PUBLSHER'S NOTE

Renoir, Vanderbilt and a Family Affair

Welcome to our June/July summer issue. In this issue we visit with artist and native Nashvillian, Kit Reuther. Reuther is a prolific painter who grew up not far from where she currently shows her work: Cumberland Gallery. Says Reuther, “I hear complaints from other artists who say Nashville doesn’t support the arts, but that hasn’t been my experience at all.” We hope you will enjoy her story of success.

Also this month, we take a peek at Cheekwood Botanical Garden’s summer exhibition titled Happily Ever After. Cheekwood began this summer tradition eight years ago, and since then thousands have come to enjoy the art placed throughout the meticulously maintained grounds of Cheekwood.

We feature Chef Willy Thomas in our Culinary Arts column this month. Thomas and wife Yvette are the owners of Park Café and the Eastland Café. Both establishments are cozy, intimate and located within neighborhoods, not on main thoroughfares. Their walls are adorned with colorful original artwork, and the Thomases’ love for their work is obvious. It shows in the food, the service and the atmosphere.

And we take a look at a fantastically interesting new book titled Nashville Music Before Country. Author Tim Sharp holds the Elizabeth G. Daughdrill Chair in Fine Arts at Rhodes College, Memphis, where he is the dean of fine arts, directs the Center for Outreach in the Development of the Arts and conducts the Rhodes Singers and Masters Singers Chorale. His book chronicles, through words and images, the rich history of Nashville music that prefaced our current scene.

Please check out Andee Rudloff’s always-interesting column, Further Ado. Wine writer Vicki Turner looks at alternative white varietals this month, and a new feature on driving-distance arts destinations features the 21C Museum Hotel located in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s truly a fascinating place and well worth the short and beautiful drive through the heart of the Bluegrass state.

And finally, we want to welcome our friend Ted Clayton to the crew. Clayton will serve as our new arts social editor and will be covering many of the arts events around town. Those of you who don’t know Ted Clayton yet are in for a treat!

Be positive. Be a part of the change—be a part of Nashville Arts Magazine.

Best,
Randy Read