ART- John Cannon (September Issue 2013

Being a part of the local music and art scene has allowed me to cross paths several times with artist, John Cannon.  Formally in the Factory at Franklin, John has a studio/gallery at the historic Five Points in East Nashville at The Idea Hatchery.  His walls are full of an eclectic mix of art that is full of color and life.

I sat down with John recently to talk art, which lead to additional topics of music, writing, philosophy, and just life experience in general. “Your art form is what you’re not afraid of,” John said.  “We’re all fearful about certain things.  I would be afraid of a lion’s den or hang gliding, but putting paint on a canvas shouldn’t be something to be afraid of. “  He goes on to say that many people are not only afraid of painting, they are afraid of liking art and do not understand the process.  John teaches art, and, when his students say they do not like what they have created, John says, “Somebody will.”  As he gets older, he tries not to be too judgmental.  He knows that, even if he is not a fan of something, there are others that like it.  John makes the point that Van Gogh only sold two paintings, while he was alive, and both were to his brother.  Just recently, one of Van Gogh’s paintings sold for $147million dollars.  “Paint what you like and wait for others to like it,” John said.  “If you’re painting what you like, you are true to your art.”

Something that I have really enjoyed, while getting to know John, is his sense of humor that he infuses into his art.  One of my favorite pieces is his “BLT-Beagle Lettuce and Tomato”.  Like much of his work, it is inspired by his love for dogs and, like many East Nashvillians, his enthusiasm for tomato art.  I experienced the Tomato Art Fest for the first time this year, and I am now a tomato art enthusiast, myself.  In addition to the “BLT”, John has many funny and creative tomato paintings.  As for the aforementioned love for dogs, John does a lot of paintings of dogs, especially commission work.  Part of the proceeds of all dog art goes to Frankie’s Friends, a non-profit foundation dedicated to finding cures and saving pets with cancer and other serious pet diseases.

Even though John’s work can often be seen in art shows around Williamson County, I strongly encourage you to make the quick trip to East Nashville to see his studio/gallery and get the full experience.  “There’s so much good visual art in Nashville right now,” John Said.  “ It kind of takes ‘second fiddle’ to the music scene.  People should get out and experience it and definitely support local artists.” 

To find out more about John Cannon, go to www.johncannonart.com.  Also, check out www.frankiesfriends.com and www.tomatoartfest.com.

Backstage: Forecastle (August Issue 2013)

 This month my VIP Pass was to Forecastle, a three-day music festival at the Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville.  My husband and I were able to make it for two days, and the line up was amazing.  The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, The Joy Formidable, Grace Potter, The Flamming Lips and our favorite, The Avett Brothers were just a few of a very long list on the “music menu”.  An unfortunate cancellation by the band Churchill turned into something better with the last minute addition of The Secret Sisters.  I was able to meet The Secret Sisters backstage and discuss a future story for YOUR Williamson surrounding the release of their next album.  I highly recommend making the short trip to Louisville for next year’s festival. 

THEATER: TPAC Education’s Sherri Leathers (August Issue 2013)

Franklin resident, Sherri Leathers, says her work at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is a blessing that has enriched her life, as well as the life of her children.  However, all who know Sherri and what she does for the TPAC, say that she is the blessing and responsible for enriching the lives of many children statewide and beyond.  She is able to do this through her role as the director of program services for the education program of the TPAC, and she serves on the board of directors of the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY), an organization dedicated to advancing stage productions for children.  

Starting at the TPAC, as an intern right out of college, Sherri worked her way to programming for the education program, where she found her home.  “In Tennessee, at TPAC, and within IPAY, Sherri’s earned a reputation for her high standards and her ability to recognize performances that are well suited for arts education,” said Roberta Ciuffo West, TPAC’s Executive Vice President for Education and Outreach.  “She’s a visionary in that respect.  She has a gift for seeing how a performance will connect with young audience—how it will entertain, uplift, or inspire children at the same time it meets classroom learning goals.”  TPAC’s privilege to present to young artists their first art experience is impactful and meaningful to Sherri.  She loves the day-to-day work of researching art, meeting companies and working with artists of all kinds, and she especially loves being at the TPAC on show day.  Sherri’s enthusiasm for this program radiates through her and inspires all who are a part of it.

Sherri has brought many incredible opportunities to the education department of the TPAC over the years and what has been happening this summer is no exception.  The department collaborated with a Montreal theatre company to present the English version of Pinocchio, which will premiere in Nashville on November 4, 2013.  Based on Carlo Collodi’s novel, published in Italy in 1883, the play is written and directed by Hugo Bélanger, the artistic director of Théâtre Tout à Trac.  Inspired and impressed by the work of TPAC Education during their Nashville run of Alice in Wonderland in 2011, Bélanger made the invitation to collaborate, believing Nashville is the best place to bring Pinocchio to life for English-speaking audiences.  A five-person acting work group gave feedback to the theatre on its translation.  “It is exceptional and such an honor,” said Sherri, “that everywhere the show plays in English, the TPAC will be credited.”

Sherri is excited about the upcoming 2013-2014 season for the education program, which will include A Christmas Carol, put on by Franklin’s Studio Tenn.  She plans to continue to bring the best work to the young audiences and do anything she can to impact the artistic community.  She feels that it is important to create artistic exchange with artists from other places with a balance of local, national, and international work. 

When anyone comments on all the work that Sherri Leathers has done with the TPAC and how unbelievable it is, Vice President of Communications and Community Relations, Lori Ward, will tell you, “That’s our Sherri.”  To find out more about the education program at the TPAC and the upcoming season, go to www.tpac.org/education.

MUSIC: Tyler Hayes (August Issue 2013)

Oliver Wendell Holmes writes, “Most people die with the music still in them.” Holmes’ inspirational words are used as the basis for “The Song Workshop”, therapeutic songwriting created by multiple award-winning songwriter, Tyler Hayes.

Tyler and I met a few years ago and quickly became friends.  She’s one of those people that just draws others in.  She’s beautiful, funny, extremely talented and most of all authentic.  You never question what she’s thinking or feeling, and she will tell you that she “loves big”.  All this comes out through her emotional, raw songwriting ability.   Tyler has had great success with songs like “Bring It On Home To Me” recorded by Little Big Town, “Right Now (We Need One Another)” recorded by BeBe and CeCe Winans along with Vince Gill and Wynona Judd and her first cut at age 19, “If This World” recorded by Jaci Velasquez.

A year and a half ago, Tyler significantly limited commercial writing to a handful of artists and turned her focus to creating “The Song Workshop”.  Through her own personal struggles, Tyler found that songwriting can be a very healing tool.  After working very closely with Miles Adcox, CEO of Onsite (www.onsiteworkshops.com), “The Song Workshop” was developed.  During the workshop, Tyler asks participants a series of interpersonal questions to draw out what she believes is their own personal song.  “This allows them access to a lot of emotions and to move through emotional blocks,” Tyler said.  As answers to the questions are given, she begins writing lyrics from what she hears being discussed and then sings it to the individual or group.  “As they talk, I write and sing it back,” Tyler said.  “That’s when the experience happens.”  Once the song is complete, Tyler records it and gives it to them.  She says that from then on, when they play the song, their brain remembers the healing.  This summer, Tyler has been making a record of songs co-written with Kyle Rictor that are based on a year of therapeutic songwriting at Onsite.

In addition to her work in therapeutic songwriting, Tyler has her own publishing company and has been producing contemporary Christian artist David Richt.  David is the son of Mark Richt, head football coach for the Georgia Bulldogs.  Tyler is originally from Georgia so she enjoys traveling back there to work with David.  It also does not hurt that she loves those Bulldogs.  She even co-wrote, “Dawg Bite”.  A song that David sang featuring Colt Ford.  It was not received well by critics, but Tyler says that it was fun and just one of those things that she has to laugh at herself about.

Bulldogs aside, it is really “The Song Workshop” that Tyler is most passionate about right now.  She wants to write and speak more and more about “finding your song”.  “I believe within everyone is a song, a song as unique as their fingerprint,” said Tyler.  “I want to write that song, your song, to celebrate, to heal and to assure that we do not ‘die with the music still in us’ ”. 

To find out more, please visit her websites: www.thesongworkshop.com and www.tylerhayes.net. 

ART: Diane Stockard (August Issue 2013)

At the young age of seven, Diane Stockard sold hand painted Christmas cards to make money for her family, after their house burned down.  With no means to purchase paint, Diane made her own from berries, ashes, dirt, shoe polish and anything she could find to put on paper.  The cards were a success and proof that she had an amazing gift.  She’s been painting ever since.

Diane and I met through the Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission.  Her art has a strong connection with music so we bonded instantly.  Her mother was an artist and came from a family of jazz musicians.  Diane says she gets her artistic talent from her mom, and she is inspired by the music.  The majority of her work is music related, and all of it is sentimental to her.  Sometimes she incorporates actual instruments into her paintings.  After the Nashville flood in 2010, damaged instruments were donated to Diane so that she could turn them into art.  These were definitely sentimental to Diane and many others.  “I believe that anyone who buys my art is buying a piece of my heart,” Diane said.

Diane has connected with many musicians over the years and given them portraits of themselves.  She tends to focus on blues singers.  Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang and Stacy Mitchart all have portraits from Diane.  Her hope is to one day have a gallery display of all the great blues musicians.   Of course, she’ll be adding my hometown man, Muddy Waters.

Although they are not music related, Diane’s most meaningful pieces are “Glowing Angels” that she paints in honor of her mother because she passed away from cancer.  Right before her mother died, she asked Diane to open the window for the light to come in.  The same thing happened with her grandfather.  She believes that they both saw angels.  Diane donates profits from the sell of the “Glowing Angels” to the American Cancer Society.  “My art is not just for me,” Diane said.  “It’s to give back to honor my mom.”  She does additional fund raising for non-profits through her art.  She does a lot for Autism, the fight against AIDS and the Boys and Girls Club.  Diane has put on several art and music shows to give back to the community. 

Diane has given herself the title “Artist of the Glowing Light” because each of her paintings have some kind of paint that will glow in any room with a light shinning on it.  It adds an amazing effect that makes her art even more beautiful than it already is.

 “Art has always been a blessing and a way to provide for my family,” Diane said.   After spending time with her, there is no doubt that she is truly passionate about her art and what it means to her.  She seems to have found healing from the loss of her mother through her talent, and I know her mother looks down from heaven on her with pride.  You can find out more about Diane and see her online gallery at www.dstockard.fineartstudioonline.com.

BACKSTAGE: Woofstock at Fontanel (Summer Issue)

The 2^nd Annual Woofstock at Fontanel was held on June 8^th, and I was on location for great music and a great cause.  Multi-Grammy Award winner Emmylou Harris put on the event to benefit Bonaparte’s Retreat, an organization she established that rescues dogs whose time has run out at Metro Nashville Animal Control.  Crossroads Campus was also benefited.  “This is a great day for the people of Nashville and their dogs,” Emmylou said.  Many of her friends joined her on the bill for the event, and there were some surprises, as well.  There were performances by John Hiatt, Joan Osborne, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Bobby Bare and several others.  My favorite surprise was Keb’ Mo’ and Sam Bush taking the stage to perform together.  They were phenomenal.  In addition to the music, there were tents set up with dog related and un-related vendors, along with several artists.  Among those artists was John Cannon.  Someone you will hear more about from me soon.  I also plan to get more in depth with some of the music artists I met at the event.  Stay tuned!