The Key Alliance together with its partner, the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, is collaborating with Metro Arts, Room In The Inn, and The Contributor newspaper on an arts exhibit showing pieces from artists affected by homelessness. The exhibit runs through March 2. Please, read the Metro Arts press release below.
METRO ARTS HOSTS PROJECT ARTS CONNECT EXHIBIT
FEATURING WORKS BY NASHVILLE’S HOMELESS
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 12, 2012 – Project Arts Connect, an exhibition designed to showcase the work of Nashville artists affected by homelessness, opens on Friday, Jan. 20, in the Metro Nashville Arts Commission gallery located on the fourth floor of the Metro Office
Building at 800 Second Ave. S.
The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, is a collaborative effort of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, The Key Alliance, The Contributor newspaper and Room In The Inn.
Metro Arts will host an opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, and the art will remain on display through March 2. The gallery is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“The intent of our ‘in-house’ gallery is to show artists who are under-represented in Nashville’s commercial galleries, and this exhibit is a perfect example of featuring work by
talented artists who might not have the opportunity to share their work elsewhere,” said Jennifer Cole, executive director of Metro Arts.
Project Arts Connect will include selected works from The Disposables, a collection of photographs taken by homeless and formerly homeless Contributor vendors. All photographs were taken with a 35mm disposable camera and offer a unique perspective of Nashville.
“No Exit,” a photograph by vendor Ramond Hampton, offers a glimpse into Nashville history. “I thought everybody would like to see what Fort Nashborough looked like on the inside,” said Hampton. “That was where Nashville was born and raised.”
Others, like “Where It All Started” by Anita Smith depict various views of the Downtown Presbyterian Church.
Other featured pieces include art from the permanent collection at Room in the Inn, which includes artwork from those who have participated in the organization’s creative arts programming, as well as artwork from the private collections of former Vice Mayor Howard Gentry and artist Kevin Barbieux.
“We are excited to working with Metro Arts, The Contributor and Room In The Inn on this collaborative project. Project Arts Connect offers the public a glimpse through the eyes of a
segment of our community that rarely gets the opportunity to publicly express itself in this way,” said Barry J. Gammons, board chair of The Key Alliance.
Select pieces will be for sale, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the artists.
During this exhibit, the Metro Arts gallery will serve as a collection point for hand/foot warmers, gloves, foil emergency blankets and other items to assist programs that the participating organizations offer to homeless individuals in the community.
About the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission
The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission is a commission of the Metropolitan
Nashville Government, established to provide leadership that stimulates and advances the
arts to enrich the human experience for the community. Additional information about the
Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission is available online at www.artsnashville.org.
Tags: art, collaboration, exhibit, homeless artists
