BUZZ ALERT! Performers Sought for ‘Holiday Traditions Show’

SMYRNA — Artists of all kinds are invited to take the stage for the 2022 edition of the “Motlow Smyrna Holiday Traditions Show.”

The event, which will occur from noon-1 p.m. Dec. 1 (Thursday), will celebrate all holiday traditions with performances by dancers, singers, songwriters, poets, storytellers, visual artists, and others. The show is sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club with support from the Student Government Association and the Dean of Students.

Individuals who are interested in performing are encouraged to contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu or SEAM Club President Kate Kim at kkim0803@mscc.edu. The deadline to express interest is Nov. 28 (Monday). 

“Our annual ‘Holiday Traditions Show’ is a wonderful way to share the spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and other celebrations,” said Whiting. “We’ll be featuring dance at the event for the first time.”

The show will occur in the Big Room on the first floor of the HSC Building, with food and beverage provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donated item for Motlow’s food bank. More details will be provided soon. 

Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter/Visual Artist Laura Powers to Speak on Oct. 27

  SMYRNA -- Award-winning singer/songwriter/visual artist Laura Powers will kick off the fall installment of the “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” with a talk at Motlow Smyrna from 2-3 p.m. Oct. 27 (Thursday).

  Powers’ presentation, “Journey into the Arts and Beyond,” will provide insight on how creativity of any kind can spur one’s opportunities for personal growth and success. Her session, which will occur in HSC 323, will feature original music and fine art, as well as stories from the artist’s career journey. Please contact Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu if you are interested in attending. 

Laura Powers

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned and continue to learn the skills needed for the creation of music, artwork, promotional videos, and websites,” the artist said. “I enjoy collaborating with other musicians, filmmakers and marketing professionals in Nashville and other parts of the world. I hope my presentation will inspire students to believe that any dream is possible.” 

Powers grew up in a military family, spending much of her youth in Europe. She studied abroad and began singing professionally in college. The artist later landed a record deal with Carrere Records in Paris, with successful singles and international appearances on radio and television. Her songs have been covered by numerous recording artists, and she has received awards in the television, music and advertising industries. Powers has released six albums of original Celtic-infused music.

The Nashvillian also has a background in visual art (oil painting). She has taught classes and created some of the artwork for her music CDs. Her collection of original paintings “Golden Muses,” which honored female songwriters, was spotlighted in a nationally aired segment on TNN: The Nashville Network. Her landscape paintings have been chosen for several high-profile, juried art shows.  

She continues to perform with The L.A. Party Dolls, an all-female show band that belts out classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s. The trio has entertained audiences in cities such as Las Vegas; Reno, Nevada; and Palm Springs, California.

Powers also has experience with the development and marketing of a retail product. She patented a unique jewelry item and launched an Indiegogo and social media campaign for international exposure.

She has garnered numerous awards and recognition, including an Emmy nomination for a Public Television spot on “Television Worth Watching” that promoted PBS programming and membership; a regional ADDY Award for “Best Television Ad Campaign” on “Television Worth Watching”; and finalist for New Age Vocal Album of the Year (“Legends of the Goddess”) by New Age Voice magazine.   

“These projects all need marketing and promotion, which can be a time challenge when one’s passion is creating music or artwork,” Powers said. 

The “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” will continue on Nov. 17 with a talk by filmmaker Brent Backhus. Admission is free to Motlow students, faculty, administrators and staff. To learn more, contact Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

Photo: Learning from a Communications Pro

        SMYRNA – Mass Communications students gather to ask questions after a talk by arts entrepreneur Valerie Connelly (center) on Oct. 10. Connelly kicked off the autumn “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” with the presentation, “Become an Entrepreneurial Communication Wizard.” Receiving advice from Connelly were students (from left) Hayley Allen, Kailen Fox, Trey McDonald, Jacob Stevens, Cedric McCarroll, Trevarius Johnson, and Lee Bebout. (Photo by Charles Whiting)

Motlow Smyrna Students Visit Frist Art Museum

By Charles Whiting

Motlow Buzz Faculty Editor-in-Chief

         

         SMYRNA -- Motlow Smyrna students visited the Frist Art Museum in downtown Nashville on Nov. 8 as the participants of a field trip sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media Club (SEAM).

         The students started their visit with lunch at the museum's cafe'. Following lunch, they roamed the two-story historic building to see the exhibitions "Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists," "OSGEMEOS: In Between," and "Eric Carle's Picture Books: Celebrating 50 Years of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

         Tour participants were Lee Bebout, Addie Bond, Tamara Diallo, Tatiana Diallo, Tierney Finnie, Bryna Green, Melina McCullough, Paul Mynatt, Lindsey Terk, and SEAM Club Faculty Adviser Charles Whiting. 

         Students shared their thoughts about the museum visit.

        

         Lindsey Terk: "The museum brought back childhood memories... seeing "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

         Tierney Finnie: "The best introduction to art is to stroll through a museum. The more art you see, the more you learn to define yourself. After seeing the "OSGEMOS" exhibit, I have a new outlook on art."

         Addie Bond: "I liked Eric Carle's books exhibit because it reminded me of my childhood... and the one with music."

         Lee Bebout: I really enjoyed the Native American women's exhibit, as well as the Eric Carle exhibit."

         Paul Mynatt: "I enjoyed the Native American exhibit... My favorite was the 'Container of Souls.'"

         Bryna Green: "It was an interesting experience. I enjoyed walking through the exhibits."

         Tatiana Diallo: "Honestly, I loved how some of the artists' artwork had amazing stories behind them and just how the paints described the emotions that the people had during that particular time period."

         Tamara Diallo: I enjoyed how each of the exhibits showcased unique individuality (art forms), especially their relation to the modern world." 

A Trip to the Cheekwood Mansion and Museum

By Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

        Nestled within Belle Meade, an area of Nashville known for its old mansions and very expensive new builds made to look old, is the Cheekwood Mansion and Museum. This large estate dating from the early part of the 20^th century was the venue for the latest MSCC Smyrna History Club trip.

        At the time we went, Cheekwood was holding its “Cheekwood in Bloom” festival. To get to the mansion itself, visitors have to walk through all the site’s grounds and lush does not come near to describing the landscaping. The grounds looked like someone had painted them in strokes of orange, yellow and cream thanks to the thousands of tulips currently blooming. On the day that we went, there were several families there with their young children, using the floral explosion as backdrops for some really cute kid pics.

Cheekwood is known for terraced patios (Photo by Ramona Shelton)

        Just outside of the house itself was a series of terraced patios. The bottom patio overlooked the small pond on the property but the higher up the yard we went, the more beautiful things got. After climbing a set of steps marked with the ominous sign “Historic Steps, Traverse Carefully at Your Own Risk” (which this author is proud to say that she successfully traversed without falling and breaking anything!), we arrived at the second patio level. This one had a small reflecting pool bracketed by stone statuary and an even more beautiful view of the grounds. But the top level, with its covered patio just off the back of the house, offered breathtaking vistas of not just the Cheekwood grounds but also different sections of Nashville. At the time when the mansion was built, there would not have been a skyline, so the family’s views would have been farmlands for miles.

History Professor Ramona Shelton (center) with members of the Motlow Smyrna History Club

        As we walked into the mansion’s entryway, we were greeted by a docent who told us the story of the family behind the mansion and grounds. Nashville’s Cheek family made the first chunk of their wealth in the coffee industry. In the 1920s, their Cheek’s Special Blend was sold nationwide and garnered the attention of General Mills, a company best known for their cold cereals. GM wanted to branch out into other groceries and saw Cheek’s Special Blend as a good jumping off point. In 1928, GM paid the Cheek family $40 million for proprietary rights to the coffee formula and the farms where the coffee beans came from. Interestingly, this sale occurred just before the Great Depression hit so the family’s wealth was solidified. But don’t worry about GM spending so much money at such a time. This coffee is still available for purchase to this very day under the name General Mills gave it -- Maxwell House.

        The ground level of the mansion includes the entryway where the docent told us about the family and its coffee, as well as the family parlor which opens up onto the top-level patio mentioned before. While this room is still set up fairly similar to how it looked when the Cheek family lived there, it is different than most museums. Since the Cheek family often had guests over and played games in the room, there are several tables still set up that people can still sit down at to play checkers and other games.

        While the upper two floors are set aside as art galleries, there are still several rooms that are much like the Cheek family left them. The second floor included a loggia, a formal sitting room with a grand piano, as well as a formal dining room and ladies’ parlor. The top floor included Mr. Cheek’s study which had the family crest in a stained glass window. Both of these floors currently had art exhibits including several paintings on loan as well as art pieces done by Belmont University students inspired by pieces from the Cheekwood collection. The top floor also had a couple of interesting displays. One was a series of photos and sculptures by a local artist who takes pieces of serving crystal and breaks them into smaller shards for display. The other, and slightly more disturbing, display came from another artist who works with plexiglass furniture. The centerpiece of the display was a Lucite baby bed with the left side sinking into the ground, leaving the cradle at a 45-degree angle. According to the description, the piece was made to show the juxtaposition of birth and death.

An example of fine art on display at Cheekwood Mansion (Photo by Ramona Shelton)

        Sadly, at the time that we went, the items connected the Cheekwood collection I most wanted to see were not on display. The Cheekwood Museum is one of the few museums to have displayed Fabrege Easter Eggs from the Romanov Dynasty. As a part of the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation, the Cheekwood has served as home for three of these priceless pieces of art history.

        To learn more about Cheekwood, visit http://www.Cheekwood.org.

City Native 'Red' Grooms Cultures Nashville at Tennessee State Museum

By JaJuan Isaacs

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The recently built Tennessee State Museum is culturing Nashville by temporarily hosting Charles “Red” Grooms works for an exhibit called “Red Grooms: A Retrospective” at its new location at 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. in Nashville.

             Of all exhibits, the Red Grooms art display was by far the most interesting being held. The artist, Charles “Red” Grooms, goes in-depth with his various styles of art. Grooms has created art in pop art, animations, portraits, paintings, sculptures and many other genres.

While most famously known for his pop art, visitors enjoy Grooms’s extraordinary portraits. His painting “Self Portrait” provides fine detail to the man’s neck and head. The subject’s neck was long and skinny, and his head was bigger and rounder toward the top, symbolizing a big brain.

            The exhibit had five panels that increased by decade with text that explained more about the artist’s life and works. The titles of the panels are “Artistic Awakening,” “New Media, New Forms,” “Urban Expression,” “Into New Dimensions,” and “Home and History.” Visitors were able to gain more knowledge about his inspirations, what art he created, and how he produced his works.

            The “Artistic Awakening” panel read, “Grooms spent the 1950s discovering his style. As a teenager, Grooms joined adult artist organizations. He attended several college art programs and studied with various artists.”

Visitors are able to further understand how important learning new styles was to Grooms.  

“His diversity as an artist is why I chose him out of all other Nashville artists,” said Hoobler.

“New Media, New Forms” explains his experience with film in the ‘60s and how he and Rudy Burckhardt created the film “Shoot the Moon.”

“Urban Expression” explains how Grooms took city living and captivated 1970s urban life in a color lithograph he titled “Nervous City.”
                “Into New Dimensions” explains how Grooms combined printmaking with sculpture in 1981. He teamed up with lithographer Bud Shark and they created “Ruckus Taxi.” “Ruckus Taxi” was their first three-dimensional print.

“Home and History” explains how Grooms paid tribute to Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock by making his own versions of their works. He used his home state of Tennessee for inspiration and created the “Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel” to honor the state’s history.

 The exhibit displayed sculptures, pop-art and paintings in various categories. Grooms was better at painting than any of the other mediums.

            Jim Hoobler curated the Red Grooms exhibit and chose him in particular because of his history in the city.

 “Red Grooms is just a remarkable artist born in Nashville, and I wanted to have some culture by someone from the city,” said Hoobler.

The free exhibit will be open through Jan. 13. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum hosts many temporary exhibits that indoctrinate Tennessee and America. There are exhibits about the Civil War, WWII, artists and Memphis musicians.

            You can find more information about the Tennessee State Museum at https://tnmuseum.org/ and more information about “Red” Grooms at http://www.artnet.com/artists/red-grooms/.

Art as a Movement

By JaJuan Isaacs
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Growing up a visual artist, I learned to appreciate different forms of creativity that form what we call art today. I have made it my mission to inform the readers of this blog site of various and creative art forms that have impacted my life and interested me in general.

Art can be portrayed in many different ways. Many artists are visual and use forms such as paint, sculpture or drawing. Other visual artists such as photographers and videographers use cameras to capture live-action moments. Art is something opinion-based determined by the artist.
          When people hear the word art, they instantly think of paintbrushes and pencils, and they forget to include the clothing designers, make-up artists, musicians, poets, chefs and anything else that is considered an art form. The reality is, literally anything can be art, and as humans, it is our job to appreciate and respect different cultures of art around the world. I am making it my mission to introduce the readers to a new way of thinking and better appreciation of art. With that being said, here are a few artists who have impacted my life.

These are some of the artists that have inspired me. Of all artists, they have managed to be more than different from every person who call themselves artists. Their ideas are original and have helped inspire me to express my creativity through various forms of art.

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist known for his various styles of art including cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Over the course of his life, Picasso managed to produce an estimated 50,000 artworks including paintings, sculptures, drawings, rugs, ceramics and tapestries. Many of his paintings can be found in museums across the globe. 

When I was introduced to his art, I instantly thought to myself, “What is this and why do the faces look like that?” The way he constructed the faces would sometimes have an eye where the nose is supposed to be and the nose in place of the eye, forcing me to ask the question, “Why?”. Well, the simple answer is that’s just what he liked to do, and in doing that he was able to build a plethora of unique masterpieces. 
Picasso was an artist that has helped to influence many artists like myself. His work is extraordinary in a variety of aspects and helps upcoming artists strive to be different. Learn more about Picasso at https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pablo-Picasso

 Hype Williams is a film and video director known for directing many music videos throughout the 1990s and for a few movies such as “Belly.” In his videos, he more goes in-depth with greater detail than the common director. He differs from other video artists using unique angles, colors, sound, and even how he adds effects to skin tones.

One of the most iconic music videos he directed is “California Love” by Dr. Dre and Tupac. The video begins with actor and comedian Chris Tucker breaking the ice into the future-based video. Dr. Dre plays a cyborg and the other actors in the video, as well as Tupac, are revolutionaries. This was different from many of the typical rap/Hip-Hop videos because of his use of science-fiction. Many rappers look at science-fiction as “wack” or “lame” because it isn’t gangster or thuggish. Williams took advantage of his creativity, striving to be different and not a basic videographer. 
          Check this out: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hype-williams-mn0001380160 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wBTdfAkqGU

          Williams has continued to direct music videos. A recent video he directed is “Finna Get Loose” by Puff Daddy and The Family featuring Pharell. The video has an ’80s vibe because of the instrumental and clothes worn, and Williams could not have done a better job directing. The video took off, especially with the help of rapper and producer Pharell Williams, who is also known for bringing an artistic flavor in his videos. 
          Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Z9fUXNVoI

This mural, by artist Shelley Miller, is made of sugar and frosting decorations, and it looks like it could be made of everything but something you would eat. Art is something that comes from the creative mind, and it amazes me that people have brought it upon themselves to use food as their base for projects. This mural could have easily been painted or even created with fibers or metals, but Miller decided to use food simply because, “Why not?” Miller’s media for art just goes to prove that art can come from anything, and anyone can be an artist as long as they have passion for what they are doing. 
You can view her art at http://magazine.art21.org/2010/09/13/how-sweet-it-is-shelley-miller/sugar_day1/

 Over a recent weekend, I personally saw art from many different standpoints. University School of Nashville, a private school in the city, held an event called the Artcletic. While being there, I spoke with many different artists and heard how they go through the processes of creating their media. There were painters, pencil artists, soda can art, and many more to name.

 Of all the artists I spoke with, the most interesting was a man named Spears McAllester. He is a photographer who uses a special printer to print life-like images on aluminum. He had pictures of trees, rooms and nature that looked like the photos were jumping out of the frames. His process of editing is using Photoshop to edit and develop the images and sell them for $800. 
You can find some of his work at https://photographybyspears.com/f221685686

 Art is not only a wonderful hobby, but if good enough, can be a stable source of income.

          As I stated earlier, art comes in many shapes and forms. The creativity of people continues to change the world of art each and every day, and if continued, will bring in more art forms in the future.

Motlow Smyrna Offers Wide Range of Courses for Fall Semester

By Charles Whiting

Motlow Buzz Editor-in-Chief

         SMYRNA -- If you're an incoming student, no doubt you've been searching the online catalog to decide which courses to take. There are a lot of good ones, but they are filling up fast as hundreds of new students attend orientation sessions before classes begin on Aug. 27.

         Here are a few highlights:

         * Introduction to Art (ART 1035) -- A course designed to help you understand the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture and architecture) and to show how culture and art interact.

         * Media Writing (COMM 1020) -- If you've ever wanted to write stories, this is a good course for you. Students explore writing and editing for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, public relations and social media (and you'll get to write a story for our campus e-newspaper, The Motlow Buzz.)

         *  Introduction to Biology (BIOL 1010) -- You will examine basic biological principles and survey the kingdoms of living organisms. Specific topics include cell structure and function, cell processes and reproduction, inheritance, taxonomy, viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, animals, and ecology.

         * Introduction to Literature (ENGL 2045) -- There's nothing better than reading a good book. Enjoy reading and analyzing literature as forms of cultural and creative expression.

         * Personal Finance (BUSN 1300) -- You'll learn how to refine and reach your personal financial goals. Topics may include planning, budgeting, taxes, credit, housing, insurance, investing and retirement planning.

         * Early United States History (HIST 2010) -- Explore the history of the United States from the beginning of English settlement in North America through the Revolution, early national period, disruption of the Union, Civil War and Reconstruction periods. This course ends with the events of 1876.

         * Introduction to Music (MUS 1030) -- Develop your awareness of music from many historical style periods, music from diverse cultures, and the foundations of modern streams of musical thought.

         * American Government (POLS 1030) -- Have you ever considered running for public office? This course is a study of the basic features of American government with emphasis on constitutional principles and the structure and functions of the three branches of national government.

         * Introduction to Theatre (THEA 1030) -- This course provides an overview of theatre as an art form. Included in the course is the study of the development of drama, the theatre, and an appreciation and understanding of the theatrical process.

         To learn more about these courses and learn about others, visit http://catalog.mscc.edu/index.php?catoid=15.

Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club Hosts Successful Talent Show

By Anthony Czelusniak 
Motlow Buzz Student News Editor

         SMYRNA, Tenn. – The Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media (SEAM) Club hosted the Motlow Smyrna Talent Show in the lobby of the MaryLou Apple Building on April 26 to great success.

         The talent show was an opportunity for more than 10 students, faculty and administrators to display their talents to the Motlow community. These acts were not only musical, but also both visually artistic and poetic. Faculty and administrator participants included Professor Ben Jobe, Professor Bob Fitzgerald, Professor Charles Whiting, Professor Kevin Fitch, Academic Dean Elizabeth Fitch, and Librarian Paige Hendrickson. 

Desaree O'Donnell performs the Elvis Presley classic "I Can't Help Falling in Love" (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

         The students who performed a song were Cateland Gonzalez, Montez Voorhies, Megan Williams, and Desaree O’Donnell. Camille Cole read her original poetry, and Mary Hill and Manuel Martinez displayed their original visual artwork.

         The show was emceed by SEAM President Parker Shoemaker and Professor Nick Bush. 

Nick Bush and Parker Shoemaker add humor at the emcees

         The attendance at the talent show was substantial, with the lobby and lounge regularly being crowded with students, staff, administrators and family.

         “I was so happy and surprised to see how many came out to support both the faculty and the student performers,” Parker said about the crowd. 

Paige Hendrickson performs a bluesy rendition of "Give Me One Reason" (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

         The Motlow Smyrna Talent Show was put on by a team that included Alara Bishop (sound), Anthony Czelusniak (publicity), Manuel Martinez (graphic arts), Samantha Denny, Mary Hill, and Jacob Martin (production assistants), George Ciprich and Stan Temple (stage set-up), and Casey Chandler, Biff Kittii, and Mark Landrum (sound production/audiovisual).

Kevin and Elizabeth Fitch close the show (Photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

         SEAM is Motlow Smyrna's official club for students who want to experience and discuss the different types of entertainment, arts and media. 

Camille Cole reads original poetry (photo by Anthony Czelusniak)

Frist Exhibit Commemorates Nashville's Civil Rights Movement

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Frist Art Museum is proudly displaying an exhibit titled “We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957-1968” through Oct. 14, 2018 in its Conte Community Gallery.

The Conte Community Gallery is free to everyone, and it is located in the front section of the Frist Center at 919 Broadway. The exhibit is presented in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, which occurred in Memphis on April 4, 1968. It consists of 50 black and white photos from the Civil Rights movement in Nashville between 1957 and 1968. 

King's casket being transported from Memphis to Atlanta for burial.

First day of desegregation in Nashville schools Sept. 9, 1957.

In 1957, desegregation in Nashville schools began to take place. The exhibit also includes photos from the year that King was assassinated, and both events are among the photos in the exhibit. The Nashville sit-ins, which took place in 1960 as an effort to desegregate lunch counters in the area, are another historical event included in the photos.

Agitators attack a sit-in demonstrator at a Nashville lunch counter.

All photos in the exhibit were taken by the two daily newspapers in Tennessee at the time, The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner. The exhibit displays strong photos that helped shape the public's opinion at the time.

Although much change has come since the Civil Rights movement, these photos serve as a reminder of issues that are still relevant. Race is still a common subject in American life, and it is a good time to take another look back at the brave people who stood up for change so that we could have a more equal country.

"We always try to bring in knowledgeable exhibits that are relevant to the time," said Frist Museum Visitors Center Manager Bonnie Wells. "This exhibit is important because it refreshes the public's memory of what people have been through just for equality. It shows the passion and pain that drove the Civil Rights movement."

The Frist Art Museum hosted or will host three events related to the exhibit. At noon on April 14, there was a panel discussion titled “Voices from the Front Lines” with participants from the local Civil Rights movement.

“The pictures themselves are powerful, but nothing makes the movement more real than the first-person accounts that were given at this event,” said Wells. “No one can better express the inequality of the times than the ones who were there.”

Among those who spoke were King Hollands, Gloria McKissack, and Rip Patton.

 At 7 p.m. on April 16, there was a concert titled “Songs of Freedom” in the Frist Auditorium. The concert included spirituals from slave days, freedom songs created in the civil rights era, and the jazz that resulted from these times. This event featured performances by local artists and musicians. “Songs of Freedom” was presented with the future National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville.

Another event to be held in association with “We Shall Overcome” will be a two-day educator workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 19 and 20, which is open to K-12 teachers of all subjects. This workshop will allow teachers to examine the photos in the exhibit while participating in a group gallery discussion that will allow them to gather teaching materials. The event is limited to 20 educators, and registration is due by July 16. Breakfast, lunch, studio activities, materials and gallery admission will be $50 for Frist members and $60 for non-members.

It is the perfect time to view the Frist's “We Shall Overcome” exhibit because the country is still very conscious of race relations. Those who inspired through the stormy Civil Rights era deserve recognition, and these powerful photographs take individuals from 1954 to 1968 with a whirlwind of emotions provoked by the images of the times.

The Frist Art Museum has a vision to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways, and this exhibit brings that vision to life. Regardless of skin color, individuals can benefit humanity by learning of the heroism of people from the past and learning more about things that are important.

For more information, visit www.Fristartmuseum.org. 

Discover the Versatility of Your Clothes

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA -- One of the most fun things about fashion is the style diversity that a single piece of clothing can offer. After you wear the same outfit a few times, it doesn't feel new anymore. However, by switching up how you style your clothes, you can make them feel new again.

There are many things that you can do to mix up your typical outfits. I've discovered many simple things I can do to accessorize and change up an outfit, such as add a pop of color, or try different pairs of shoes. A different hairstyle or jacket could also be what makes an outfit unique.

It is important to take note of your own style preferences and embrace them. You will probably find that it is easier to be creative with your style when you know what kind of outfits you like to wear. When you own your personal style, a natural confidence ensues, and self-confidence is the best accessory out there!

 You do not need a huge wardrobe to create a variety of outfits. You only need your creativity. It is easiest to mix and match using similar colors, so experiment with a color scheme that you like. Basic everyday articles of clothing are also easiest to mix and match, such as a white button-up shirt, blue jeans, or a blazer. By discovering different ways to wear your clothes, you are getting the most use out of them.

An article at Elle.com, https://www.elle.com/fashion/a42048/i-wore-the-same-nine-items-for-two-weeks/ , displays the diversity of clothes by showing how you can wear the same nine articles of clothing for two weeks.

All you need is a small, versatile wardrobe of items that suit you to create stylish outfits with personal flair. Usually, those of us who suffer from "nothing to wear" have a lot of random clothing items that do not go together. If you intentionally buy items that are versatile, it will be much easier to coordinate outfits. When you buy less clothing items that can purposefully be arranged into many different looks, you are saving money on clothes you would not wear often.

I decided to experiment with the style versatility of some clothing that I own. I chose timeless pieces that are commonly found in young women's wardrobes: denim jeans, a leather jacket, and a black t-shirt. To the best of my closet's ability, I created three unique looks from each of these classic articles of clothing to show the different ways they can be styled.

The versatility of jeans:

The first item that I styled was a pair of denim jeans. Jeans are one of the most versatile pieces in fashion, and most people own more than one pair. Jeans are worn millions of different ways every day because they are classic and easy to incorporate with most things.

A Buzzfeed article I found asked 17 people to style a denim jacket in their own way, https://www.buzzfeed.com/alisoncaporimo/denim-dreams-are-made-of-these?utm_term=.edgej5DZ6#.vtVQLxpgV , and every outfit manages to have a personal touch of uniqueness. 

For the first denim outfit I created, I wanted to keep it very casual, so I added sneakers and a hip bag as a practical replacement for a purse. I added a hat because it is an easy way to add a casual feel to any look. To keep the outfit from being too simple, I incorporated large silver necklaces.

To create my second look including jeans, I combined them with a black button-up shirt and black boots that can be worn almost anywhere, casual or more formal. I put my hair in a bun for this outfit because it draws more attention to the large statement earrings and collared shirt.

The third look I created is the most formal one. When you pair jeans with heels it gives them an instant professional boost. I put a white button-up underneath a cardigan to help give the whole outfit a more formal look. Denim can be easily dressed up or down depending on the look you are going for, so it is very useful to own a good pair of jeans that you like to wear.

Experimenting with a leather jacket:

The next clothing item I got creative with was a leather jacket. Leather can add edge to any look instantly. For the first look I came up with, I kept it casual with a soft sweater underneath and accessorized with a black leather bag and boots to make the look cohesive.

Leopard print and leather are two of my favorite things, so, the second look I created was inevitable. I paired leopard print trousers with furry leopard slides to match. This look is the most casual of them all but adding the leather jacket helps keep it looking comfortable and casual without looking sloppy.

The third look I created displays the formality a leather jacket can bring to an outfit. By layering a leather jacket over a dress, you are combining two different styles for a bold look. This can be one of the most exciting things about experimenting when you are creating outfits; you have the freedom to combine whatever you want.

Making a black t-shirt interesting:

The final clothing item that I got versatile with for this blog was a plain black t-shirt. A black t-shirt is a basic item owned by most people, and it can be worn countless different ways. For the first outfit I created, I paired the t-shirt with matching black shoes. I chose a brown bag and brown pair of pants to bring in additional colors as an easy way to switch it up. I added an over-sized necklace and a silver belt to keep the t-shirt from looking too plain.

Next, I decided to pair the black t-shirt with lots of color. I chose to use pink, blue and white as the color scheme for the rest of this outfit. This proves that a black t-shirt can match with anything because of its ability to be combined with any colors. 

The last look that I constructed is one of all black. A ballet-like skirt and heeled boots add a formal touch to this look centered around a simple black t-shirt. Another tip for accessorizing is to use red lipstick to subtly add color to any look!

If you invest in versatile pieces of clothing that you love, you will have a much easier time creating unique outfits that make use of your whole wardrobe. Fashion does not have to feel hard. There are a lot of things you can do to make new looks with the same clothes and discover your clothing's versatility.