Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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MARK KOSTABI EXHIBIT BRINGS A TOUCH OF ITALY TO THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER

Media Inquiries:

Cheryl Strichik: [email protected]
(615) 293-3767

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MARK KOSTABI EXHIBIT BRINGS A TOUCH OF ITALY TO THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER.

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 4, 2024) – Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) welcomes renowned artist Mark Kostabi to the City By the Lake with a new exhibition that celebrates the City of Water. The exhibit, titled City of Enchantment: Mark Kostabi in Venice, will run Jan. 14 to Feb. 11, 2024 and feature 41 of the celebrated artist’s paintings. A true Renaissance man, Kostabi will also perform a selection of his original piano compositions during a Venetian Masquerade at the MACC on Jan. 20.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Kostabi back to Monthaven,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “Mark’s colorful paintings are instantly recognizable and wildly popular. His 2022 exhibition attracted thousands of visitors to Monthaven, and I have no doubt that his new Venetian exhibit will be equally successful.”

Born in Los Angeles in 1960, Kostabi studied drawing and painting at California State University before moving to New York in 1982. By 1984, he was a prominent figure in the East Village art scene. Taking his cues from Andy Warhol, Kostabi developed a practice of employing a team of creative thinkers and skilled technicians to assist him in the production of his art. Interested in getting feedback from potential audiences about “what to paint,” Kostabi conducted market research by showing his sketches around, inviting comments and suggestions about his imagery and ideas. This led to building his own style or “brand,” which consists of faceless figures who engage in allegorical or metaphorical narratives.

In this new exhibition, Kostabi’s anonymous figures find themselves in Venice, Italy, where they are placed in situations that invite viewers to reflect on a wide range of topics, including art history, music, love, romance, dreams, spirituality, and the endangered environment. Executed in his trademark bright psychedelic colors, Kostabi’s paintings possess an aesthetic sensibility that reflects the high-tech domination of the 21st century.

An accomplished pianist and composer, Kostabi will perform some of his original piano compositions during a Venetian Masquerade at the MACC starting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20. Space for the event is extremely limited, so tickets are required. Kostabi will also appear in a master class at 2 p.m. on Jan. 21. Call (615) 822-0789 for more information.

Kostabi’s exhibit is on loan from the Park West Museum, which has long championed this artist’s work. The Park West Museum is a non-profit museum located in Park West Gallery’s Southfield, Michigan headquarters. The museum reopened following an extensive remodeling that added two new galleries to the facility. Admission to the museum is free to the public, ensuring that anyone who desires to learn more about art can enjoy the collection.

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) is a jewel-box art museum and education facility housed in one of Tennessee’s most spectacular antebellum mansions. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MACC has staged exhibitions featuring everything from the ceramic art of Pablo Picasso to the evening gowns of Princess Diana. The artwork of local artists and military veterans are also on frequent display. As an art school, the MACC offers classes to more than 600 children and adults each year. The MACC also provides free arts outreach and healing arts to underserved children, families and military veterans. For more information, visit www.monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call (615) 822-0789.

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Kaylin Warden

External Affairs Coordinator

Kaylin Warden joined the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center staff in 2024 as External Affairs Coordinator. In this post, she organizes special off-site events and manages the organization’s external communications. She also works with the development department by updating the MACC’s customer relations database, and she assists the executive director in setting up exhibitions. Above all else, Kaylin is passionate about the arts. It comes as no surprise, then, that she is now pursuing a master’s degree in art history. When she’s not at the MACC, you can find her reading her favorite books (especially ones dealing with maritime mysteries), cooking, gardening, playing with her cat and two dogs, and cheering for the Nashville Predators.

Ruth Chase

Regional Arts Director
Ruth Chase is the Regional Arts Director of Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, joining the team in 2023. For Ruth, the job is all about community, bringing people together to uplift and educate artists and art lovers alike. Her role at Monthaven is to strengthen the local artist community and build connections that will enrich Hendersonville and our surrounding communities through art exhibitions, art education, and opportunities for regional artists.
 
Prior to joining Monthaven, Ruth worked in the arts for over 30 years and is a multimedia artist and graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute. Her artistic practice is inquiry-based and engages in community bridge-building. She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles, curated and juried exhibitions, and has taught at the Crocker Art Museum.
 
Ruth was awarded an Artist-in-Residence for Artist Activating Communities through a grant from the California Arts Council for three consecutive years. Her film Belonging screened at both the 18th Annual Nevada City Film Festival and Wild & Scenic Film Festival. She has received the Legendary Female Artist of Venice award, and she has exhibited in The Crocker Kingsley, the Museum of Northern California Art, and the Diego Rivera Gallery at the San Francisco Art Institute. Ruth also continues her work as a Curatorial Consultant and Art director for the Californian Indigenous Research Project, where she has worked with the local tribe since 2018.