The Great Spring Art Hop Scavenger Hunt Artists
Kelsey Christine
No Rain, No Flowers
I created this to represent the shifts in weather and nature that we experience with springtime, and to represent life’s metaphors that come along with it. The darkness in life helps us appreciate the light. Rainstorms ultimately give us vibrant rainbows and beautiful flowers. If you’re seeing this and you’re going through something difficult, this is your reminder that it will get better. You’ve gotten through tougher storms before—you’ll get through this one too. And eventually, you’ll see the sunlight and the hopeful budding blooms on the other side.
Caitlin Harris
Bugs Bunny
My goal as a multidisciplinary artist is to create a gentler world for the viewer and myself. My work is reflective of my passion for plants, natural life, and love of color. In this instance, “Garden Party” is an opportunity to show a whimsical side to a subject matter that many of us may consider to be gross—insects. Afterall, these creatures play a vital role in sustaining plant life. This piece is my way of paying homage to them.
Corey Lazarowicz
SunBun
I have been teaching high school art for 14 years but I don’t often take time to create art for myself. I love that this project has challenged me to create something just for fun. Up until this past year, I had family who lived in the Netherlands and your tulip exhibit always made me think of them. I wanted to incorporate the tulips and my love of natural beauty in this acrylic painting.
Amanda Phillips and Rachel Bartek
Leafy Greens
Amanda Phillips and Rachel Bartek are artistic collaborators living and working in Nashville, TN. Drawn into the unique processes of glassworking, they find joy in its temperamental and intricate relationship with fire. With “Leafy Greens,” they have chosen to craft lush, green leaves from a molten medium, mirroring the natural process of forest regrowth after wildfires. This sculpture, akin to nature, utilizes multiples to converge into a singular entity, much like growth at a cellular level. The sheen of the glass leaves helps reveal the bunny, allowing it to stand out just enough from its camouflage in the foliage of the Cheekwood landscape.
Bethany Primrose
What’s the Tea, Honey Bee?
As a Nashville-native and artist, I find endless inspiration in the vibrant beauty of Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and the diverse plant collections housed here. As I paint, I aim to bring awareness to the important role of honeybees as pollinators in our ecosystem. Through my art, I hope to not only celebrate the wonders of nature, but also encourage others to appreciate and protect it.
Tara Shade
Mansion in Spring
Artist Statement
Through my work I seek to express and process the self. My pieces are tangled in memories and feelings of pasts that I cannot necessarily begin to touch. The imagery of my work focuses mainly on solitary, dream-like spaces that are tangible enough to evoke a feeling that is familiar to us. My pieces range from landscapes to portraying intangible memories and feelings. My color palette relies mainly on pastels, bold colors, and the occasional dark colors. The use of these colors help me to convey the dream-like feeling across my body of work. My practice explores memory and feeling deeply and is meant to showcase the process as much as it is meant to showcase the finished product. Ultimately, my art is meant to be emotionally healing.
Description of Work
“Cheekwood Mansion in Spring” is meant to showcase the beauty and vibrant color of the estate during springtime, evoking calming memories and feelings. The work is painted with a mixture of vibrant hues and pastels using acrylic paint and markers. The brushstrokes and lines are whimsical and free, mimicking the plant-life and nature surrounding the Cheekwood Mansion.
Alice Shearon
The Forest Floor
I primarily work with textiles, doing tie dye and shibori indigo, but my background is in painting. I love capturing the natural world and have lately been fascinated with mycology (spurred by my 9-year-old daughter’s recent obsession with mushrooms as well).
Robin Wolfenden
Ginko Hop(e)
I like to play with color, explore new materials, and express myself. I believe in the beauty and power of personal expression through my art and Soul. I am inspired by my surroundings and personal journey and illustrate the subtleties of foliage and objects gathered in my travels. My style is decorative, derived from a career as a high-end wallcovering designer, creating a look full of light, color and optimism.
I have chosen the Gingko leaf for my art display, as it is the symbol of hope, and prayers for peace and healthfulness. The technique is Cyanotype, which is an alternative photographic process using the sun’s UV rays for exposure. The gingko leaves are placed on a prepared Japanese Mulberry paper, and placed in the sun to process. From the way you brush on the emulsion, to how you wash the print, there are a multitude of intricacies that allow each print to be unique.
I am currently on the board of Art & Soul Nashville, where I facilitate Cyanotype workshops. I have been a featured artist in the Vanderbilt online magazine, Nashville Review, and more is represented at Daphne Quirky Home and Modern Remains.
XPayne
Bunny Abstraction 1
Medium: Acrylic Spray paint.
Inspired by 80’s Memphis Milano aesthetic. This “Bunny Abstraction” is a colorful interpretation of an iconic symbol of spring. The color palette of this piece is meant to evoke floral scenery and the energy that warm weather inspires.