Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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CONTEMPORARY ARTIST KRE8 PRESENTS HIS SINGULAR VISION AT THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER IN HENDERSONVILLE, TENN.

Media Inquiries:

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTEMPORARY ARTIST KRE8 PRESENTS HIS SINGULAR VISION AT THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER IN HENDERSONVILLE, TENN.

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (April 12, 2024) – Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is pleased to welcome Kevin “Kre8” Vigil as the featured artist for its Fifth Annual Moonlight and Magnolias Gala. The celebrated contemporary artist will also showcase some of his most vibrant paintings in an exhibition titled Kre8: Attributes of a Visionary. The exhibit will run April 28 to June 2, 2023 at Monthaven.

“We are thrilled to introduce Kre8’s strikingly original artwork to our Tennessee audience,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “In his paintings, Kre8 has combined the sensibilities of a street artist with the sophistication of an artistic master. The result is artwork that is both immediately appealing and incredibly thoughtful. Needless to say, both the art novice and the connoisseur will find much to admire.”

Born in Germany in 1980 to a German mother and a father of Mexican descent serving in the Army, Kre8 first gained prominence as a graffiti and tattoo artist. He later shifted his focus to painting, becoming popular with art collectors after his breakthrough showing at the 2018 Art Basel contemporary art fair in Miami, Fla.

Kre8’s unique artistic style, known as Kre8tizm, captivated collectors, drawing admirers from all walks of life and age groups. Described as a blend of modern, contemporary, abstract and surrealism with elements of pop and street art, Kre8tizm is a visual representation of the artist’s philosophy. Notably, all of Kre8’s characters are faceless, a deliberate response to the judgment he experienced due to the tattoos on his own face. He implores others not to judge him based on appearances but rather by his outlook on life and his artistic vision.

In his artwork, Kre8 employs black-and-white to symbolize the stark reality between truth and lies that permeate our world. Color, on the other hand, represents us, emphasizing the diversity and vibrancy that each individual brings to the world. Kre8’s style has garnered tremendous acclaim, leading to more than 30 sold-out exhibitions across the globe.
Kre8 will lead an Artist Talk from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. The event is part of the MACC’s Moonlight and Magnolias weekend, which raises money for the MACC’s education and outreach programs. Admission to the event is free but space is limited. Call (615) 822-0789 to reserve your space today.

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 900 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.