On the Circuit: Welcome to Artville. Population: Nashville
If we overheard one refrain most often during the four days of Artville, surely it was this: “Where ARE we?”
Because the third annual festival of arts traversed downtown—from Wedgewood Houston to Neuhoff—leading guests to the newest and most eye-popping addresses of Nashville’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Thursday kicked off with a patrons party at Cass Contemporary Gallery, the new BNA outpost of the Florida-based full-service art consulting and management company. Guests toured the sleek white gallery, then migrated outside to hear Los Angeles street artist Alison Hueman in conversation with journalist Pedro Andrade.
Where WERE we? We were in the greenspace best described as the old outfield of Greer Stadium, with the iconic scoreboard illuminating the stage and outdoor swingsets in the charming pocket park.
Throughout the days of Artville, Walk of Fame Park—the greenspace framed by the Schermerhorn, Country Music Hall of Fame and Bridgestone—bustled with a juried selection of art installations, including Adrienne Outlaw’s “River Dome.” The geodesic dome, constructed of recycled plastic bottle caps, illustrated the volume of plastic that migrates into waterways.
Alongside public art, the American Artisan Festival drew makers from across the country to sell jewelry, ceramics and other crafts, carrying on a 50-year tradition. Established in 1972 by Nancy Saturn, the festival now functions as part of Artville, which her daughter Samantha Saturn leads with event producer Jack Davis.
On Friday, Artville at Night led to Neuhoff District, with a VIP viewing of a photographic installation by Caroline Allison, followed by dazzling light shows projected onto rustic walls of the former meatpacking district.
Saturday evening, Artvillians migrated across downtown to Tinney Contemporary Gallery, where New York-based collector Jeff Magid—known for his straight talk about the complex world of art collecting—spoke on his efforts to open the closed and clubby art world to a broader community.
From there, guests strolled to the Fairlane Hotel, to view works by artists currently in residence in the renovated Arcade, including Lesley Patterson-Marx, Omari Booker and Clay Williams. Standing on the rooftop terrace and orienting themselves to new landmarks below—Neuhoff District to the left, Wedgewood Houston to the right, and vibrant nightlife on the sidewalks below—guests posed a constant question: “Where ARE we?”
We aren’t in Nashville anymore. Welcome to Artville.
