West Wilson Community Arts Alliance Raises Cultural Awareness
arts, arts alliance, cultural awareness, culture, kathy chester, west wilson community,
Mt. Juliet is home to many talented and diverse artists‚ but no one really knew it until recently.
With some help from local businesses‚ the new West Wilson Community Arts Alliance is giving the creative set a marketing boost – and invigorating the county’s cultural arts scene in the process.
“It’s pretty amazing to see the kind of talent we have here in our small town‚” says Anita Spicer‚ executive assistant for the Mt. Juliet/West Wilson County Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the arts alliance. “There has never been anything like this in Mt. Juliet.”
The nonprofit organization aims to support‚ strengthen and celebrate the area’s cultural arts environment through advocacy and fundraising.
So far‚ so good.
Established in 2006‚ the arts alliance has several branches: Encore Theatre Co. Inc.‚ the Fine Arts Guild‚ Choral Dynamics‚ and a community orchestra is in the works.
The theater company kicked off its first season in 2006 with a production of The Murder Room‚ a British mystery-farce‚ and the chorus rehearses weekly and performs at community events.
After just a few months‚ the Fine Arts Guild had signed up almost 20 dues-paying members whose skills include photography‚ handcrafted jewelry‚ fiber art‚ stained glass and painting – and more artists are joining all the time.
The guild meets each month and offers rotating Artist of the Month exhibits at F&M Bank‚ along with group exhibits at various locations throughout the community. Monthly art-opening receptions give folks an opportunity to meet the artists face-to-face.
The shows have sparked plenty of interest‚ and artists are already reaping the rewards.
Kathy Chester‚ a longtime Mt. Juliet resident and an artist specializing in oils and pastels‚ sold some paintings and had several students join an art class after seeing her work at a bank.
“The fine arts guild allows the community to see the talent that is in their own back yard‚” Chester says. “It also has afforded me the opportunity to meet and work with other artists to bring the visual arts to light in our area.”
Meeting other artists was the main draw for Pamela Collier‚ an oil painter who studies under professional artist Shirley Pharris of nearby Hermitage.
“We’ve come to support each other‚ encourage each other and share ideas‚” Collier says. “I think we’re making friends along the way.”
One of Collier’s paintings generated inquiries about a commissioned portrait – a direct result of the arts alliance’s efforts‚ Collier says. Several other artists have had similar experiences.
“As a fast-growing community‚ I think we were ready for this‚” Collier says. “It has given us an organized way in which to come together and support each other. It also gives the public an awareness of the art available in our community.”
The art exhibits have been popular at local businesses‚ Spicer says‚ prompting requests from other businesses to host shows.
Ultimately‚ the exhibits offer much more than interesting pieces of art to look at or buy‚ says Rachel Hensley‚ a fiber artist who sold several pieces from the alliance’s recent group exhibits.
Beyond helping the artists and raising awareness of local talent‚ they engage people of all ages and backgrounds.
“It’s something that’s very lifting to the soul‚” Hensley says. “Art belongs everywhere.”
Story by Rebecca Denton
Photo by Antony Boshier
