Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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Donna Woodley

Donna Woodley is curator of the exhibit Black Vibrations, which runs through March 23 at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center. This amazing exhibition features 54 works by more than a dozen of Middle Tennessee’s preeminent Black artists.

The title Black Vibrations derives from the idea that although the familiarities that reside within Black culture are beautiful and celebratory, Blackness is not a monolith. It is an oscillating and dynamic state of being with a pulse that beats life, joy, resistance, celebration, creativity, similarities and differences. Just as sound vibrations travel, reverberating across space and time, so too do the legacies of Black communities and their continuous contributions to global culture. Each artwork in this exhibition, whether through color, texture or form, sends out a powerful vibrational frequency that calls for reflection, engagement, and dialogue.

Donna is the perfect curator for this exhibit. An art instructor at Tennessee State University and successful studio artist, Donna was named Nashville’s Best New Artist in 2016 by the Nashville Scene. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally, and she was a featured artist for the Rep. John Lewis Mural Project installed in downtown Nashville.

In this episode of MACC Talk, sponsored by Nōssi College of Art and Design, Donna talks with host John Pitcher about the special vibes of this unique exhibition.

 

Iconic Series: Malcohn X by Michael McBride

 

By Any Means, by Omari Booker

 

Teachable Moment by Michael McBride

 

Drug War by Omari Booker

 

A Strategic Alliance for Mutually Beneficial Growth by Samuel Dunson

 

A Touch of Nostalgia by Barbara Hodges

 

Vera by Nadine Shillingford
Granny in tha House by Shadale Smith

 

Blow Your Horn by Rod McGaha

 

Dance by XPayne

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Kaylin Warden

Creative Design and Operations Manager

Kaylin Warden serves as the MACC’s Creative Design and Operations Manager. In this post, she oversees the organization’s graphic design work for exhibitions, events and special projects. She also coordinates the MACC’s arts outreach activities and assists with bookkeeping, among other duties. Kaylin, above all, 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.