Congratulations to these talented artists who will join us for Artclectic 2012 next October 25-28.

A couple of years ago my good friend Elizabeth Fox, USN mom, co-creator of Style Blueprint, and a former Artclectic Chair, listed her top ten reasons for attending the event. This 15th anniversary year inspires me to offer you (in no particular order) fifteen compelling reasons not to miss Artclectic this year. Here goes.

1. Support Innovative Teaching at USN – University School of Nashville, Innovation and Excellence since 1915. All proceeds raised during Artclectic go to an endowment established in 2008 that funds the amazing ‘outside the box’ teaching happening at USN every day.
2.  ”Cupcakes and Columns” – To commemorate Artclectic’s 15 years as one of the Southeast’s finest art shows, famed Nashville artists Jim Sherraden and Julie Sola of Hatch Show Print have created 15 unique multi-dimensional original pieces entitled “Cupcakes and Columns.” These 15 original works are offered in a silent auction available exclusively to Patrons Party attendees.
3.  Buy yourself a present – I do every year. Well, sometimes I buy two. But seriously – you will fall in love with something! Of the 51 artists displaying this year (27 new to the show) there are 5 jewelers, 5 ceramic artists, and 4 fiber artists. Gifts galore not just for you but for your family and friends.
4. Toast the leaders who’ve made the event possible – In 1997 the first of a long list of dedicated chairs gave countless hours to bring Artclectic into being. Each chair brought her own personality to the event and we salute their dedication - 1997 – Ann Fundis, Susan Kistler, Susie Ries; 1998 – Marcy Eskind, Ann Fundis; 1999 – Susan Kistler; 2000 – Susan Brown, Susan Kistler; 2001 – Susan Brown; 2002, 2003 – Elizabeth Fox, Brooks Mathews, Lee Ann Merrick, Libby Page, Robinson Regen; 2004, 2005 – Ann Fundis; 2006, 2007 – Luci Crow; 2008 – Loren Elliot, Ann Kloeppel; 2009 – Loren Elliot; 2010, 2011 – Ursula Norris
5. Weekend is free – Saturday and Sunday, drop by anytime and you pay nothing to meet artists and enjoy amazing art. It’s a great time to bring your friends and neighbors to one of the finest art shows in the region. And if it rains – no mud, no straw, no mess!
6. Fall in love with the work of featured artist Charles Brindley – Don’t miss Trace and Transformation, Charles’ exhibit in the Tibbott Center Gallery with over 50 of his paintings and drawings.
7. Make art – Kids of all ages can make art for FREE in the new Art Factory. On the 2nd floor of the Tibbott Center, escape and create. You’ll emerge relaxed, refreshed, and in touch with your inner artist.
8. Meet artists about to be discovered – Every year a handful of our artists are ‘emerging’ and nearly every one of them goes on to a gallery as a result of the show. Some are young and some are young at heart. Don’t miss the chance to collect their work before they make it big.
9. Eat well – Whole Foods donates ALL the food for the two fabulous parties. Then on Saturday Mas Tacos arrives just in time for you to catch lunch. Indulge in a Cupcake Collection treat both Saturday and Sunday. What’s not to like?
10. Travel to SoHo without leaving Nashville - Sure, you can pay several hundred dollars to fly to New York, several hundred more to stay in a hotel, and then spend some luscious moments strolling from gallery to gallery: Far be it from us to say that’s not a good way to spend your money and your time. But by spending both nights at both fabulous parties at Artclectic, you will enrich your senses at least as much, perhaps more, and at a fraction of the cost.
11. Visit our mid-town  campus – This is not a USN only event. People come from all over the southeast every fall to experience all that is Arclectic. We welcome you!
12. Turn off your TV and visually indulge – We say it every year – “you won’t believe it’s a gym!” But seriously – you won’t believe it’s not an art gallery. A stunning transformation not to be missed.
13. Not just one, but two great parties – Thursday, October 20th be the first to see the art and purchase art at the always popular Patrons Party. Patrons come to the Friday Community Party for free, and everyone else pays a mere $10 at the door. A perfect night for a group, and the bigger the better!
14. Learn – Talk to artists, ask questions about their work, watch some of them demonstrate their techniques. We are never too old to learn (or too young).
15. Art matters – as Elizabeth says in her 2008 blog post, “…the #1 reason to go to Artclectic is to consider how important art is to our world. Art captures both the beautiful and the disturbing, sometimes in one breath, but ultimately art is created by real people with real inspiration. What a fantastic way to celebrate creativity, invention and beauty.”

See you at Artclectic, October 20-23!

Monday brought parents and students in K-8 to our school for fall conferences. That same day Charles Brindley and I unloaded his paintings and drawings into the Tibbott Center Gallery in preparation for his major exhibit Trace and Transformation. We managed to create quite a stir with the young and young-at-heart who stopped to admire, inquire, and enjoy. Don’t miss one of several opportunities to meet Charles Brindley, hear about his creative process, and of course see the over 50 works of art in the exhibit.

• Opening Reception – Sunday, October 9th from 5:30-8:30
• Conversation with the Artist – Tuesday, October 18th at 11:30 (reservations required)
• And of course during Artclectic – October 20th – 23rd