Well folks, no pictures here - my camera was out of battery power. So, imagine if you will, the offices of the Tennessee Arts Commission. I entered the first floor of a large government building where I was asked to provide my driver's license for entry and subsequently watched as my picture (unfortunate befuddled look on face) was snapped by the same machine that scanned my license and produced a name tag with said information and picture scanned onto it. High tech.
As I made my way into the offices of the Commission, I noticed that they are quite colorful, and also, quite under renovation - new gallery space is coming soon. The artwork from the gallery ended up in all sorts of interesting places, including the Conference Room where I met with the very passionate staff and talked about SouthernArtistry.org. Lots of interesting ideas for surveying artists on the site and finding new marketing outlets to increase site traffic. Thanks to the staff for 2+ hours of your time and tips on good Mexican food in downtown Nashville.
The 3 hour drive home ended with Atlanta Friday rush hour traffic (you don't want to imagine this part) and my practicing ujayi breathing to keep myself calm as I drove through said traffic to a 3-hour installment of the yoga intensive program I am taking at Kashi Atlanta - the city's only urban ashram known for their service work and $5 yoga classes. Ah, to be home!
Day 5 - Nashville to Home
Day 4 - Music City and singing bowls
My one regret from today was not getting a picture of the group that assembled before me at 11:00 this morning at the W.O. Smith School of Music. Over 30 TN artists of all disciplines and from all over the state in one room learning about SouthernArtistry.org! The building we were in was gorgeous and provided free parking, along with the hospitable and technically savvy, Jonah Rabinowitz, who saved me from mortal embarrassment by figuring out the wireless security settings on my computer so that I could use the Internet during my workshop. For those artists reading this who did not get to attend, the presentation resources can be found here. Also, for those wanting to see what the 'freestyle poling' that I do is all about, check out Crossover Movement Arts. You can also watch a video of our founder, Blake Dalton, performing on the pole.
The workshop was followed by a visit to Kaaren Engel's studio to talk about her latest exhibition - ROAD TRIP. How could I pass that up?! In addition to seeing her work, her floor - a piece of art in itself, I was able to listen to her play "singing bowls" beautiful metal bowls used for meditation practices the world over, and also used by Kaaren for healing and relaxation workshops. A video of singing bowls and Kaaren talking about her work is coming soon! For now, take a look at her studio - what a place to work and play.
Tonight, I'm staying at the Scarritt Bennett Center - great mission, great staff, great price. There is a Labrynth here for walking meditation - yea, this is my kind of place.
Day 3 - NCAC and driving in the SNOW
Day 2 - SCAC and SC Artists HOORAY
I am always inspired by getting to match faces with names, especially if the faces are those of individuals who work hard for artists (and arts 
orgs!) everyday. I have so much affection for my friends at the South Carolina Arts Commission. My morning presentation with staff was quite fun; we had a good set up (thanks Randall and Laurel), Earl Grey tea, and a SouthernArtistry.org artist present to boot!
The workshop finished with enough time to go to an area of Columbia, SC undergoing a renaissance (we see these in Atlanta ALOT) - the Vista. Laurel and Jeanette picked out the spot. We talked about everything from the hardships facing the local arts community in the current economic downturn to Cirque du Soleil. I ate organic chicken and brown rice (all for under the amount of my nonprofit meal per-diem) with enough left over for dinner.
I returned to find about twenty SouthernArtistry.org artists in the conference room ready to learn about how to maximize their profiles on the registry. Lots of visual artists, a good showing of writers, a magician and a folk-singer too! Here's a pic of those fine folks who turned out and hopefully got something out of our hour together.
For those artists reading this who did not get to attend, the presentation resources can be found here. Also, for those wanting to see what the 'freestyle poling' that I do is all about, check out Crossover Movement Arts. You can also watch a video of our founder, Blake Dalton, performing on the pole.
I got on the road about 4:30 in the afternoon to miss rush hour traffic out of Columbia. Unfortunately, I hit a stand still a mere 2 hours into my drive up to Raleigh, NC. Despite the frustration that my drive would now be closer to 4 hours, this gave me the perfect opportunity to actually eat my leftover brown rice and chicken without ever having to get up out of my car!
I have so much respect for George and Gretchin, my hosts at Woodburn Cottage. They took my late check in, and revised late check in, and "I think I missed the turn" calls in stride. Once I arrived, they offered me a night cap and a sit by the fire. It did wonders. They entertained my road brain with stories of the short stint that Margaret Mitchell had living in this very house and of their Torpedo-inspired gallery space. I fell in love with my room the minute I saw the bookshelf.
Day 1 - Rainy Monday
A short post today to tell you that my drive lasted all 3 hours and 19 minutes as predicted by Google Maps taking me from Atlanta to Columbia. On such a rainy Monday, it was for these 4 things I gave thanks:
1. A boss who drives his car-less employee to the rental lot despite an impending meeting and rush hour to battle his way back to said meeting.
2. 9.39 FM - "The Drive" - 18 consecutive songs w/o commercial interuption. Classic ROCK. (You don't get this is GA folks, it's all SC).
3. NOT stepping in the largest pile of dip I've ever seen when exiting my car to use the gas station facilities south of Augusta, SC.
4. The Which Which "Wall" in Columbia, SC. Pictures do not do this wall-o-sandwich bag-orders justice. Sufice to say, the little business that asks you to write down your sandwich order on a brown paper bag with a red sharpie marker has made a wall out of people's creativity. Check out the Gorilla marketing by the Carolina Ballet. Go arts orgs!
Day 4 - Obama's Inauguration
The storm begins. This is a view of the 3rd Street tunnel / 395 that takes us under the Mall to get to the Silver Ticket entry gate:
We end up in a precarious position when a police officer directs us back from the tunnel and towards what he says is the Silver Gate entry point (it turns out to be the Purple Gate entry point - unfortunately close to an office building with some landscaping) 9:30 a.m.
Here’s us after re-crossing the tunnel and waiting in the line at the Silver Gate – Now 11:00 a.m.
We make it in just before the police close off the road with half a dozen squad cars and a bunch of motorcycles. The crowd surges forward and I briefly, but clearly, imagine being trampled. I try to remain calm and Bobby sticks his elbows out and we are pushed forward into plastic barriers. We jump them, there is no turning back now. This is our view.
The end of the ceremony and crowds dispersing - if that is what you can call it.
We finish the day with a ride home on the Metro, where we have to split up to fit each one of us on a separate car. We arrive home to champagne, steak and potatoes at Mom and Dad’s. Today is an unforgettable day.
