NASHVILLE, TENN. —(September 24, 2020)— The inaugural Outliers Studio Art Tour, an invitation to venture west of Nashville to view works of art created by Ella Jolly Haile, Lisa Jennings, Sydney Reichman, and Twisted Sisters Art (Debbie Graham and Linda Hobdy), will be offered free to the public Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 2020. For two days only, these talented artists will safely open their studios to art-lovers with best practices such as masks, limited group size, and social distancing expected. Space is limited. Email to reserve a spot between 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm either day: outliersartTN@gmail.com.
“The woods, creeks, hollers, and ridges have informed my work and, framed by the land and a large dose of magic, have helped shape my personal narrative into a spirited journey,” says artist Sydney Reichman. “We look forward to sharing that magic with others.”
“After a long year of disconnection, we are hoping to reconnect with our community through our shared love for art,” artist Ella Jolly Haile adds.
True to the group’s name, each of the studios of these outlier artists is located approximate 25 minutes outside of Nashville, TN. Tour-goers will be able to casually explore each studio within their chosen time slot. A map will be provided once the reservation is made.
About the Artists
Ella Jolly Haile
Ella Jolly Haile, who earned her BFA from Watkins College of Art and Design in 2013, has lived in Middle Tennessee for over 30 years, observing the natural world. The river that runs just below her workspace is her inspiration. Her artistic practice is an integration and physical record of her life experiences and embraces photography, 2- and 3-dimensional mixed media works, and painting.
Haile’s greatest artistic achievement, to date, has been designing a public installation in Memphis, TN, in memoriam to her nephew and all victims of pedestrian violence. Her current aspiration is to advocate for reverence of all life through art.
Lisa Jennings
lisajenningsart.com
Born in Butler, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Lisa Jennings considered her family nomads as they moved several times before calling Nashville, TN, home when she was 15 years old. Lisa studied art throughout high school in Nashville, graduating an art honors student from Dupont Senior High in Hermitage, TN. After high school she worked full time while also attending school full time, first in graphic design at Nashville State Tech and then Nossi School of Art. Lisa added to her artistic skills and experience, weekend intensive workshops in pastel and watercolor classes at Farm House Artists in Townsend, TN.
In the late 1990s, Jennings met her mentor, Anton Weiss, and experienced the most significant turning point in her career. She attributes most of who she is today as an artist to Weiss’ belief in her. Weiss allowed Jennings to explore and express what was the beginning foundation of her art career.
From the growth and knowledge instilled in her, Jennings has created her own style of painting with pigmented papers and her unique sculpture that links the primitive organic designs that are in both of her 2- and 3- dimensional works. Current subject matter for Lisa’s work is reflective of her place on her life’s path digging deep from the well of life’s experiences. She resides near places where she can forage and walk in nearby woods.
Sydney Reichman
sydneyreichman.com
Sydney Reichman’s artistic journey began in 1969 as a clay sculptor and took a turn in 1978 when she purchased a raw 60-acre wasteland. She has worked to restore and heal the land while building her home, from the ground up. The land now includes garden dreamscapes as well as her current studio.
Turning from clay to metal sculpture in 1990, Reichman currently creates one-of-a-kind mixed-media “short story” sculptural paintings as well as wearable art—jewelry. She sites the land which surrounds her as her deepest inspiration.
Twisted Sisters Art
twistedsistersart.com
Inspired by their land in Pegram, TN, sisters and self-taught artists Debbie Graham and Linda Hobdy of Twisted Sisters Art create sculptures of light, water, earth and fire using steel, copper, cast iron, glass and found treasures to make each piece unique. They start with flat sheets of metal and transform them into lighting, fountains, wall and freestanding sculptures.
Additionally, Hobdy creates jewelry by recuing found treasures, such as metals, glass, and guitar strings.
More information about these artists and their work may be found on Instagram: @TNOutliersArt.
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