This November, The Forge is proud to host the inaugural IndigeNash, a landmark Native-led arts festival created by a local team of Indigenous artists, producers and collaborators. Occurring November 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2024, this vibrant celebration will showcase Native artists across diverse creative disciplines, including art, music, film, fashion, culinary, dance, and installation.

IndigeNash aims to honor the invaluable contributions of Indigenous peoples while raising awareness of Nashville’s rich cultural fabric. This first-of-its-kind event for the city serves as a platform to celebrate and recognize the artistic and cultural contributions of Indigenous peoples, which have historically been vastly underrepresented and critically overlooked. IndigeNash is a step toward necessary social change and artistic inclusivity.

Festival highlights will include traditional and modern dance and music performances, a group exhibition of Indigenous artists, a Native artisan market, film screenings, panel discussions, cultural craft demonstrations, and traditional ceremonies. IndigeNash not only empowers Indigenous voices but also provides opportunities for the broader community to engage with and learn about Indigenous traditions and contemporary issues. Featured artists include but are not limited to: Shayna Hobbs, Trenton Wheeler, Jeffrey Brant, Joe Clemons, Mozart Gabriel, Aaliyah Alberts, Justin Miller, Tahila Moss, Ryan Toll, Bill Miller, Alicia Wildcat, Jennifer Gouge, Michelle Solomon, Dhalton Horseman, and more.

Funding raised in support of the festival serves to directly compensate the creatives involved in the facilitation of IndigeNash.  Artists are compensated to exhibit, perform and participate via funding from community partners, individual donors, in-kind supporters and The Forge Nashville. A portion of proceeds from IndigeNash will also contribute to the construction of the NAIA's Cultural Center, as well as future events for the IndigeNash Collective.

IndigeNash and The Forge are generously supported by community partners and sponsors including KGV Studios, The TN Arts Commission, The Shoba Fund, TPAC, Ensworth, Contrast Cine, Nashville Predators, Native Audio, New Athenian Publishing, The TN Titans, Bearded Iris, The Whiskey House, Jaan’s House, Fellavision, Off Hours Bourbon, CaliSober, Parnassus Books, Ragana Creative, and more.

Join us for this landmark celebration and help us raise awareness of Indigenous culture in Nashville!

TICKETS HERE:

FRIDAY:

https://www.theforgenashville.org/events/indigenash-friday

SATURDAY:

https://www.theforgenashville.org/events/indigenash-saturday

SUNDAY:

https://www.theforgenashville.org/events/indigenash-sunday

WEEKEND PASS:

https://www.theforgenashville.org/workshops/p/indigenash-weekend-pass

HELEN LAFRANCE

Art of Life: Helen LaFrance and The American South

This October, STATE Gallery and Studios at The Forge is thrilled to present a landmark exhibition dedicated to the extraordinary work of Helen LaFrance. The exhibition, titled Art of Life: Helen LaFrance and the American South, will open with a public reception on Saturday, October 12th from 6pm to 9pm, and will run through Saturday, November 16th, 2024. This pivotal showcase is brought to The Forge through the esteemed collection of Bruce Shelton, a Nashville-based patron and advocate for LaFrance’s work.

Helen LaFrance (November 2, 1919 – November 20, 2020) was a celebrated self-taught Black American artist from Graves County, Kentucky, renowned for her evocative portrayals of rural Southern life. LaFrance, often referred to as "the Black Grandma Moses," captured the essence of a vanishing world with her vivid memory paintings. Though lacking formal art training, LaFrance’s work transcended the label of outsider art, establishing her as a poignant chronicler of personal and cultural history.

LaFrance’s memory paintings, created with oil on canvas, are a vivid testament to her life's experiences. Her artworks vividly depict scenes of family gatherings, church ceremonies, and daily activities, seamlessly weaving personal memories with broader historical contexts such as the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights era. Through her work, LaFrance illuminated the significance of everyday moments and traditions, reflecting a deep connection to her community and heritage.

In addition to her memory paintings, LaFrance’s artistic accomplishments extended into quilt making, wood carving, and crafting articulated dolls. Her religious artworks, marked by vibrant colors and dramatic themes, offer a unique departure from her usual style of ‘Memory Painting’, and demonstrate her profound spiritual engagement and visionary interpretation of biblical stories.

LaFrance’s influential work has been featured in numerous reputable collections, including those of Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, and the Saint Louis Art Museum. Her work has been celebrated across the U.S. and Europe, gracing venues from county fairs and local banks to the Speed Art Museum and the National Black Fine Arts Show in New York City. In 2011, she was honored with the Folk Heritage Award by the Kentucky Arts Council, underscoring her lasting impact on American folk art.

Helen LaFrance once said, "My memories tell stories about a vanished time and place.” With this exhibition, we hope to demonstrate the power in her pastoral narratives. Join us at STATE Gallery and Studios at The Forge to explore and celebrate the profound legacy of Helen LaFrance, whose art continues to resonate deeply with audiences and preserve a significant part of American history. For more information on the exhibition and events, please visit our website or contact our gallery.