Monthaven Art and Cultural Center

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center
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J.K. And Erica Brister Purchase Autumn De Forest Painting To Benefit Monthaven Arts And Cultural Center’s Education And Outreach Programs

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (May 19, 2021) – One of art phenom Autumn de Forest’s colorful new paintings fetched $25,000 during a live auction fundraiser on May 8 at the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) in Hendersonville, Tenn. Mud and Pearls, de Forest’s playful acrylic-on-canvas depiction of muddy pigs with glistening pearls, was purchased at auction by Sumner County Residents J.K. and Erica Brister. Funds from the auction will be used to support arts education and outreach at the MACC. 

“Erica and I are dedicated to helping the MACC carry out its arts education mission,” says J.K. Brister. “We are especially pleased to invest in and support the work of Autumn de Forest, who made a huge impression on our daughter Lovely during a master class at the MACC. Erica and I believe in the MACC and share the vision of art continuing to elevate, inspire and invigorate the community of Sumner County.”

Autumn de Forest, who is now 19, has been an important professional artist for most of her life. Her works are collected around the world, and she has made appearances at both the White House and the Vatican, where at age 14 she met Pope Francis and received the International Vatican Award in Painting and Art. She staged her first exhibition at the MACC in 2017 and led a master class for area youth.

J.K. and Erica Brister are long-time supporters of the MACC. In 2017, they became the MACC’s very first founding members, and their generosity has been vital to the MACC’s success and growth. Funds from their purchase of Mud and Pearls will help support the MACC’s Art After School and Homeschool Art programs. It will also provide funding for adult art classes and arts outreach programs to underserved youth, families and military veterans. 

“We are incredibly grateful to J.K. and Erica for everything they’ve done for the arts,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s Executive Director and CEO.  “The MACC continues to benefit every day from their vision, leadership and generosity.”

The most tangible sign of their support for the arts is Mud and Pearls, which the general public can see on display through June 13 at the MACC’s current exhibit, The Artistic Evolution of Autumn De Forest. The Bristers have also agreed to make the painting available for future exhibitions, where it will likely hang alongside other de Forest works in the MACC’s Permanent Memory Collection. 

J.K. Brister is the Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations at U.S. Pest Protection, and Erica Brister is the organization’s President and CEO. U.S. Pest Protection is the leading pest control company in Tennessee. With their Headquarters located in Hendersonville, the Family-owned and operated business has numerous branch locations across the region that services thousands of residential and commercial customers in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is conveniently located off Gallatin Pike just three miles east of Rivergate Mall. The place serves as a haven for the arts, hosting major art exhibitions throughout the year.  It also offers classes and summer camps on art and film for children and adults. Monthaven Mansion is available to rent for weddings, receptions, showers, corporate team-building classes and private parties.  For more information, visit www.monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call (615) 822-0789.

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.