A Visit to Cheekwood Sculpture Garden

At the end of last year I was invited to help judge a high school art competition as a representative of Nossi and wound up really enjoying it! It was my first time being on an art competition jury, and since I had never done it before I jumped at the opportunity to experience yet another facet of being part of an artistic community.

These three were a few of my favorites I voted for. I mean, you know I’m obsessed with this shadow shapes, and I also loved the alternate mediums too! So interesting! Suck skilled young people!

The gardens weren’t exactly in full bloom in the middle of February, but it was fun to interact with a few of the sculptures and see the orchid show that was happening at the time too.

There were also a few random paintings, mostly of the family that originally owned Cheekwood Estate, but I really fell in love with these four seasons mini tapestries. Don’t they remind you of Alphonse Mucha’s 4 seasons so much? Such ethereal beauty:)

There were definitely a number of nice details hidden throughout the house too. Like these great sculptures in relief or the gorgeous inlaid stone tucked into some really surprising spaces.

If you like joining me on my art excursions, make sure you’re following me on Instagram @caleighbirdart where I love to fill up my stories with all kinds of artsy adventures.

3.2.2022

My Artist Residency During the Coronavirus

What a time to be alive right?!

I've recently returned from a five week artist residency on a small farm in rural Tennessee, and while I had a wonderful time with the miniature donkeys and generous chickens, it was a very strange feeling knowing that the Coronavirus was just beginning its unprecedented infiltration of the entire world.

Camp Wonder Wander, hosted by artist and entrepreneur Val Sloan, provides a quiet and beautiful space for artists, writers, and musicians to come and focus on their craft in a an environment not bogged down with the complications and distractions of normal everyday life.

As part of the artist residency, we help out with the animals and find ways to add to the enchanted experience of the next residents by leaving a piece of ourselves here in the form of whatever art we choose. I decided to entirely repaint the shared bathroom with a potted plant mural. (See the full mural vid here. )

Even through the current state of affairs I had a really wonderful stay and was able to explore many different art forms in a short amount of time. It was also really delightful to watch spring come in everywhere throughout the rolling hills of Tennessee.

4.19.2020

Full Bathroom Potted Plant Mural

Hooray! I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to paint an entire bathroom mural of my own artistic choosing during my Artist Residency at Camp Wonder Wander in rural Tennessee. It’s a really fun and quirky house which has really bright walls and artwork everywhere you look (stay tuned to see it when the vlog comes out!), and you can tell its decoration is a labor of creative love by our hostess Val Sloan.

The artist quarters are actually an evolving art space as well because each artist leaves a piece of themselves in the form of artwork, or poetry written, or whatever their medium is, to beautify and enrich the space more for the next folks to come. After about a week of being there and using this shared bathroom, I knew just what to do:)

And how much do you love my little herb garden?! Squeeeee! It’s one of my favorite parts!

I really loved filling in these tight spaces - so cute!

A new adventure in art-making completed. Hooray!!!

3.31.2020

Live Stream from the Farm on Tennessee

Howdy folks, my hard drive crashed, my travel plans got postponed and my gigs got canceled. It’s the middle of a global pandemic and shizz is getting pretty weird!!

Gotta smile through the crazy though and find ways to stay distracted :D

3.20.2020

Hike day at Devil’s Backbone Nature Area

Soooo thrilled that one of my favorite hobbies is still safe to do.. hiking!!

I had a great time doing about 4 miles through the woods and visiting waterfalls yesterday at the Devil’s Backbone nature area here in southern Tennessee. It was a pretty warm day and a truly wonderful way to feel peaceful and grounded in the midst of all the craziness right now.

I know a lot of us are struggling economically right now and it’s not about to get any easier, so even more important to make sure to take the time to enjoy whatever low cost and safe activities you can. I’ve been listening to about a million podcasts on the coronavirus myself, but I’m still trying to make time to break away and enjoy the simple things in life.

These waterfalls and their crystal clear pools look like they would be perfect to frolic in during the summer. The first one even has a ledge you can chill under the waterfall on!

What else are people doing to break up the monotony besides going out as usual? I’m on a tiny farm right now with plenty of art supplies… But also plenty of time. Leave me a comment on how you’re taking up your days.

3.16.2020

Golden Glow Inspo

That feeling when you blend in fully with your environment…

Even though it’s been a little bit gray here in TN, I’m still making sure to spend some time outside every day and on one of my recent walks I came upon an entire forest of these golden glowing leaves. The way they were lightly fluttering in the wind I was half expecting a few silent dueling martial artists from ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ to start sailing above me whipping their cloaks about….

So happy that everywhere I go my fern friends find me:)

2.26.2020