MACC Talk at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center

Pianist Lori Mechem is a co-founder and former director of the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Every year, Lori and her quartet herald the holiday season with their annual Charlie Brown Christmas concert. In this episode of MACC Talk, Lori joins host John Pitcher to discuss her life in music and love for jazz. She’s especially passionate about the timeless soundtrack that the jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi composed for the classic animated Christmas special.

Andrew Dunn is a Nashville-based cellist who has made a name for himself recording video game music. A frequent collaborator with the Nashville Music Scoring Orchestra, Andrew has recorded music for such popular games as Call of Duty, Anthem and Fortnite, among many others. He’s also a popular YouTuber, recording video game covers under the pseudonym Israfelcello. In this episode of MACC Talk, Andrew joins host John Pitcher to discuss the emergence of Nashville as a world capital for the recording of video game music. The episode is sponsored by Nōssi College of Art & Design.

Red Arrow Gallery occupies a relatively small space in East Nashville. Yet it exerts a disproportionately large influence on Music City’s visual arts scene. That’s because Red Arrow’s Gallerist Katie Shaw and Director Ashley Layendecker run their establishment like an elite music agency. They represent a small roster of artists and lavish them with attention. Not surprisingly, these artists are flourishing, attracting attention far beyond the geographical limits of Nashville. In this episode of MACC Talk, Katie and Ashley join host John Pitcher to discuss Red Arrow’s unique approach to representing artists. They also talk about their current group exhibit titled In Our Place, which complements an even larger exhibition at the Frist Art Museum. The episode is sponsored by Nashville Interiors Magazine.

In 1890, a diminutive French aristocrat named Henri Toulouse-Lautrec received a commission to create posters advertising Le Moulin Rouge. His drawings of cabaret singers and can-can dancers became a sensation. In blurring the line between fine art and advertising, Toulouse-Lautrec set in motion an aesthetic that would dominate the pop-art movement of the mid-20th-century. In this episode of MACC Talk, Park West Gallery Senior Director Morris Shapiro joins host John Pitcher to discuss the life and art of Toulouse-Lautrec. The episode is sponsored by the Park West Gallery.

Aaron Dethrage is co-founder of Nashville’s hip-hop collective Six One Trïbe. Like New York’s Wu-Tang Clan, Nashville’s collective boasts a large roster of rappers, producers, editors and designers. Together, these amazing artists have come together to create a diverse and contemporary musical ecosystem. In this episode of MACC Talk, Dethrage joins host John Pitcher to discuss Nashville’s vibrant hip-hop scene. The episode is sponsored by Bryson McCarley State Farm Agency.

Stephanie Silverman has been the executive director of the Belcourt Theatre for nearly 20 years. Under her leadership, the Belcourt has been recognized as a national model for sustainable art house theaters by its peers and industry leaders. In this episode of MACC Talk, Stephanie joins host John Pitcher to discuss the state independent film in Music City. She also shares her views on the 98th Academy Awards. The episode is sponsored by Chef’s Market.

The late-great Nashville artist Barbara Bullock is the focus of a new exhibit titled Sistah Griot: The Iconoclastic Art of Barbara Bulllock. The exhibit, expertly curated by Nashville photographer Carlton Wilkinson, runs through April 26, 2026 at Nashville’s Frist Art Gallery. Bullock painted vivid characters living in a topsy-turvy world. Her work offers satirical commentary on societal norms, and they serve as powerful critiques of systemic racism, sexism and classism. In this episode of MACC Talk, Wilkinson joins host John Pitcher to discuss Bullock’s art and legacy. The episode is sponsored by Copper Creek Electric.

Jim Sherraden spent 34 years working at Hatch Show Print, Nashville’s iconic letterpress poster and print shop. Now, he creates prints that are truly works of fine art. In this episode of MACC Talk, Jim joins host John Pitcher to discuss his art, which is now the focus of an exhibition at the MACC titled From Brayer to Brush. The exhibit runs through April 5, 2026.

The Nashville Symphony Orchestra has named Leonard Slatkin its new music director. The celebrated maestro has a long history with the NSO. He was the NSO’s music advisor in the early 2000s and was on the podium when the orchestra opened its acoustically marvelous Schermerhorn Symphony Center in 2006. The orchestra also won the first three of its many Grammy Awards under Slatkin’s direction. In this episode of MACC Talk, Slatkin joins host John Pitcher to talk about his love for Nashville and his plans for the orchestra. The episode is sponsored by the Noah Liff Opera Center.

Women have played an oversized role in shaping Nashville’s contemporary art scene. That’s the theme of a new exhibition at the Frist Art Museum titled In Her Place: Nashville Artists in the 21st Century. The exhibit features nearly 100 works by 28 prominent Nashville women artists. In this episode of MACC Talk, Frist Senior Curator Katie Delmez joins host John Pitcher to discuss the women and art in this groundbreaking exhibition, which marks the Frist Art Museum’s 25th anniversary. The episode is sponsored by the Samaroo Group.

Richard Modica is the owner of Modfellows Art Gallery. Located in the Grassmere neighborhood of Nashville, the 2,000-square-foot gallery is a contemporary art space showcasing modern art from Nashville artists as well as nationally recognized talent. In this episode of the podcast MACC Talk, Modica joins host John Pitcher to talk about the rewards and challenges of running a private art gallery in Music City. The episode is sponsored by Sip Social Company.

What does an emerging visual artist need to do to get noticed? Ruth Chase has some ideas. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Ruth has over 30 years of experience as a professional studio artist. As Monthaven’s regional arts director, Ruth has introduced a new series called Meet Me at the MACC. The series helps new and established artists grow their careers. In this episode of MACC Talk, Ruth joins host John Pitcher to talk about the things artists need to do to advance their careers. The episode is sponsored by Grand Tents & Events. To see photos from our Meet Me at the MACC sessions, go to: https://monthavenarts.org/2026/01/ruth-chase-helpi…ow-their-careers/

Nadine Shillingford is a Nashville-based visual artist who creates intimate portraits using charcoal on paper. Her art captures people in everyday situations and evokes their spirit by highlighting their facial expressions. It’s a whimsical approach that gives vitality to her work. Twenty of Nadine’s fabulous works are on display at Monthaven as part of an exhibit titled La Femme Fatale. The exhibit runs Jan. 14 to Feb. 15, 2026 and is part of the MACC’s Black History celebration. In this episode of MACC Talk, Nadine joins host John Pitcher to discuss her unconventional background (she is a self-taught artist with a PhD in computer science) and her passion for the visual arts.

Banning Bouldin is without question one of Nashville’s most important artists. As founding artistic director of the dance collective New Dialect, Banning has helped transform Nashville into a dance hub. Her strikingly original choreography has been performed at such venues as the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and Oz Arts Nashville. She’s received numerous awards and honors for her work, including nominations for the United States Artist Fellowship and Guggenheim Fellowship. In this episode of MACC Talk, Banning joins host John Pitcher to discuss her life in dance along with her upcoming Winter Intensive. The episode is sponsored by Leavitt Family Medicine.

It’s been another great year for music in Nashville. From singer Hayley Williams’ album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party to Shaboozey’s single “Good News,” Music City has continued to crank out the hits. To celebrate these accomplishments, MACC Talk has launched its first annual Year in Music podcast. In this special episode, Nashville Scene Music Editor Stephen Trageser and Nashville music journalist Ron Wynn join host John Pitcher to talk about the top Nashville music stories of 2025. They also discuss their favorite album releases, the city’s ever-changing venue landscape, and much more. The episode is sponsored by TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center.

David Wright is the premier artist of the American Frontier. His paintings depict historical subjects with deeply researched accuracy and detail. David’s paintings are now the subject of a beautiful new book titled David Wright: Historian with a Brush. The book showcases some of David’s finest paintings of the American Frontier and the U.S. Civil War, along with some of his remarkably expressive renderings of Native Americans. In this episode of MACC Talk, David joins host John Pitcher to discuss his artistic process and his passion for historical art. The episode is sponsored by TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center.

James Coleman is one of the world’s foremost artists and animators. During a storied career with the Walt Disney Company, Coleman worked on the animation of nearly a dozen feature-length films, including The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. He left Disney after 22 years to become a fine artist, and his impressionistic paintings can now be found in collections around the world. In this episode of the podcast MACC Talk, Coleman joins host John Pitcher to discuss his eventful life and career.

Cristina Spinei is a Nashville-based composer and performer who has written music for numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles. She is best known for her work with ballet, having written music for Nashville Ballet, New York Choreographic Institute, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Parsons Dance Company, and many more. In this episode of MACC Talk, Cristina joins host John Pitcher to talk about her new album and her life as a composer.

Early Music City plays the music of Bach and Handel the old-fashioned way – with gut-string violins, valveless horns and other period instruments. In this episode of MACC Talk, countertenor Patrick Dailey and lutenist Francis Perry join host John Pitcher to discuss their historically informed music group’s sing-along Messiah at Nashville’s Christ Church Cathedral. The episode is sponsored by Ponce Law.

What does a visual artist need to do to get the Nashville Scene’s attention? That’s a question we pose to Laura Hutson Hunter. Laura is the long-time arts editor of the Nashville Scene. For more than a decade, she’s overseen the paper’s visual arts coverage, and she’s written some of the publication’s most perceptive visual arts stories. In addition to writing and editing, Laura also curates the Scene’s Adult Contemporary art exhibition series. In this episode of MACC Talk, Laura joins host John Pitcher to talk about the hottest artists and exhibitions in Nashville. The episode is sponsored by Spencer Fane Bone McAllester.

Greg Wilson is the founding artistic director of Actors Point Theater Company in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The company stages four or five productions a year and offers classes and workshops to aspiring young actors and theater enthusiasts. Recently, Actors Point was named theater-company-in-residence at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee. In this episode of MACC Talk, Greg joins host John Pitcher to discuss the critical role live theater plays in a rural county like Sumner. The episode is sponsored by the Samaroo Group.

Nashville Opera is opening its 45th season with a production of The Shining, a contemporary opera based on Stephen King’s delightfully creepy 1977 novel. John Hoomes, Nashville Opera’s long-time artistic director, joins MACC Talk host John Pitcher to discuss the qualities that make The Shining a perfect subject for opera. The company’s season also includes operas by Puccini and Rossini. The episode is sponsored by the Carolyn Smith Foundation.

Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Nick Mullikin is a passionate champion of contemporary dance. That probably explains why his company is opening its 40th anniversary season with a new dance that pays homage to the life and music of Elvis Presley. The upcoming season will also feature such classics as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, as well as a contemporary dance inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. In this episode of MACC Talk, Mullikin joins host John Pitcher to discuss the anniversary season and the importance of dance in a creative city like Nashville. The episode is sponsored by Nashville Interiors Magazine.

In 1973, the French humanitarian Marina Picasso inherited a trove of some 10,000 artworks from her legendary grandfather Pablo Picasso. Amazingly, most of these works had never been displayed before in public. These were works from the master’s own private collection. They were “Picasso’s Picassos” and were so near and dear to the artist’s heart that he had never been able to part with them. Some of the finest examples from this collection are now on display at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center through Nov. 9, 2025 as part of an exhibit titled “The Unknown Picasso.” In this episode of MACC Talk, Dr. Charles A. Riley, a noted Picasso expert, joins host John Pitcher to discuss the hidden treasures in this historic collection. The episode is sponsored by the Park West Foundation.

There are a lot of new things going on at Nashville Shakespeare Festival. The 37-year-old festival has a new artistic director, Jason Spelbring, who’s beginning his first year at the artistic helm with a summer production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. The company has also introduced a new season that will present a couple contemporary plays that riff off Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In this episode of MACC Talk, NSF Executive Director Isabel Tipton-Krispin joins host John Pitcher to talk about Shakespeare, Nashville’s art scene and much more. The episode is sponsored by Chef’s Market.

Alan Valentine is the long-time president of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Since his arrival in Nashville in 1998, the NSO has built one of the world’s great concert halls. It has also produced more than 40 acclaimed recordings, and it has received 27 Grammy nominations and 14 Grammy Awards. It's been a great run, but, of course, all good things do come to an end. Last week, Alan announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 season. In this episode of MACC Talk, Alan speaks with host John Pitcher about his remarkable time in Music City.

Don Olea is the featured artist at the MACC’s Seventh Annual Veterans Art Exhibition. His show, Battle Born, is on display in the MACC’s galleries through August 31st, 2025. Don creates photorealistic watercolors that convey the heroism and sacrifice of America’s service members from the Revolutionary War to the present day. In this episode of MACC Talk, Don joins host John Pitcher to reflect on his deep commitment to honoring the U.S. military and its veterans. The episode is sponsored by the Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project.

Hendersonville photographer Rick Murray is one of thousands of “citizen scientists” around America who’s discovered a passion for astrophotography. Using a new generation of smart telescopes, Rick takes spectacular photographs of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial phenomena. He also specializes in aerial photography, using drones to capture breathtaking photos of storms, including the occasional terrifying tornado. Not surprisingly, Rick’s photos have been viewed around the world. In this episode of MACC Talk, Rick joins host John Pitcher to discuss the marvels of photographing the heavens.

Ruth Chase is the MACC’s regional arts director. She’s also curator of the group exhibit Rescued, which runs through Aug. 31, 2025 at the MACC’s Papillon Gallery. This amazing group exhibition features the works three visionary artists – Dayo Johnson, Hoppy Highhat and Dustin Headrick. Each of these artists offers a unique perspective on what it means to be “rescued.” Their show invites viewers to reflect on themes of transformation, survival and renewal. Ruth is the perfect curator for this exhibit. She has worked in the arts for over 30 years and is a multimedia artist and graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute. Her artistic practice is inquiry-based and often engages in community bridge-building. She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles, has curated and juried numerous exhibitions, and has taught at the Crocker Art Museum.

Joe Nolan is the author of Nowville: The Untold History of Nashville’s Contemporary Art Scene. His terrific book tells the story of the art punks, art monks, radical art students and visionary pioneers who created Nashville’s adventurous visual arts scene in the 1990s. In this episode of MACC Talk, Nolan joins host John Pitcher to discuss how this homespun movement –powered by Do-It-Yourself innovating – came to be a thriving creative community. The episode is sponsored by Leavitt Family Medicine.

Contemporary painter Kathryn Dettwiller and sculptor Somers Randolph are exhibiting their work at Monthaven as part of a group show called Canvas + Stone. The exhibit features more than 65 strikingly original abstract works, which will be on display at the MACC through July 27, 2025. In this episode of MACC Talk, Dettwiller and Randolph join host John Pitcher to talk about their inspirations and creative processes. They also reflect on the evolution of Nashville’s visual arts scene, from its DIY movement of the early 1990s to its current status as creative powerhouse. This episode is sponsored by Nōssi College of Art and Design.

Tennessee artist Anne Goetze created her documentary The Living Land for PBS. The film gets a screening at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center on June 1, 2025. This beautiful documentary is a cinematic ode to nature, music and poetry, bringing well-being, conservation, and beauty into our lives through all four seasons of nature’s artistry. A collection of her plein air paintings will also be on display at the MACC from May 13 to June 29, 2025. In this episode of MACC Talk, Goetze speaks with host John Pitcher about her artistic and spiritual connections to the Tennessee landscape.

Kip Winger is one of those rare artists who’s both a famed rock musician and a noted classical composer. As lead singer and bass player for his eponymous rock band, Kip cranked out a couple of hard-charging, platinum-selling rock albums in the late 1980s and early 90s. In recent years, he’s emerged as an important composer of symphonic music, earning a Grammy nomination for his ballet score Conversations with Nijinsky. In this episode of MACC Talk, Winger joins host John Pitcher to discuss his new Violin Concerto, which the violinist Peter Otto and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra will premiere May 9-10, 2025 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The episode is sponsored by our friends at Nōssi College of Art and Design.

Deanne DeWitt is the president of the Preservation Foundation of Sumner County. Deanne and her organization have been instrumental in raising community awareness about the importance of old places. One of those places is Sumner County’s historic Comer Barn, which is now receiving a new lease on life thanks in part to her efforts. In this episode of MACC Talk, Deanne speaks with podcast host John Pitcher about the importance of preserving Sumner County’s historic treasures.

Dana Pettit’s new exhibition A Divine Appointment is on display at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center from April 18 to 27, 2025. The exhibit features portraits of Jesus rendered in a dozen different styles of Western art, from Baroque and Impressionism to Pop Art and Performance Art. Pettit created the works in this series as part of her own personal quest to find God. In this episode of MACC Talk, Pettit discusses her artistic and spiritual inspirations with host John Pitcher. This episode is sponsored by Olympian Construction Company.

Donna Woodley is curator of the exhibit Black Vibrations, which runs through March 23 at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center. This amazing exhibition features 56 works by more than a dozen of Middle Tennessee’s preeminent Black artists. Donna is the perfect curator for this exhibit. An art instructor at Tennessee State University and successful studio artist, Donna was named Nashville’s Best New Artist in 2016 by the Nashville Scene. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally, and she was a featured artist for the Rep. John Lewis Mural Project installed in downtown Nashville. In this episode of MACC Talk, Donna talks with host John Pitcher about the special vibes of this unique exhibition.

Scott Williams is the president and CEO of Discovery Park of America. Located in Union City, Tennessee, the aptly named institution is one of the Volunteer State’s great museums. It’s a place where visitors can explore natural history, regional history, science, technology and much more. In this episode of MACC Talk, Williams joins host John Pitcher to discuss the wonders of this West Tennessee museum.

Wendy Rodrigue is founder of the Life and Legacy Foundation. The Foundation is devoted to deepening our knowledge and appreciation for the life and art of her late husband, the legendary Louisiana-born artist George Rodrigue. The Life and Legacy Foundation is currently sponsoring an exhibit at Monthaven called The River is the Road: The paintings of George Rodrigue. In this episode of our podcast MACC Talk, Wendy joins host John Pitcher to talk about George Rodrigue’s remarkable life and enduring artistic legacy.

Bill Miller is the owner of one of Nashville’s leading entertainment and hospitality companies, Icon Entertainment. The company operates museums, restaurants, bars and experiential venues. If you’ve ever visited Nashville’s Johnny Cash Museum or enjoyed a little music and fine dining at the Sinatra Bar & Lounge, then you’re familiar with Bill Miller’s work. Icon Entertainment also owns the Patsy Cline Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, House of Cards, and much more. It’s no wonder The Nashville Business Journal has selected Miller as one of Music City’s Top 100 Power Players three years in a row. In this episode of MACC Talk, Miller joins host John Pitcher to talk about Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and myriad other things. The episode is sponsored by the law firm Spencer, Fane, Bone, McAllester.

Deborah Evans Price is one of Nashville’s preeminent music journalists. Over the course of her 40-plus-year career, Price has interviewed countless artists, including Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift. In 2023, she received the Country Music Association’s Media Achievement Award. In this episode of MACC Talk, Price talks with host John Pitcher about her new book Country Faith Christmas: 50 Reflections and Recipes from Leading Country Music Stars. It’s a great read, and it’s definitely going to keep us cooking over Christmas. The episode is sponsored by Ponce Law – Justice for All – Middle Tennessee’s Premier Personal Injury Law Firm.

Tennessee songwriter and Army veteran J.T. Cooper fought in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. The conflict was famously portrayed in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down. Following his military service, Cooper turned to songwriting to help him deal with his PTSD. In 2018, he founded the nonprofit group Warrior Rounds, a healing arts program that pairs military veterans with songwriters. The songwriters help the veterans tell their stories – a crucial step in the healing process. Cooper will be the keynote speaker at the MACC’s Boots and BBQ fundraiser on Oct. 19, 2024. The fundraiser supports the MACC’s healing arts program for military veterans. In a wide-ranging conversation with the MACC’s Chief Operating Officer John Pitcher, Cooper discusses his military service and his commitment to helping other veterans cope with trauma.

Sergeant First Class Joseph James (U.S. Army, Retired) and his wife Jarin are co-chairing this year’s Boots and BBQ fundraiser for Monthaven Arts and Culture Center. Proceeds from the event on Oct. 19, 2024 support the MACC’s Between the Lines Healing Arts Program for military veterans. James knows a thing or two about the healing power of the arts. He turned to art to assist in his recovery after he lost both legs to an improvised explosive device in Iraq. In this episode of MACC Talk, James reveals his indomitable spirit and unfailing commitment to veterans in a wide-ranging conversation with the MACC’s John Pitcher.

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is exhibiting Stairway to Heaven: Salvadore Dalí’s The Divine Comedy through Oct. 13, 2024. In this episode of MACC Talk, Park West Gallery Senior Director and Dalí’ expert Morris Shapiro holds forth on the great Spanish artist’s singular masterpiece.

Denice Hicks plans to step down from her post as executive artistic director of Nashville Shakespeare Festival at the end of September 2024. In this episode of MACC Talk, Hicks reflects on her many years of directing and acting in the Bard’s plays in Music City.

Lisa Jennings is one of Middle Tennessee’s most strikingly original artists. Her work is deeply rooted in her love for nature. She creates statues from the stones she finds in nearby streams; her paintings are layered masterpieces depicting scenes from the natural world. In this episode of MACC Talk, Jennings discusses the influences and creative processes that produced the works in her exhibit On the Wings of Blessings.

Giancarlo Guerrero is the six-time Grammy Award-winning conductor and music director of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Since picking up the baton in 2009, Guerrero has led the Nashville Symphony in 11 world premieres and 15 recordings of American music. Last summer, Guerrero surprised everyone when he announced that the 2024-25 season would be his last in Nashville. In this episode of MACC Talk, Guerrero talks about his time in Nashville and his plans for the future.

America is a deeply divided country. People seem angry, fearful and mistrustful. They inhabit a house divided that is certain to fall. Or do they? The photojournalist David Robert Farmerie recently went on a quest to answer this question. Traveling more than 300,000 miles, he met with and photographed ordinary Americans leading extraordinary lives. He found that there were indeed divisions. But he also learned that we have more in common than not. In this MACC Talk podcast, Farmerie recounts his remarkable journey. He also discusses the continuation of his In Search of America project, which will culminate with a 2025 photo exhibition at The MACC’s Papillon Gallery.

Nashville is known around the world as Music City. But it’s also known as “The Athens of the South.” That nickname is partly due to the city’s glorious state capitol building, famously created in Greek revival style. Kem Hinton knows a thing or two about Nashville architecture. He’s lead designer of Tennessee’s celebrated Bicentennial Mall, a magnificent 19-acre park located north of the capitol. In this episode, he gives us the story behind Tennessee’s crowning architectural achievement.

Valentine Adams is Nashville’s premier metal sculptor. A retired U.S. Air Force captain, Adams is one of Monthaven’s healing arts facilitators. His “blue collar” art serves as a tribute to a time when American workers forged durable goods.

Thompson Mayes, vice president and general counsel of the National Trust for Historic Places, paid a recent visit to Sumner County. Author of the important book Why Old Places Matter, Mayes explains why old places like Monthaven should matter to all of us.