5wON1-tI

Enjoy your day and week ahead. Thanks as always.

much love,

chUck

www.nashvillesheart.com

ps- to all local artists that are now reading this post or friends that know of local artists that would be interested to know the following Call for Artists:

SAINTS, GODDESSES, and BODHISATTVAS

Sacred figurative art national juried exhibition

Exhibit dates: Oct 22-Dec 14, 2012

Entry Deadline: August 15, 2012

Marnie Sheridan Gallery, Nashville, TN

$250 best of show award. $25 to enter 3 images.

All mediums and paths encouraged.

Gallery takes 25% commission, provides insurance, PR, opening reception, and cards for artists.

Professional gallery on campus of private girls school. Prospectus and entry at http://www.harpethhall.org (click art exhibits on left)

contact: marla faith, gallery director: faith@harpethhall.org

pss- same as above:

?DO YOU WANNA GET YOUR ART WORK SEEN?
?OR MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THE NASHVILLE AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY?
?WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A FEW EXTRA BUCKS FROM YOUR ARTWORK?

Then sign up for a Flatrock Festival Artist Review Session now! Email art.flatrockfestival@gmail.com to find how you can be an artist at this years event. Only 10 days left, the deadline is March 10th to apply.