The Frist Calendar of Events February 1–April 30, 2018
February 1–April 30, 2018
- High-resolution images available. Please disregard previous versions of this calendar. This information is current as of January 31, 2018. Dates and programs are subject to change.
OF SPECIAL NOTE IN FEBRUARY
Friday, February 9 – Happening in Nick Cave: Feat.
Thursday, February 15 – Drop-In Drawing Turns 5 Years Old!
Friday, February 16 – Making Memories: Nick Cave: Feat.
Friday, February 23 Exhibitions Open –
- Rome: City and Empire
- Slavery, The Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick
Friday, February 23 Curator’s Perspective – “The Reach of Rome—Then and Now” presented by Dr. Sam Moorhead, National Finds Adviser, Ancient Coins, The British Museum
Sunday, February 25 – Jazz on the Move A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, presented by Jamey Simmons
Monday, February 26 – Family Monday
FEBRUARY 2018
Thursday, February 1 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Songwriter Ronny Criss and Friends
Frist Center Café
Free
Singer-songwriter Ronny Criss gathers a number of his songwriting friends for evenings of original music.
Born in Arkansas and raised in Chicago, Criss is a talented tunesmith with Southern roots and a Midwestern sensibility. Join him and some of Nashville’s newcomers as well as established writers in the Frist café.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, February 2 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Latin vocalist Luna Morena
Frist Center Café
Free
Luna Morena returns to the Frist Center’s Music in the Café series for a night of dynamic and electrifying Latin music. She made her first appearances at the Frist with the popular Latin ensemble Serenatta.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Luna comes from a musical family. At the Andre Soler Drama Institute she began her professional career performing in musicals, recording background vocals and jingles, entertaining at corporate events and touring internationally. She performs in English and Spanish to musical arrangements by her oldest brother, Gio Lamb, in a variety of Latin styles including bossa, tango, reggae, flamenco, and traditional Mexican music.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Saturday, February 3 Docent-Guided Exhibition Tour with ASL
1:30 p.m. Interpreter
Meet at the Frist Center’s Gallery Information Desk
Gallery admission required; members free
On the first Saturday of each month, we offer an informal docent-guided tour with certified American Sign Language interpretation. The tour focuses on a current exhibition and originates at the information desk inside the entrance to the galleries.
Our docents also conduct tours on most weekdays and weekends at 1:30 p.m.; reservations are not required. To check availability, contact Visitor Services at 615.744.3277.
ASL interpretation is generously supported by the Memorial Foundation and by Bridges, a Nashville-area nonprofit resource for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities.
Saturday, February 3 Architecture Tour with ASL Interpreter
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
Coming to the First Saturday Art Crawl, or to another downtown Nashville event? Enhance your weekend with a visit to the Frist Center. Stop at our café between 2 and 5 p.m. for Dessert Happy Hour (free coffee with the purchase of any dessert), and enjoy a guided tour of our landmark art deco building at 4:30 p.m.
On the first Saturday of each month, certified American Sign Language interpretation is provided with the tour, with the generous support of the Memorial Foundation and Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Architecture tours are sponsored by Messer Construction. For more information, contact Visitor Services at 615.744.3277.
Thursday, February 8 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. East Side Story
Frist Center Café
Free
Pop trio East Side Story charms listeners with an eclectic mix of melodic, original songs and unexpected cover tunes. Bandmates Maarten Muller, Joe Bidewell and Julie Zeitlin bring their individually written songs to rehearsals, where they blend their distinct styles through a shared sense of harmony, groove, and passion for 1960s–’70s pop and rock. Since forming in 2008, they’ve recorded two CDs and played popular Nashville venues, including Antique Archaeology, Bobby’s Idle Hour and Ri’chard’s Louisiana Café. During their live show, they take turns on lead vocals, trade instruments frequently, and entertain not just their audience but one another, with twists, turns and surprises. Their name comes from their long-term residence in East Nashville, and it has been said that their sound reflects the Bohemian spirit of their community.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, February 9 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Contrarian Ensemble (early music)
Frist Center Café
Free
The Contrarian Ensemble—Bruce Baxter (accordion), John Hedgecoth (mandolin), Mike Teaney (guitar), and Svend Thomsen (fiddle)—performs an eclectic variety of dance music from the 1300s to the present, including traditional tunes from the U.S., the British Isles, and Europe, as well as original compositions. From tunes that would feel at home in a Paris café to songs by Bill Monroe, the Contrarian Ensemble’s superb musicianship is always a delight.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, February 9 Happening in Nick Cave: Feat.
7:00 p.m.
Upper-Level Galleries
Free to members; admission required for not-yet-members
Join local storytellers, musicians, and dancers for in-gallery performances that will delight and inspire you as they respond to Cave’s works through imaginative artistic encounters. No two happenings will be the same, so come to each one to experience Nick Cave: Feat. in new ways. Visit fristcenter.org/happenings for the lineup of artists.
Educational Programming and Community Outreach Activity Sponsor for Nick Cave: Feat.: Ameriprise Financial
Saturday, February 10 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
Thursday, February 15 Lecture: “Design for Culture – Expressing the Story in Built Form” presented by Zena Howard, NMAAHC senior project manager
Frist Center Auditorium
Free to Nashville Civic Design Center and Frist Center members; non-members $10 suggested donation.
Register in advance at civicdesigncenter.org
Purchase lunch at the Frist Center café (or bring your own) to enjoy during the presentation.
The Nashville Urban Design Forum welcomes Zena Howard, senior project manager of the phenomenally popular National Museum of African American History and Culture. An award-winning architect, strategist, mentor, and team builder, and an advocate for diversity within the architecture profession, Howard will speak about her experience in designing the museum, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. Visit the Nashville Civic Design Center website for more details.
Throughout history, many of the most inspiring and important environments have been cultural facilities and destinations. Our work includes iconic buildings, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, but also transcends the boundaries of distinct building-focused projects to inform and embrace the creation of places where learning and sharing are a continuous and integral part of the user experience. We imbue the public spaces, landscapes and buildings we design with meaning and discernable links to the communities they serve by melding historical, social and physical contexts with powerful, forward-thinking design. Ultimately, the goal is to energize the public realm while engaging and inspiring those who inhabit these spaces. #UrbanDesignForum
Thursdays, February 15 Drop-In Drawing Turns 5 Years Old!
and March 15
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Free to members; admission or membership required for Ingram, CAP and Upper-Level Galleries. Materials included (first come, first serve)
Drop-In Drawing turns five years old this year! On the third Thursday of each month, practice different techniques and skills, gain instructional guidance, and be inspired by the artworks in the galleries and the architecture of the building. Borrow Etch A Sketches (subject to availability) and other tools from our station near the Ingram Gallery Information Desk, or bring your own! (Note that only pencils, Etch A Sketches, and digital drawing surfaces will be allowed in the galleries.)
To celebrate our fifth anniversary, we are hosting a throwback Thursday night of doodling in our galleries on March 15, featuring local Etch A Sketch artist John Taylor from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. John will cover the basics for beginners and share techniques for mastering the Etch A Sketch screen. Fun for all ages!
Thursday, February 15 Educator SPARK!
5:30–8:00 p.m.
(presentation at 6:00 p.m.)
Frist Center Studios | Free for K–12, homeschool, and college/university educators (gallery admission and parking validation included)
Join us for our second season of Educator SPARK, which occurs through May. Between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m., spark your creativity and curiosity by exploring Frist Center exhibitions and enjoying light refreshments with other educators. From 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., participate in an informal idea exchange session with Audrey Deal-McEver, and continue your conversations afterward in a comfortable setting.
Thursday, February 15 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Duette (vocal duo)
Frist Center Café
Free
Duette (Duane Spencer and Paulette Licitra) is an alternative acoustic band of ukulele and guitar, with tight, irresistible harmonies. Their addictive music is fun, quirky, and succinct. Spencer was a member of the legendary Martha’s Vineyard band Mr. Timothy Charles Duane (aka TCD); he toured the Northeast with the soul-calypso (soca) group Target Rhythm Band, and has played, recorded, and collaborated with a varied list of artists, including Van Morrison, Fred Lipsius, Roly Salley, Richard Bell, Clark Pierson, John Hall, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Kate Taylor, Maria Muldaur, Bobby Cochran, and Mark Volman. Licitra has written songs for theater and has produced music-related television, films, and videos. In Nashville, she is also known as Chef Paulette on WSMV-TV Channel 4.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, February 16 Making Memories
10:30 a.m. Nick Cave: Feat.
Free, with lunch included.
Registration required: contact Tiffany Cloud-Mann at tiffany.cloud-mann@alz.org or 615.315.5880 to reserve your place.
In partnership with the Mid South chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Frist offers this program to individuals in early stages of dementia and their caregivers. It gives those affected by the disease an expressive outlet and forum for dialogue through guided exhibition tours, social interaction, and art-making activities, along with a free lunch. Making Memories is held quarterly, with future gatherings on May 4, August 10, and November 30.
Friday, February 16 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Singer-songwriter Barbara Jenice
Frist Center Café
Free
Influenced by her parents’ love of music—The Isley Brothers, Anita Baker, Carla Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Blue Magic, Chaka Khan, The Beatles, James Taylor—as well as the folk, rock and reggae she came to love as a teen, Barbara Jenice blends it all into a uniquely powerful and evocative easy listening groove.
Jenice’s JazzEclecticFolk Project moves with her from Memphis to Nashville—an energetic fusion band of rotating artists. Individual personalities collaborate in genre-bending explorations—jazz meets folk, funk, soul, rock, hip-hop, and even gospel and country.
Through a lifetime of writing and performing music, Jenice shares an incredible journey of recovery through song. She continues to make headway in the music industry under the mentorship of legendary Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductees David Porter and Carla “Gee Whiz” Thomas
Saturday, February 17 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
Thursday, February 22 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Classical guitarist Grant Ferris
Grand Lobby
Free
Grant Ferris, a Nashville-based guitarist, composer, and songwriter, holds a master’s degree in classical guitar performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he received a scholarship to study under David Tanenbaum. He also earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Denver and was the first recipient of the Helen M. Garrett Award for the Outstanding Graduating Classical Guitarist.
A recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Ferris has been praised for his versatility as a guitarist playing in all styles from classical to jazz to country to rock. As a songwriter, Grant’s has worked extensively with his sister, recording artist Ferris. As a composer, Ferris’ work embraces American genres and styles. In the spring of 2012, his work “A Craftful Butchering of Jesse James,” co-written with Bay Area flutist Courtney Wise, was praised for its entertainment value and dedication to American styles of music. Recent works include a guitar duet entitled “UP,” written for Duo Tandem, and a 2013 EP, Ten and Six, comprising solo guitar works.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, February 23 Exhibitions Open
- Rome: City and Empire
- Slavery, The Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick
Friday, February 23 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Mandolinist Mike Compton
Frist Center Café
Free
Mike Compton is a Grammy and International Bluegrass Music Association Award–winning recording artist; a solo, duo and band performer; and a passionate mandolin teacher. The New York Times calls Compton “a new bluegrass instrumental hero.”
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Compton took up the mandolin as a teenager. Drawn to the powerful mix of old-time fiddle stylings, blues influences and pure creativity embodied in Bill Monroe’s playing, he moved to Nashville in 1977 and quickly found work with veteran banjoist and former Monroe sideman Hubert Davis. In Nashville, Compton recorded albums with the John Hartford String Band and toured extensively with the band until Hartford’s death in 2001. At the same time, he collaborated with other masters, including guitarist David Grier, renowned mandolinists David Grisman and Mike Marshall, and producer T-Bone Burnett, for whom he performed not only as a Soggy Bottom Boy on 2001’s Grammy Album of the Year, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but on the following Grammy-winning Down from the Mountain soundtrack and tours, and on the Cold Mountain soundtrack and tours.
Honored in 2002 with a special resolution by the Mississippi State Senate for his accomplishments, Mike Compton is in demand today at every level, from solo tours, treasured performances with the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and appearances with Grier and other duet partners, to instructional settings like the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s wildly successful Monroe Mandolin Camp, to studio recordings with bluegrass legends such as Ralph Stanley and country stars like Faith Hill. As Mandolin Magazine put it, Mike Compton is simply “a certified mandolin icon.”
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, February 23 Curator’s Perspective
6:30 p.m. “The Reach of Rome—Then and Now”
Frist Center Auditorium presented by Dr. Sam Moorhead, National
Free: first come, first seated Finds Adviser, Ancient Coins, The British Museum
The art, culture, and politics of the Roman Empire have made a lasting impact around the world. In this lecture, Dr. Sam Moorhead, a curator of Rome: City and Empire, examines Rome’s influence through the lens of the exhibition, highlighting key works and discussing their artistic value and historical significance. Whether you have a long-standing interest in antiquities or are encountering ancient Rome for the first time, join us to learn more about this fascinating and important civilization.
Saturday, February 24 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
Sunday, February 25 Jazz on the Move
3:00 p.m. A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, presented by
Frist Center Auditorium Jamey Simmons
Free
The Nashville Jazz Workshop, in collaboration with the Frist Center, presents the 12th season of the popular performance and education series Jazz on the Move. Each installment features a lecture and performance highlighting a major figure or period in jazz history. Presented by Nashville’s top jazz artists/educators, the series offers audiences world-class music, as well as opportunities to learn more about the genre. Each performance is led by an individual artist intimately familiar with the jazz great being profiled, with an outstanding group of supporting musicians. Those attending Jazz on the Move will be able to visit the Frist’s exhibitions free of charge and receive discounted parking in the Frist Center visitor parking lot.
Trumpeter Louis Armstrong is perhaps THE major influence on jazz as we know it today. He was the first jazz musician to develop the art of solo improvisation, and the “swing” in his phrasing sounds modern today. Born and raised in New Orleans, he moved to Chicago in 1922 and later to New York City. An exceptional trumpet and cornet player, he also became known for his stage charisma and scat singing. Armstrong was the first African American to host a nationally broadcast radio show in the 1930s. He remained a major figure in the jazz world for over five decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s. By that time he had also become an icon in American popular music as well as jazz.
Monday, February 26 Family Monday
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Entire family admitted for the price of one adult admission; members free
The Frist loves families! Bring the whole family to the museum for the price of one paid admission! Join us on the last Monday of each month for special family programming. Enjoy storytime in the galleries in English and Spanish, a multisensory exhibition tour, café and gift shop discounts, and Martin ArtQuest Studios—reserved just for families! See fristcenter.org for the day’s schedule.
MARCH 2018
Thursday, March 1 Curator’s Tour
Noon Rome: City and Empire presented by Mark Meet at exhibition entrance Scala, Frist Center chief curator
Free to members; admission required for not-yet-members
Rome: City and Empire tells the story of how Rome grew on an unprecedented scale from a series of small villages into a mighty empire. Each object illuminates not only the rich history of the Roman Empire, but also the stories of Rome’s diverse peoples. Join Frist Center chief curator Mark Scala as he highlights key works from the collection of more than two hundred works from the British Museum.
Thursday, March 1 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Shelby Bottom Duo
Frist Center Café
Free
Michael August and Nell Levin formed the Shelby Bottom String Band in 2008. Shelby Bottom Duo continues the band’s tradition of entertaining, irreverent social commentary, humanity, and humor. Their repertoire includes originals like “East Nashville Rag,” the title cut of the band’s CD; “Displacement Blues,” named by The Tennessean as “Nashville’s newest social justice anthem,” and “Fat and Bald,” an audience favorite about life’s unintended consequences. Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, March 2 Austin Peay State University 2017–18
6:00 p.m. Tennessee Artist Fellow Andrew Scott Ross
Frist Center Rechter Room
Free; first come, first seated
The Austin Peay State University Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA, or “seek-ah”) is pleased to announce the 2017–18 Tennessee Artist Fellow lecture by recipient Andrew Scott Ross, of Johnson City, hosted by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on Friday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m.
The CECA Tennessee Artist Fellowship was created to celebrate contemporary art and to support the continued creative work of exceptional Tennessee artists. Unlike other fellowships, nominations and applications from artists are not solicited. A committee of APSU faculty compiles a list of outstanding artists from across the state from which the fellowship recipient is selected.
Ross received his BFA from the Atlanta College of Art and his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He subsequently studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and is currently an associate professor in drawing at East Tennessee State University. Ross has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad, including The Museum of Arts and Design in New York, The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia in Atlanta, The Guggenheim Museum in New York, Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, The Knoxville Museum of Art and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. His work has been reviewed in publications such as Art in America, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Sculpture Magazine and the Village Voice. Recently, his work was included in the 2017 Atlanta Biennial (ATLBNL) at the Atlanta Contemporary, and the curated section of the Art on Paper exhibit at the Weatherspoon Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Past recipients of the CECA Tennessee Artist Fellowship include Alicia Henry, Nashville, and Maysey Craddock, Memphis. For information on the CECA Tennessee Artist Fellowship, contact Janice Crews, director of CECA, at crewsj@apsu.edu or visit www.apsu.edu/ceca or follow it on social media.
Friday, March 2 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Jazz vocalist Arte’Mis
Frist Center Café
Free
Arte’Mis (Tramaine Robinson) grew up singing in a church choir in Knoxville. Now residing in Nashville, she has carried that soulful foundation to everything from jazz and R&B to classical and musical theater, influenced by the likes of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jill Scott.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Saturday, March 3 Studio workshop
1:00–4:00 p.m. Roman Jewelry with Brooke Griffith
Frist Center Studio B
$120 members; $125 not-yet-members
(all materials, gallery admission, and
parking validation included).
Registration required by February 26.
Take $30 off the price if you sign up for the other two Rome workshops at the same time! (Details at fristcenter.org/studio.) All skill levels welcome.
Join local jeweler Brooke Griffith, of Glen & Effie Vintage Design, for a closer look at the glitter and glam of ancient Rome. Tour Rome: City and Empire and then create your own Roman-inspired necklace. In addition to receiving a fourth-century Roman coin to incorporate into your design, you will learn how to arrange and string crystal and freshwater pearl beads onto jewelry wire, crimp the strand of beads, use jump rings, and attach a clasp.
Saturday, March 3 Docent-Guided Exhibition Tour with ASL
1:30 p.m. Interpreter
Meet at the Frist Center’s Gallery Information Desk
Gallery admission required; members free
On the first Saturday of each month, we offer an informal docent-guided tour with certified American Sign Language interpretation. The tour focuses on a current exhibition and originates at the information desk inside the entrance to the galleries.
Our docents also conduct tours on most weekdays and weekends at 1:30 p.m.; reservations are not required. To check availability, contact Visitor Services at 615.744.3277.
ASL interpretation is generously supported by the Memorial Foundation and by Bridges, a Nashville-area nonprofit resource for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities.
Saturday, March 3 Architecture Tour with ASL Interpreter
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
Coming to the First Saturday Art Crawl, or to another downtown Nashville event? Enhance your weekend with a visit to the Frist Center. Stop at our café between 2 and 5 p.m. for Dessert Happy Hour (free coffee with the purchase of any dessert), and enjoy a guided tour of our landmark art deco building at 4:30 p.m.
On the first Saturday of each month, certified American Sign Language interpretation is provided with the tour, with the generous support of the Memorial Foundation and Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Architecture tours are sponsored by Messer Construction. For more information, contact Visitor Services at 615.744.3277.
Thursday, March 8, One-Day Educator Workshop:
or Saturday, March 10 Rome: City and Empire
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
$25 Frist Center members; $30 not-yet-members
(all materials, gallery admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch included)
Registration required by March 5. Select either March 8 or March 10, and visit fristcenter.org/educator to reserve your place. Space is limited to 20 participants.
During this workshop, educators will examine original works of art in the exhibition, participate in gallery discussions and studio activities, and develop teaching materials and connections. Frist Center educator workshops are open to educators of all subjects, pre-K–12.
Thursday, March 8 Film: 13th
7:00 p.m. Post-film Q&A with Project Return
Frist Center Auditorium
Free; first come, first seated
Shown in conjunction with Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick, the acclaimed documentary film 13th looks in depth at the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery and indentured servitude. In this thought-provoking documentary, scholars, activists, and politicians analyze the prison industrial complex and the history of racial inequality in the United States.
Following the screening, stay for a special Q&A with Project Return, a nonprofit non-faith-based organization that provides an extensive array of supportive services for individuals returning to society after incarceration.
Directed by Ava DuVernay, 2016. 100 minutes. Rated TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under 17). Netflix.
Friday, March 8 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Embers Music (pianist)
Frist Center Café
Free
Music is a language measured in rhythm and song, and for pianist Embers Music, that language describes motion and emotion. This pianist does not simply hear music; she sees it in dancing forces across her mind’s eye. That envisioned dance is the instrument whereby she explores dynamics and tempo to share thoughts and feelings and dreams.
Embers joins an array of talented musicians and songwriters who can be heard at the Frist Center on Thursday and Friday evenings. Enjoy a beverage or snack before the evening’s program a visit to the Frist Center galleries.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, March 9 Southern Word Grand Slam Semifinal
5:00 p.m.
Frist Center Auditorium
Free
Registration for seats will be available soon at southernword.org
Join us as the region’s top youth poets, emcees, and spoken word artists compete for top lyrical honors, a chance to appear at the statewide finals and a shot to travel to the Brave New Voices Festival slated for Chicago this summer.
Southern Word creates a platform for youth to speak about the real hopes and challenges of their lives. Discretion is advised for this event as some material may be unsuitable for young children.
The event is presented by Southern Word in partnership with the Frist Center and made possible through the generous support of Metro Arts: Nashville Office of Art + Culture and Tennessee Arts Commission.
Friday, March 9 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Bassoonery (bassoon quintet)
Frist Center Café
Free
The five members of Bassonery—founder Patricia Gunter, Kate Affainie, Wilson Sharpe, Harold Skelton, and Andrew Witherington—have been symphony orchestra members, teachers, and band directors. With a repertoire spanning Bach to Gershwin, they’ve delighted Frist Center visitors for years.
Saturday, March 10 Figure Study
1:00 p.m.
Frist Studios
$15 members; $20 not-yet-members
(gallery admission and parking validation included).
Space is limited to 15 participants. Ages 18 and older only, please.
Want to study the human form? Enhance and expand your artistic practice once a quarter by participating in this series of no-instruction sessions at the Frist, with poses by a live, clothed model and access to masterworks in our galleries.
Please bring your own nontoxic drawing, painting or sculpting mediums to this workshop; only pencils are allowed in our galleries (pencils provided as needed).
Saturday, March 10 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
Thursday, March 15 Drop-In Drawing Turns Five Years Old!
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Free to members; admission or membership
required for Ingram, CAP. and Upper-Level Galleries.
Materials included (first come, first serve)
Drop-In Drawing turns five years old this year! On the third Thursday of each month, check out drawing materials to practice different techniques and skills, gain instructional guidance, and be inspired by the artworks in the galleries and the architecture of the building. Art supplies, including Etch A Sketches, will be available near the Ingram Gallery Information Desk. Limit one per person and while supplies last. Feel free to bring your own Etch A Sketch (or digital drawing surface) to participate.
To celebrate our fifth anniversary, we are hosting a throwback Thursday night of doodling in our galleries on March 15, featuring local Etch A Sketch artist John Taylor from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. John will cover the basics for beginners and share techniques for mastering the Etch A Sketch screen. Fun for all ages!
Thursday, March 15 Educator SPARK!
5:30–8:00 p.m.
(presentation at 6:00 p.m.)
Frist Center Studios | Free for K–12, homeschool, and college/university educators (gallery admission and parking validation included)
Join us for our second season of Educator SPARK, which occurs through May. Between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m., spark your creativity and curiosity by exploring Frist Center exhibitions and enjoying light refreshments with other educators. From 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., participate in an informal idea exchange session with Lindsey Bailey (cakecrush.com), and continue your conversations afterward in a comfortable setting.
Thursday, March 15 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Contrarian Ensemble
Frist Center Café
Free
The Contrarian Ensemble—Bruce Baxter (accordion), John Hedgecoth (mandolin), Mike Teaney (guitar), and Svend Thomsen (fiddle)—performs an eclectic variety of dance music from the 1300s to the present, including traditional tunes from the U.S., the British Isles, and Europe, as well as original compositions. From tunes that would feel at home in a Paris café to the music of Bill Monroe, the Contrarian Ensemble’s superb musicianship always delights.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, March 16 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Tim Gartland (contemporary blues)
Frist Center Café
Free
Tim Gartland is a singer-songwriter and harmonica player committed to honoring the rich tradition of blues while moving the genre forward. His release If You Want A Good Woman features 12 original songs and reached #1 on the blues radio charts on AirPlay Direct. It was also named one of the Top Picks of the year by Bill Wilson of the Nashville Blues Society and reached #13 on the national blues charts according to Roots Time Radio.
His original music is a blend of Chicago blues, soul, and Americana.
He has released two critically acclaimed original albums: Looking Into The Sun (2011) and Million Stars (2014). In 2015, he released The Willie Project, a heartfelt homage to the songwriting of the legendary blues hall of famer Willie Dixon.
Saturday, March 17 Family Movie Matinee: Hercules
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Frist Center Auditorium
Free; first come, first seated
Pack up the kids and come downtown for an afternoon at the museum! Curl up on your blanket or sleeping bag in our auditorium for a Saturday matinee screening of Disney’s Hercules! Arrive early to see the Roman treasures in our galleries, and head to Martin ArtQuest in the Studios after the movie for hands-on fun! Space is limited.
Saturday, March 17 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
Thursday, March 22 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Classical guitarist Michael Roberts
Frist Center Café
Free
Michael Roberts is a Nashville-based classical guitarist and composer who is active around the country. A student and teacher of many different musical styles, he has studied with world-class master Michael Lorimer (of the Segovia school) and internationally renowned professor Rob Nathanson. His recent concerts include a rare 15-guitar performance of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint and atmospheric shows for Chihuly and Andy Warhol art exhibits. He regularly composes classical and pop music for the guitar, as well as cinematic soundtracks, and tours nationally with rock band Dead Man’s Mail.
His latest compilation of original work includes a string quartet, a piano sonata, his first symphony, and various tone poems. A full-length classical guitar album is on the way. It will feature his New Etudes, as well as works by Enrique Granados and others.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Thursday, March 22 – Lecture: Modern Challenges in Ancient Art presented by Dr. Maxwell L. Anderson, consulting scholar, Mediterranean Section, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and president, Souls Grown Deep Foundation
6:30 p.m.
Frist Center Auditorium
Free; first come; first seated
In this talk, Dr. Maxwell L. Anderson, author of Antiquities: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2016), will summarize multiple perspectives on protecting objects such as those in Rome: City and Empire, including the care and supervision of excavations and museum collections, the international treaties and laws governing the circulation of objects from antiquity, the state of the art trade, and trends in public and private collecting. For more about Dr. Anderson, visit the page for this event at fristcenter.org.
This lecture is supported in part by Vanderbilt University’s Department of History of Art and Department of Classical and Mediterranean Studies.
Friday, March 23 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Acoustic soul artist Larysa Jaye
Frist Center Café
Free
Larysa Jaye is a Nashville-based acoustic soul artist with eclectic influences and a captivating stage presence. Her ability to flow seamlessly from country to R&B to pop has earned her a loyal following. As a songwriter, Larysa finds inspiration from her everyday life as a wife and mother.
Saturday, March 24 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
Sunday, March 25 Jazz on the Move
3:00 p.m. The Life and Songs of Nancy Wilson,
Frist Center Auditorium presented by Dara Tucker
Free
The Nashville Jazz Workshop, in collaboration with the Frist Center, presents the 12th season of the popular performance and education series Jazz on the Move. Each installment features a lecture and performance highlighting a major figure or period in jazz history. Presented by Nashville’s top jazz artists/educators, the series offers audiences world-class music, as well as opportunities to learn more about the genre. Each performance is led by an individual artist intimately familiar with the jazz great being profiled, with an outstanding group of supporting musicians. Those attending Jazz on the Move will be able to visit the Frist’s exhibitions free of charge and receive discounted parking in the Frist Center visitor parking lot.
Nancy Wilson is an icon of American music whose appeal and fame transcends the jazz world. She began her singing career at age 15 when she won a talent contest hosted by her local TV station in Columbus, Ohio, resulting in television appearances and singing in clubs. She began touring with big bands in 1956, followed shortly thereafter by her first commercial recording on Dot Records. At the encouragement of Cannonball Adderly, she moved to New York City in 1959, and in 1960 she was signed by Capitol Records. She appeared in numerous television shows, recorded over 70 albums,and won three Grammy Awards. She performed publicly for the last time on September 10, 2011 at Ohio University.
Friday, March 25 Exhibition Closes – Extrasensory
Monday, March 26 Family Monday
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Entire family admitted for the price of one adult admission; members free
The Frist loves families! Join us on the last Monday of each month for special family programming. Enjoy storytime in the galleries in English and Spanish, a multisensory exhibition tour, café and gift shop discounts, and Martin ArtQuest Studios—reserved just for families! See fristcenter.org for the day’s schedule.
Thursday, March 29 Music at the Frist – Mandolinist Mike Compton
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Frist Center Café
Free
Mike Compton is a Grammy and International Bluegrass Music Association Award–winning recording artist; a solo, duo and band performer; and a passionate mandolin teacher. The New York Times calls Compton “a new bluegrass instrumental hero.”
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Compton took up the mandolin as a teenager. Drawn to the powerful mix of old-time fiddle stylings, blues influences and pure creativity embodied in Bill Monroe’s playing, he moved to Nashville in 1977 and quickly found work with veteran banjoist and former Monroe sideman Hubert Davis. In Nashville, Compton recorded albums with the John Hartford String Band and toured extensively with the band until Hartford’s death in 2001. At the same time, he collaborated with other masters, including guitarist David Grier, renowned mandolinists David Grisman and Mike Marshall, and producer T-Bone Burnett, for whom he performed not only as a Soggy Bottom Boy on 2001’s Grammy Album of the Year, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but on the following Grammy-winning Down from the Mountain soundtrack and tours, and on the Cold Mountain soundtrack and tours.
Honored in 2002 with a special resolution by the Mississippi State Senate for his accomplishments, Mike Compton is in demand today at every level, from solo tours, treasured performances with the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and appearances with Grier and other duet partners, to instructional settings like the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s wildly successful Monroe Mandolin Camp, to studio recordings with bluegrass legends such as Ralph Stanley and country stars like Faith Hill. As Mandolin Magazine put it, Mike Compton is simply “a certified mandolin icon.”
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Sunday, March 30 Exhibition Opens – We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957–1968
Friday, March 30 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Sam Frazee and Hiptet
Frist Center Café
Free
Led by Sam Frazee, Hiptet has been entertaining concert crowds in Nashville for more than three years. The five-piece band brings to life the high energy music of famous American jazz artists like Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Art Blakey and other legendary players. Hiptet also puts its own spin on the Beatles and Bossa Novas.
The Hiptet features Sam Frazee, bass; Ray Manley, keyboard; Tommy Strange, guitar; Jeff McCombs, drums; and Greg Lewis, trumpet.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Saturday, March 31 Architecture Tour
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
“When was the Frist Center built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries?” These are some of the questions answered in the Frist Center’s popular architecture tours, sponsored by Messer Construction. Learn more about our landmark art deco building from one of our always-engaging docents.
APRIL 2018
Thursday, April 5 Music at the Frist – The Twin Fiddles of Jenny Obert and Shad Cobb—An evening of Americana music 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Free
Frist Center Café
Tonight’s evening of music, created by multi-instrumentalists Jenny Obert and Shad Cobb, promises a broad array of traditional and original songs from the Americana canon.
Jenny Leigh Obert grew up in Alabama and Texas, and both states have inspired and influenced her development as a respected multi-genre fiddler, singer, and songwriter. Jenny moved to northern Virginia in 2010, joining renowned banjo legend Bill Emerson (Country Gentlemen, Jimmy Martin, and the United States Navy’s Country Current band) for three albums as a member of his band, Sweet Dixie. She moved to Nashville in 2014 and has become an in-demand session player. She performs regularly with Bobby Clark, the Volunteer String Band, Amanda Contreras, Don Coyote, and Shad Cobb, with whom she appears this evening. In addition to writing, performing and recording, Jenny is a sought-after teacher who coaches violin and fiddle students of all levels.
Shad Cobb grew up in Wisconsin and began playing the fiddle at age 13 with his family’s band. In 1995, he moved to Nashville and began recording with many of the city’s major artists, including the Osborne Brothers, Mike Snider, Marty Rabon and Shenandoah, Willie Nelson, and Steve Earle. Cobb’s intricate and soulful style is the result of absorbing the influences of some of the greatest fiddlers of the last 50 years, including Vassar Clements, Sam Bush, Art Stamper, Mark O’Connor, Kenny Baker, and Byron Berline. Today, his widely acknowledged virtuosity places him in the highest echelon of the country’s most accomplished fiddlers. Most recently, Cobb has been heard in the café in performance with David Grier, Missy Raines, and Mike Compton as the Helen Highwater String Band.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Friday, April 6 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. TBA
Café
Free
Join us in the Frist Center café to hear some of Nashville best and brightest musicians from the worlds of jazz, soul, blues, Latin, country, folk, bluegrass, Americana and classical music.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Saturday, April 7 Docent-Guided Exhibition Tour with ASL Interpreter
1:30 p.m.
Meet at the Frist Center’s Gallery Information Desk
Gallery admission required; members free
On the first Saturday of each month, we offer an informal docent-guided tour with certified American Sign Language interpretation. The tour focuses on a current exhibition and originates at the information desk inside the entrance to the galleries.
Our docents also conduct tours on most weekdays and weekends at 1:30 p.m.; reservations are not required. To check availability, contact Visitor Services at 615.744.3277.
ASL interpretation is generously supported by the Memorial Foundation and by Bridges, a Nashville-area nonprofit resource for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities.
Saturday, April 7 Architecture Tour with ASL Interpreter
4:30 p.m.
Meet in the Frist Center’s Grand Lobby
Free
Coming to the First Saturday Art Crawl, or to another downtown Nashville event? Enhance your weekend with a visit to the Frist Center. Stop at our café between 2 and 5 p.m. for Dessert Happy Hour (free coffee with the purchase of any dessert), and enjoy a guided tour of our landmark art deco building at 4:30 p.m.
On the first Saturday of each month, certified American Sign Language interpretation is provided with the tour, with the generous support of the Memorial Foundation and Bridges, a Nashville-area nonprofit resource for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities. Architecture tours are sponsored by Messer Construction. For more information, contact Visitor Services at 615.744.3277.
Thursday, April 12 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Fiddlers Billy Contreras and Friends
Frist Center Café
Free
Billy Contreras has been called “the finest jazz violinist of his time,” and has performed or recorded with a stunning array of notable musicians, including Lionel Hampton, Doc Severinsen, George Jones, Crystal Gayle, Charlie Louvin and Hank Thompson. He has also appeared with the Cincinnati Pops and Nashville Symphony Orchestras. In addition to teaching at Belmont University, Billy leads his own band that traverses an amalgam of styles, including jazz, country, blues, western swing, rock, and jam.
Billy will be joined by a versatile group of all-star musicians:
- Matt Menefee (banjo) has toured with Mumford and Sons, Bruce Hornsby, and Big and Rich.
- Jake Stargel (guitar) plays weekly on the Grand Ole Opry and has toured with Mountain Heart and Sierra Hull.
- Geoff Saunders (bass) is a Grammy Award–winning bassist and tours with The O’Connor Band.
- Dave Racine (drums) has toured with Patty Loveless and Jim Lauderdale.
The group will perform instrumental arrangements of folk tunes as well as original music in a style Billy describes as between jazz, jam, and bluegrass.
Friday, April 13 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Songwriter Ronny Criss and Friends
Frist Center Café
Free
Singer-songwriter Ronny Criss gathers a number of his songwriting friends for evenings of original music.
Born in Arkansas and raised in Chicago, Criss is a talented tunesmith with Southern roots and a Midwestern sensibility. Join him and some of Nashville’s newcomers as well as established writers in the Frist café.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Saturday, April 14 – Voices from the Front Lines – A panel discussion with participants in the local civil rights movement, moderated by historian Linda Wynn
Noon
Free; first come, first seated
Frist Center Auditorium
Hear the stories behind the photographs of We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957–1968, and take a deeper look at the civil rights movement. Moderated by Linda Wynn, this panel will feature first-person accounts by individuals who fought for racial equity in Nashville.
Monday, April 16 Senior Monday
10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
The Frist Center presents Senior Mondays, a series of events for those who admit their senior status. On these days, gallery admission is $6 (1/2 the price of regular adult admission) for seniors. Senior parking is $5 in the Frist Center lots as long as spaces are available. Seniors receive a 15 percent discount on gift shop purchases and on café refreshments purchased during the visit. Seniors are invited to enjoy live music by Harry Stephenson, aka “Snappy Pappy,” in the Grand Lobby from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. A docent-guided tour of a current exhibition is offered at 1:30 p.m. We are grateful to the Jackson National Community Fund for their support of Senior Mondays.
Thursday, April 19 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Choro Nashville (Brazilian music)
Frist Center Café
Free
Choro Nashville is a six-member acoustic music group dedicated to the century-old Brazilian music known as Choro or Chorinho, which today still influences much of Brazil’s best-known music. Choro is often compared to American ragtime music, with a mixture of improvisation and composition played to an energetic and syncopated rhythm.
Choro Nashville features Randy Leago on woodwinds and cavaquinho, Chris Moran on guitar and bandolim, Larry Seeman on seven-string guitar and cavaquinho, Carlos Ruiz on percussion, and Jonah Kraut on guitar.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Thursday, April 19 Drop-In Drawing Turns Five Years Old!
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Drop-In Drawing turns five years old this year! On the third Thursday of each month, check out drawing materials to practice different techniques and skills, gain instructional guidance, and be inspired by the artworks in the galleries and the architecture of the building. Art supplies, including Etch A Sketches, will be available near the Ingram Gallery Information Desk. Limit one per person while supplies last. You may bring your own supplies, too!
Thursday, April 19 Educator Appreciation Night
5:30–9:00 p.m.
Check in at the Rechter Room (valid school ID card required)
Free for educators (all subjects, grades K–12) and guests (one guest per educator)
Questions? Contact Shaun Giles at sgiles@fristcenter.org.
Come learn what the Frist Center can offer to you and your curriculum. Enjoy SPARK discussions, live music, Drop-In Drawing, and gallery tours. Receive special discounts in the café and gift shop, and on memberships purchased during this event.
Thursday, April 19 Educator SPARK!
5:30–8:00 p.m. (presentation at 6:00 p.m.)
Frist Center Studios |
Free for K–12, homeschool, and college/university educators
(gallery admission and parking validation included)
Join us for our second season of Educator SPARK, which meets monthly through May. Between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m., spark your creativity and curiosity by exploring Frist Center exhibitions and enjoying light refreshments with other educators. From 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., participate in an informal idea exchange session with Lisa Bachman Jones (labachman.com), and continue your conversations afterward in a comfortable setting.
Friday, April 20 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Contrarian Ensemble (early music)
Frist Center Café
Free
The Contrarian Ensemble—Bruce Baxter (accordion), John Hedgecoth (mandolin), Mike Teaney (guitar), and Svend Thomsen (fiddle)—performs an eclectic variety of dance music from the 1300s to the present, including traditional tunes from the U.S., the British Isles, and Europe, as well as original compositions. From tunes that would feel at home in a Paris café to songs by Bill Monroe, the Contrarian Ensemble’s superb musicianship is always a delight.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Thursday, April 26 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Duette (vocal duo)
Frist Center Café
Free
Duette (Duane Spencer and Paulette Licitra) is an alternative acoustic band of ukulele and guitar, with tight, irresistible harmonies. Their addictive music is fun, quirky, and succinct. Spencer was a member of the legendary Martha’s Vineyard band Mr. Timothy Charles Duane (aka TCD); he toured the Northeast with the soul-calypso (soca) group Target Rhythm Band, and has played, recorded, and collaborated with a varied list of artists, including Van Morrison, Fred Lipsius, Roly Salley, Richard Bell, Clark Pierson, John Hall, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Kate Taylor, Maria Muldaur, Bobby Cochran, and Mark Volman. Licitra has written songs for theater and has produced music-related television, films, and videos. In Nashville, she is also known as Chef Paulette on WSMV-TV Channel 4.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Thursday, April 26 Concert: Songs of Freedom presented with
6:30 p.m. the National Museum of African American
Frist Center Auditorium Music
Free; first come, first seated
Music has been used throughout history to unite communities in the face of injustice. From early spirituals to civil rights era freedom songs to jazz and blues recorded at Angola Prison, music serves as its own language, conveying messages that could not be expressed by words alone. Join us for a celebratory evening of music in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music.
Friday–Sunday, April 27–29 Studio workshop – Coin Design with Brent Oglesbee
April 27: 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Frist. Meet at the Rome exhibition entrance
April 28 and 29: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. in Studio B at the Clay Lady’s Campus (1416 Lebanon Pike, Nashville)
$70 members; $80 not-yet-members (gallery admission, parking validation, and materials included).
Registration required by April 20. Ages 18 and older only, please. All skill levels welcome.
What has a head and a tail, but no legs? A coin! Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the art of coin design with sculptor Brent Oglesbee, a professor at Western Kentucky University. After touring Rome: City and Empire, join Brent at the Clay Lady’s Campus to design and sculpt a clay relief, using coins in the exhibition as your inspiration.
Friday, April 27 – Photography and Activism: A Conversation with Keith Calhoun, Chandra McCormick, and Dr. Makeda Best moderated by Dr. Susan H. Edwards, Executive Director and CEO, Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Frist Center Auditorium
Free; first come, first seated
The works in Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick bring visibility to racial inequality in the US criminal justice system and document the exploitation of men incarcerated in the Louisiana’s state penitentiary. In this conversation, the artists are joined by Dr. Makeda Best, Richard L. Menschel Curator of Photography at Harvard Art Museums, and Dr. Susan H. Edwards, executive director of the Frist Center and photography historian, to explore the role of photography in activism and how artists can become agents of social change.
Friday, April 27 Music at the Frist
6:00–8:00 p.m. Latin vocalist Luna Morena
Frist Center Café
Free
Luna Morena returns to the Frist Center’s Music in the Café series for a night of dynamic and electrifying Latin music. She made her first appearances at the Frist with the popular Latin ensemble Serenatta.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Luna comes from a musical family. At the Andre Soler Drama Institute she began her professional career performing in musicals, recording background vocals and jingles, entertaining at corporate events and touring internationally. She performs in English and Spanish to musical arrangements by her oldest brother, Gio Lamb, in a variety of Latin styles including bossa, tango, reggae, flamenco, and traditional Mexican music.
Admission is free for college students with valid school ID on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. (with the exception of Frist Fridays).
Monday, April 30 Homeschool Family Monday
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Entire family admitted for the price of one adult admission; members free
The Frist is a great place for homeschoolers! Join us for a special day for homeschool families. Enjoy discounts, special tours and resources, hands-on activities, and chat with museum educators about connecting our exhibitions to your lessons. Limited parking in Frist Center lots. See fristcenter.org for the day’s schedule.
Current Exhibitions
Nick Cave: Feat.
November 10, 2017–June 24, 2018
Upper-Level Galleries
Chicago-based artist Nick Cave (b. 1959) is best known for his elaborate “soundsuits,” human-shaped sculptural forms composed of a wide variety of found and repurposed commonplace materials. This dynamic exhibition includes a selection of soundsuits, as well as a projected video, several wall-mounted sculptures, and a large multimedia installation. The works are accessible to audiences of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, and on a deeper level speak to issues of racial and social justice and the need for more time and space in contemporary society to cultivate individual dreams and aspirations.
This exhibition was organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.
Extrasensory
October 13, 2017–March 25, 2018
Conte Community Arts Gallery
Inspired by the dynamism and multisensory engagement of Nick Cave’s work, this companion exhibition to Nick Cave: Feat. features art made by members of the Middle Tennessee community. Local teaching artists led open workshops for community members of all abilities and learning styles to collaborate on creating works of art, each engaging the five senses through tactile responses by visitors. The artworks address themes of dreaming, transformation, and creative expression while highlighting various aspects of Cave’s work. Partner organizations for this program include Empower TN, Tennessee Disability Coalition, and VSA Tennessee: The State Organization on Arts and Disability.
This exhibition was organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.
Upcoming Exhibitions
2018 Multi-District School Art Show
January 27–February 11, 2018
Education Corridor, Upper Level
The 2018 Multi-District School Art Show features some of the finest artwork created by students in four Tennessee school districts. Nearly three hundred young artists from kindergarten through twelfth grade are included in this exhibition. Elementary and middle school art teachers selected two works per grade level, and high school art teachers will select two works per course. Over thirty schools represent the following districts: Fayetteville City Schools, Franklin Special School District, Lebanon Special School District, and Wilson County Schools.
2018 Williamson County Schools Art Show
February 24–March 11, 2018
Education Corridor, Upper Level
The 2018 Williamson County Schools Art Show will feature some of the finest artwork created by students in the school district. Nearly four hundred young artists from kindergarten through twelfth grade will be included in this exhibition.
Elementary and middle school art teachers will select two works per grade level, and high school art teachers will select two works from each art course offered at their schools. All Williamson County schools are participating in the show.
2018 Mayor’s Art Show
Education Corridor, Upper Level
Section 1: March 22–April 5
Features work from the Antioch, Cane Ridge, Glencliff, Hillsboro, Hunters Lane, Pearl-Cohn, and Stratford clusters
Section 2: April 12–April 26
Features work from the Hillwood, Maplewood, McGavock, Overton, and Whites Creek clusters
Created as an opportunity to recognize the artistic accomplishments of Metro Nashville Public School students, the Mayor’s Art Show was launched by Mayor Phil Bredesen during the 1990s. The Frist Center began hosting this annual art show in 2004 during Mayor Bill Purcell’s term and is continuing the tradition with Mayor Megan Barry.
Art teachers at each school selected two works per grade level for inclusion in the exhibition. The variety of images and subject matter reflects the diverse backgrounds and ideas of Metro schoolchildren.
Rome: City and Empire
February 23–May 28, 2018
Ingram Gallery
The stories of Rome and its vast empire continue to captivate and intrigue people almost three thousand years after its foundation. Rome: City and Empire brings to Nashville more than two hundred of the British Museum’s most engaging and beautiful Roman objects. They tell the dramatic story of how Rome grew from a cluster of small villages into a mighty empire.
The British Museum’s exceptionally broad collections have enabled the creation of a truly inspiring experience. Visitors will explore how the empire was won and held and learn about the rich diversity of her peoples. The exhibition is an accessible introduction to the Roman imperial period, yet also provides a range and depth of material for those with an existing interest in Roman history.
The presentation of this exhibition is a collaboration between the British Museum and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. The Frist Center is the exclusive North American venue.
Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick
February 23–May 28, 2018
Gordon Contemporary Artists Project Gallery
New Orleans natives Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick have been documenting African American life in Louisiana for more than 30 years. Since 1980, they have made regular visits to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to photograph life on the prison farm, which was founded on the consolidated land of several cotton and sugarcane plantations. Their poignant black-and-white images record the exploitation of the men incarcerated within the maximum-security prison farm while also showcasing the prisoners’ humanity and individual narratives. The husband-and-wife team’s work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale. Calhoun and McCormick use their cameras as tools for social engagement, reminding their audiences of persistent racial inequities, especially throughout the American criminal justice system.
The Frist Center has produced a hardcover book titled Louisiana Medley about the couple’s work. Published by Lucia∣Marquand, the book includes 70 plates; a foreword by Dr. Deborah Willis, chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University; a career overview by Frist Center executive director and photography historian Dr. Susan H. Edwards; and an essay by Dr. Makeda Best, Richard L. Menschel Curator of Photography, Harvard Art Museums, that places the images of Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex in the context of other prison photographs.
We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957–1968
March 30–October 14, 2018
Conte Community Arts Gallery
Fifty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination—at a time when race relations and human rights are again at the forefront of our country’s political and social consciousness—the Frist Center will present a selection of approximately 50 photographs that document an important period in Nashville’s struggle for racial equality. The images were taken between 1957, the year that desegregation began in public schools, and 1968, when Dr. King was killed in Memphis. Of central significance are photographs of lunch counter sit-ins led by a group of students—including John Lewis and Diane Nash—from local historically black colleges and universities, which took place in early 1960. The role that Nashville played in the national civil rights movement as a hub for training students in nonviolent protest and as the first southern city to integrate places of business peacefully is a story that warrants reexamination and introduction to younger generations and newcomers to the region. The exhibition also provides opportunities to consider the role of images and the media in shaping public opinion—a relevant subject in today’s news-saturated climate.
Organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts
About the Frist Center
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tenn., the Frist Center offers the finest visual art from local, regional, national, and international sources in exhibitions that inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. The Frist Center’s Martin ArtQuest Gallery features interactive stations relating to Frist Center exhibitions. Information on accessibility can be found at fristcenter.org/accessibility. Gallery admission is free for visitors 18 and younger and for members; $12 for adults; $9 for seniors and college students with ID; and $7 for active military. College students are admitted free Thursday and Friday evenings (with the exception of Frist Fridays), 5:00–9:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more can receive discounts with advance reservations by calling 615.744.3247. The galleries, café, and gift shop are open seven days a week: Mondays through Wednesdays, and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; and Sundays, 1:00–5:30 p.m., with the café opening at noon. For additional information, call 615.244.3340 or visit fristcenter.org.
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