Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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“Vietnam Then & Now” Heads to Discovery Park In Union City

David Wright and Chuck Creasy: “Vietnam 2 Soldiers. 2 Artists. 2 Journeys. Then & Now”

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center’s touring exhibition Vietnam Then & Now, featuring the artwork of renowned artists (and Vietnam War veterans) David Wright and Chuck Creasy, opens March 16 at Discovery Park of America near Union City Tenn.

Montagnard Chief by David Wright

The exhibition, which premiered at the MACC in June 2021, includes many of the sketches of American soldiers and Vietnamese civilians that Wright drew in-country in 1965. Creasy, who served as a forward artillery observer in 1968, returned to Vietnam exactly 50 years after his deployment. The experience inspired him to create a series of colorful and expressive watercolors of the Vietnamese people and countryside.

Together, Wright’s and Creasy’s colorful, remarkably sensitive artwork serves as a lasting testament to the healing power of art.

“I am excited about this show because it’s not just another war exhibit,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “David’s and Chuck’s expressive drawings and watercolors focus our attention on ordinary people, on American soldiers and Vietnamese civilians, and on the beauty of the Vietnamese countryside. So, this is really an exhibition about our shared humanity.”

Vietnamese Girl by Chuck Creasy

The exhibition’s 2022-23 touring schedule included stops at the Customs House in Clarksville, Tenn., Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Va., Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Ashland City Library in Ashland, Kan.

The first stop on Vietnam Then & Now’s 2024 tour is at Discovery Park. Located just outside the boundary of Union City, Tenn., Discovery Park is a museum and heritage park. It sits on 50 acres of land and features exhibits and activities on local history, nature, military history, art and science. Art lovers and history buffs alike are encouraged to join us at this amazing facility and celebrate this important exhibit. The artists will be on hand at the opening reception.

Exhibit Runs Through May 26. The opening reception is Saturday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Wright and Creasy have recorded a remarkable video about their time in Vietnam. The experience opened Wright’s eyes to the realities of war, giving him insights into what both soldiers and civilians endured. Returning to the country after 50 years, Creasy could only marvel at the rich, beautiful tapestry of modern Vietnam.

 

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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.