The Nashville Artist Collective is digital gallery offering original works by local artists. Its mission, says Rowanne McKnight, who spearheads the venture, is “to nurture Nashville artists while giving collectors access to affordable art outside of the traditional gallery scene.”
Last week, the clever online concept went “off-line” with a reception at our Draper James Nashville boutique. Rowanne, who also serves as a Draper James brand ambassador in Nashville, fills us in.
Tell us more about the Nashville Artist Collective.
The NAC is an innovative web-based gallery of original art. Artists submit new paintings each month and we dedicate 5 percent of our proceeds to support local causes. In January and February, we names Girls, Inc. as our beneficiary, which was a nice boost to the existing Draper James partnership.
What’s exciting about the art scene in Nashville right now?
I think Nashville is in a true Renaissance period right now. Though we are certainly always a music city first, the visual arts are the most vibrant and growing sector of our city, in my opinion.
Tell us about this event featuring the Nashville Artist Collective at Draper James.
We invited the Nashville community and their guests to come meet our eight artists and view their work inside the store. We took over the gallery walls and coordinated carefully with the tabletops to create a colorful and fun event. The Draper James team provided the champagne, and Sprinkles made delightful Draper James branded cupcakes.
Why, in your mind, are DJ and NAC a good pair?
As a Draper James ambassador, I know how much the company believes in supporting creatives in the South. From the clothing designs to the books for sale to the original art on the walls, Draper James is all in. It seemed like a very natural venue to me to host an event. Also, just as Draper James introduces artisans and designers from the South, NAC is a doorway to all sorts of great art in the Southeast. In addition to Nashville, we have Artist Collective sites in Charleston, Atlanta, and D.C.
What were some of the highlights of the night?
The support of the people that attended was exciting to me. I fed off of their energy and feedback about the art, but also about the gorgeous Draper James setting. People who appreciate art usually appreciate fashion and aesthetics. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase homegrown talent within the walls of a sophisticated national brand.
