Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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THE 49TH ANNUAL JAMES B. HAWKINS STUDENT ART SHOW OPENS AT THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER IN HENDERSONVILLE, TENN.

Media Inquiries:

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (March 17, 2025) – Some of the most gifted young artists in Sumner County are coming to the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) in Hendersonville, Tenn. The 49th Annual James B. Hawkins Sumner County Student Art Show takes place March 28 to April 13 and will feature nearly 150 works in a variety of media.

“We are thrilled to showcase the works of these amazing student-artists,” says MACC Executive Director Cheryl Strichik. “The interest and participation in our Student Art Show underscores the importance of arts education in our community.”

The James B. Hawkins Sumner County Student Art Show is open to all Sumner County middle and high school art students, and this year students from more than 15 public and private schools will display their best pieces at the MACC. Independent art experts are brought in to evaluate the students’ art, and prizes are awarded. This year’s distinguished panel of judges include Michael McBride, an art instructor at Tennessee State University; Leigh Hendry, curator for Park West Gallery; and MACC Regional Art Director Ruth Chase.

Student Art Show prizes include awards for “Winning Art Department,” “Best of Show” and “Director’s Pick,” along with First, Second, and Third Place ribbons and cash prizes for painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, digital art, printmaking, animation and mixed media. Participating middle school and high school art teachers will also receive recognition and cash prizes.

The MACC is presenting the 49th Annual Student Art Show in partnership with Nōssi College of Art. VIP sponsors are Brauer and NASTC, and Friends of the MACC sponsors include Puryear Farms, Tenn Properties, Olympian Construction and Vandenberg Insurance.
Nōssi has been the presenting sponsor for the Student Art Show for the past seven years. Cyrus Vatandoost, president of Nōssi College of Art, commended this year’s student artists for their accomplishments.

“As the only private art college in Tennessee for aspiring creative professionals, we’re proud to contribute to the educational pursuits of these students by donating scholarships for the seventh year in a row,” says Vatandoost. “The creativity and imagination of these young students is truly remarkable.”
Nōssi will award a $4,400 scholarship to the student who wins this year’s “Best of Show” prize. The student who wins the “Director’s Pick” award along with all First-Place winners will receives scholarships of $2,200. Nōssi will also be awarding $2,200 Junior Scholarships in Creativity for Video/Film, Graphic Design, and Illustration Photography.

An opening reception and awards ceremony will take place at the MACC on Sunday, April 13. The reception for middle school students and families will be from 1 to 2 p.m., and for high school students and their families from 3 to 4 p.m.

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.

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.