Local Teaching Artists and Community Groups Create Interactive Installations Inspired by the Five Senses and Nick Cave: Feat.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Frist Center presents “Extrasensory,” an interactive, community art exhibition inspired by Nick Cave: Feat. and the five senses on display Oct. 13 through March 25, 2018 in the Conte Community Arts Gallery at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.

“Extrasensory” is an energetic multisensory project created by Frist Center visitors in tandem with local teaching artists during a series of free workshops held from February through May 2017. In these 31 sessions, more than 900 participants, including members of Empower TN, Tennessee Disability Coalition, and VSA Tennessee: The State Organization on Arts and Disability, were guided through the process of creating five installations to represent the physical senses.

Multidisciplinary teaching artists Maria Borghoff, Dee Kimbrell, Amber Lelli, Beth Reitmeyer, and Massood Taj employed an array of mediums to create emotive and visceral works.

The five works—“Palate,” “See Me,” “Favorite Things,” “Sacred Space” and “Sensory Stories”—focus on different stimuli to engage viewers by detailing the diverse yet interconnected nature of human perception. Composed of a variety of textiles, recycled materials, audio samples, and more, these artworks present a unique snapshot of the many insights and commonalities of the Nashville community that is as personal as it is pluralistic.

The influence of Nick Cave’s dramatic re-contextualization of found objects and exploration of movement and identity is present throughout Extrasensory. Cave is most recognized for his intricate “soundsuits,” larger-than-life human-shaped sculptural pieces composed of repurposed materials. When worn by dancers, the colorful suits take on a fervid quality, transforming the once-static piece into a vivid and energetic experience. Extrasensory’s collaborative body of work channels the bold colors and textures seen in Cave’s soundsuits and invites viewers to reflect on how they interpret their surroundings.

Through collaboration and a shared spirit of artistic exploration, this exhibition presents an opportunity to witness the Frist Center’s vision in action and the five senses on full display.

Participating Teaching Artists

Maria Borghoff is a multidisciplinary artist and yoga teacher. She creates mixed-media artwork incorporating drawing, sculpting, and other techniques, and leads workshops that explore human behavior and mental health. Her work inspires harmonious living, both socially and environmentally.

Dee Kimbrell specializes in the use of recycled materials to engage the community, build relationships, and encourage care for the environment. She has worked primarily in Middle Tennessee since 2006. In 2015, she designed ornaments for the National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC, and presented workshops in Tennessee, New York, and Ohio. Kimbrell also paints, sculpts, and creates mixed-media objects, including props.

Amber Lelli is a multidisciplinary artist who focuses on sculpture and printmaking. She has worked for the sculptor Alan LeQuire and as a studio volunteer with Poverty & the Arts. Her work has been featured at the Frist Center, as well as in Santa Ana, Philadelphia, and Baton Rouge.

Beth Reitmeyer creates colorful installations, using materials such as paint, plastic, pipe cleaners, and felt, often sewing them into geometric or floral patterns. She currently teaches in Western Kentucky University’s Department of Art. Her work has been recently exhibited in Nashville, Bowling Green, Brooklyn, Houston, and London.

Massood Taj is a multi-instrumentalist who draws on indigenous cultures and mystical traditions, including his own Sufi heritage, to create global meditative music for sacred spaces. Since 2006, Taj has presented at conferences, conducted workshops, and facilitated interactive programming with a focus on the transcending properties of sound and the healing nature of collaborative creativity.

For events and more information, visit www.fristcenter.org.

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