“If you build it they will come.” This must have been the idea that Jeanie Nelson of the Land Trust for Tennessee had when she asked Beth Alexander and Brooks Mathews to chair the 9th Annual Blue Moon event. What a crowd, what a night! The setting was the Farm at Glen Leven on Franklin Road (this property has been donated to the Land Trust). Under the largest tent I have ever been under (Ringling Bros. Circus would be jealous), co-chair Brooks Mathews designed the tent decor with hand-painted murals of Tennessee landscapes lining the walls. Brooks’ partner Beth Alexander, well that says it all—you put this girl’s name on an invite and you have a sold-out crowd. A sold-out A-list crowd it was; 780 attended for an evening of country elegance, bluegrass, and comfort food, all followed by a roaring bonfire and s’mores. The highlight of the evening was the gifted trio of Clare Armistead, Edie Bass and Barbara Daane singing God Bless America.
The invitation read “tight jeans and loose boots encouraged,” and that was the comfortable country attire seen on Lucianne and Toby Wilt, Casey and Alex Joyce, Laurie and Steve Eskind, Fiona and Jim King, Jessica Osaki and Houston Howell, Barbara Schneider and Margaret Ann Robinson, Lyn and Bill Andrews, Kathy Follin and Larry Wieck (Mary was down in Louisiana hunting gators), Sally and John McDougall, Myles Maillie and Marsha Nichols, Agnetta and Brownlee Currey, Celeste Reed and Don Welch, Totty and Jimmy Bradford, Emily and Sam Parrish, Pam and Jeff Kuhn, Robin and Richard Patton, Reed Harrison, Lisa and Doug Foote, Dave Alexander and Bert Mathews, Whitney Daane, Jane Haggard, Donald Cowan, Cathy and Martin Brown, Grace Clayton and Stephanie Armistead, Betsy and Ridley Wills, Meredie and Charlie Nelson, Gloria Hougland and Chuck Welch…told you it was an A-plus party. I must mention best-dressed gentleman was Owen Joyner in a cowboy get-up (got an idea, Owen—next year come as an Indian squaw with adorable little Amy as your papoose)!
Inside the home, Glen Leven, was a Plein-Air Painters for the Land art show. Plein air is French for outdoors. As a vision of a fleeting instant in nature, the plein-air painting pays truthful homage to landscapes in danger of disappearing. This exhibit was by The Chestnut Group, led by friend and artist Bitsy King.
The University School of Nashville hosted one of the city’s most prominent art events, Artclectic, in its thirteenth year. What great ambience it had, being that the exhibit was in the school’s gym, which was transposed into an elegant art gallery with the walls and flooring covered with black drape and carpet. A large iron and crystal chandelier hung in the gym entrance welcoming patrons as they entered the art gallery of USN.
Some 50 artists displayed creative art, including painting, glass, sculpture, photography, and jewelry. My favorites of the show were Mary Sue Kern for her work using old books, John Sellberry with his beautiful pottery, and Camille Engel with her contemporary realism oil paintings. Congratulations to my friend Eric Oglander; he won first place in the two-dimensional category. Eric now lives in Santa Cruz, and he is part of that amazing Oglander Family.
I must say this was one of the best art shows I have seen in Nashville. Those I am sure were agreeing with me were Libby and Ben Page, Tom Curtis, Daisy King and George Clark, Whit Smith, Steven Crook, Carol and John Sergent, and advertising king Jeff Bradford.
Another A-plus crowd gathered at Stanford Fine Art Gallery to attend Four Out of Four IV and One More. Jane Coble, artist to the socials, put this unique art exhibit together with gallery owner Stan Mabry. Four Out of Four featured the talents of one artistic Tennessee family, the Hughes siblings and the daughter of one. Jane Hughes Coble (you know Billy and Jane) has received her most-recent award, being juried into the Best and Brightest Art Show in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jane’s daughter Anne Trainer is a portrait artist receiving commissions for individuals and entire families. Dr. Allen Hughes, an avid outdoorsman, has a national reputation as a wildlife artist and carver. Sally Hughes Smith of Charleston, South Carolina, has been commissioned to do the cover of the Charleston visitor’s guide. Anne Hughes Sayle is an oil painter, water colorist, and potter as well and has won the Memphis Arts in the Park competition, among other awards. Lucianne Wilt had the quote of the evening: “God sprinkles a little creative dust on each family, but with the Hughes family he dropped a handful!”
All the Coble family (and I mean all; there are a bunch of them) attended, as well as Francis and Jimmy Spradley, Sally and John McDougall, Lake and John Eakin, Carole and Ed Nelson, Alyne Massey with sister Elizabeth Queener, Debbie and Fred Cassitty, Margy and Billy Brooks, Cheryl and Hugh Hunter Byrd, Fran and John Hardcastle, Barbara Mandrell, Chloe Fort, Jann Harrison, Julia and Bev Landstreet, Margaret and Alex Palmer, Janice and Newt Lovvorn, Julia Jarman, Pam and Jimmy Stein, Anne and Walter Morgan, Mary Follin with daughter Kathy (they are Cobles too), Pat Wallace, Eleanor Wills, Juanita Cates, Joanne and Billy Bainbridge—do you think Jane has a few friends or what?
What a beautiful fall Sunday for a picnic in the park—this was the scene for Sunday in the Park benefitting the Friends of Warner Parks. This group of giving and caring people are dedicated to the preservation, protection and stewardship of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. Chairmen Jacqueline Hutton, Elizabeth McDonald, and Aubrey and Trey Harwell did an outstanding sell-out job with this picnic. When we think of a picnic we think of Grandmother’s quilt, fried chicken, etc., but no. The menu for this outdoor tent party was Beef a’la Gouguenheim, grilled ficelle and Gouguenheim Malbec with tarte aux poires for dessert. So much for that KFC idea.
The Warner Bass “Best Friend” Award was presented to Lucius Burch for years of service to the parks. By the way, Warner was surprised with the news that this award was given in his name (bet Madge knew about this). All the ladies in their finest fall attire and the gentlemen in their tweeds—I must say it was the most formal picnic I have attended.
Senator Bob Cocker was a popular guest along with Annette Eskind and Heloise Kuhn, Alyne Massey, Edna and Peppy Presley, Peggy and Randy Kinnard, Claudette and Joe Smith, Elizabeth and Donnie Nichols, Karen and Will Coble, Vivanda Hill, Elizabeth Cato and music man Pat Patrick, Grace Clayton and Hugh Howser, Marty and Ronald Ligon, Peggy and John Warner, Ann Wells, Mrs. John Noel, Kate Graykin, Jeanie Nelson, Nancy and Bev Landstreet. I had the best table, all lovely women—Laura Bearden, Joyce Hitt, Anne Buttrey, Gloria Hougland and Cassie Winsett. Don’t know which was better, me or the bourguignonne!
One thing for sure: Nashville is gifted with the A-plus crowd! I do want to mention the “Godmothers” of Warner Parks, Clare Armistead, Peggy Joyce, Adrienne Todd, Elizabeth Proctor and Chippy Pirtle. Without these generous ladies there would be no Friends of Warner Parks.
Red hots, chocolates, cotton candy, oh my! Sweet Imagination was the theme of Artrageous 22, benefiting Nashville Cares. There were ten participating art galleries to visit on the Van Gogh bus tour, each serving food and beverages. I made it to only three of the galleries, but it was very worth the visits. I first went to Richter Gallery to view a most unusual but interesting form of photography. Samantha Richter, gallery owner, gave me the tour of The Queens by Alex and Felix. Samantha added that the Swiss photography duo has devised a new universe presided over by fantastical queens, each with her own name, such as Queen Vinyl, Queen Marzipan and so on. This is a serious exhibit with a whimsical side. Enjoying the queens were Elaine Wood and Scott Chambers, Linda Garfunkel and Mike King, Jerry Atnip and Nick Dantona who also had art on display. Next stop was Bennett Gallery where gallery owner Bill Bennett welcomed me and 900 other guests for the evening. Arnold Mint of Cha-Cha (and a few other restaurants) did the food at both locations—it was so very Arnold! My friend Charlotte Terrell was the featured artist of the evening at Bennett. The final gallery on my tour was Finer Things, a most impressive art and furniture gallery. Food was by House of Yum and they had great music by Storm Kings.
On to the late party at Limelight. I have never seen so many limos and buses. Think about it—they were moving 1500 people around the city. I remember when Nashville was a one-limo town; boy we have grown. Artists Bob Benson and Michael McDaniel turned the entry tent into what looked like the entrance to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory—most clever and creative, even if I did feel that I was part of a real-life Candyland board game. Inside Limelight the walls were lined with video screens by Chris Allen of Play Me Productions. The screens were in sequence to the beat of the wild Artrageous music by DJ Ron. It was a night that even Willy Wonka could not forget! Candy lovers were everywhere, including Ralph Cadenhead, Mark Lopez, Patrick Boggs, Peter Nielson, John Bridges (Artrageous Godfather), Jimmy and Regina Starr, Lisa Rose and Steve Johnson, Steve Sirls and Allen DeCuyper, Sally Levine and George Barrett.
Here’s one for Ms. Cheap—Uptown’s Smoke Shop in Green Hills recently hosted a free concert showcasing legendary guitar artist Phil Keaggy, perhaps the most admired guitarist in music today. Keaggy’s career has spanned over 30 years and has included over 50 solo albums. Men and women were invited to enjoy cigars and the concert. Way to go, Uptown’s. I cannot wait till the next one!
A salute to Alton Kelley on the grand opening of the Belle Meade Plantation Winery. “This is such an added asset to the Plantation; just realize how well the smoked country hams have been,” stated Josephine Darwin. It was a great turnout for free tasting of wine and other tasty treats. Alton explained that the grapes are grown and crushed at Key Springs Winery in Hampshire, Tennessee, and then brought to the plantation for fermentation, filtering, bottling and labeling. Both mayors (Belle Meade and Nashville), Gray Thornburg and Karl Dean, gave opening remarks, and there was a musical performance by Billy Dean. Just to note that all is good, the wine was blessed by Rev. Tim Taylor of St. George’s Episcopal Church (wonder if that is going to be our new Communion wine?). Joining John Rochford, chairman of the winery board, were Craig Atkinson, Irene and Ridley Wills, Damon Byrd, Elizabeth and Lyn Greer, Lavinia Butler and Dianne Neal, Em and George Crook, Senator Henry, Steve Sirls and Allen DeCuyper (do they ever stay home?), and Nan Parrish, who added that the wine will be a delight on a picnic (there goes that KFC idea again).
To all a good night, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
