Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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MAJOR GEORGE RODRIGUE EXHIBITION COMES TO THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER IN HENDERSONVILLE, TENN.

Media Inquiries:

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 14, 2024) – The Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is pleased to announce a new exhibit, The River is the Road: Paintings by George Rodrigue, on display Nov. 23, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025. This unprecedented exhibition, organized by the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation with Wendy Rodrigue, coincides with the 10th anniversary of Rodrigue’s death.

Curated by Dana Holland-Beickert, the exhibition traces 45 years of the river in Rodrigue’s paintings, exploring the unique ways Rodrigue used the river as a reference to his Cajun heritage, and ultimately as a metaphor for the journey of life.

Wendy Rodrigue, the widow of the esteemed artist, will be available Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10 to lead exhibition tours for local schools, providing invaluable insights into the profound legacy of George Rodrigue. If you are interested in a tour of the exhibit for your school or community group, please contact [email protected]. Docent-led tours will also be available for the duration of the exhibit.

The Opening Exhibit Reception for The River is the Road is Saturday, Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the MACC. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Wendy Rodrigue and attend her Gallery Talk. Louisiana-inspired refreshments and cocktails will be available. Admission is free for MACC Members and $10 for non-members. Military veterans and students are also free.
About the Artist

George Rodrigue (1944-2013) was a visionary American artist who hailed from New Iberia, Louisiana. His artistic journey, ignited during his studies at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, produced an extraordinary legacy in the world of American art. Throughout his career, Rodrigue’s canvas captured the essence of his cherished Cajun heritage – its landscapes, people, traditions, and folklore. His iconic series, The Blue Dog, emerged from the myth of the “loup-garou” and continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

About the Curator
Dana Holland-Beickert, Curator of the Life & Legacy Foundation, has more than 30-years of experience in the arts as curator, consultant and advisor, and is also an accredited art appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers. She holds Bachelor and Master degrees in art history, and has worked as a museum curator for more than 20 years before joining the Life & Legacy Foundation. Since 2006, she has curated or co-curated more than 20 exhibitions on Rodrigue’s art.

About the Life & Legacy Foundation
The Life & Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2017 by Wendy Rodrigue in honor of her late husband, artist George Rodrigue. Wendy brings original Rodrigue paintings from her collection into schools nationwide and presents ‘unplugged’ art and storytelling experiences as a way of inspiring her audience. Programs include education outreach, written and recorded Rodrigue history, and national museum tours. As of 2024, Wendy has shared this unique programming, personally, with some 90,000 students in 10 states. In November 2024 she will celebrate her 200th school at Rodrigue’s alma mater, Catholic High in New Iberia, Louisiana. Learn more at legacyarttour.org.

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 1,000 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.monthavenarts.org 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.