Experience the American Artisan Festival, Father's Day Weekend, Nashville
When it comes to art, Samantha Saturn believes that people today are more into "experiencing it" than collecting it. Which is why she's incorporated an interactive art installment at this year's American Artisan Festival called GROW LOVE.
GROW LOVE is an invitation to local residents and visitors alike to experience Nashville and Centennial Park in a new and creative way, and proudly demonstrates that Nashville is a diverse city that can come together as one.
Visiting San Francisco Bay Area artists Tracy Ginsberg and Theodore Lillie of Forest Alchemy, will create the temporary exhibit which will present a giant white labyrinth designed in the shape of a Magnolia blossom, a defining tree of the southern landscape and Centennial Park. Visitors will walk the labyrinth - a spiritual practice for many cultures - and will also be invited to write a message and affix it to the center of the work as you walk through. The intent of GROW LOVE is to bring people together to participate and engage in art as a community.
Samantha Saturn has relaunched the 43rd festival which has been on a short hiatus after her mother, the founder, passed away. Samantha's mother became the owner of what was once The Craft Cranny in 1971 when Samantha was a baby. Along with her two sisters and father, Alan Saturn (who loved this show more than perhaps even her mother) they spent every Father's Day weekend at the fair. Over the years as it established itself as The American Artisan Festival. Samantha was always there working, either selling drinks, or booth sitting for artists, or helping her mother check people in, and eventually helping her layout and manage the show.
The best part of the show for Samantha was the community of artists who also became her family. She learned from her mother how important it was to create access and a space to connect to artists so that the Nashville community could understand and appreciate the pure joy of collecting contemporary art--whether decorative or functional. Knowing that you can drink your coffee in a mug made by hand that feels good to the touch, or watch the light shine on a blown glass ornament on your christmas tree, or sit on your porch and bask in in the sounds of a soulful windchime on a rainy day.
Samantha is taking that forward with a renewed sense of passion. She has relocated with her family to Nashville after almost 20 years living in New York City with the goal to bring this show to a new level of importance and quality.
American Artisan Festival, Centennial Park, June 16-18, 2017
Friday 4-8
Saturday 10-7
Sunday 10-5
