Have You Heard......

We are excited with the news that our garden at the gallery has become an official Monarch Way Station!
Plus a New Member Art Show, Yearning and Yielding to the Green - some art, by Tanya Ingvoldstad Otero
Our current Community Show "Being a Flower is a Big Responsibility" 
​Calling ALL Artisit: A list of 2023/2024 Community Shows and dates!

A special event became a part of the Third Friday Reception for three arts shows at the Artisan Depot Gallery last week.  Mark Ledbetter, the Mayor of Cowan, announced that the Pollinator Garden just outside the gallery featuring its “Art Lives Here” mural by Karen Ingle is now certified and registered as an official Monarch Way Station by the Monarch Watch Organization (www.monarchwatch.org).  The event also included music by Cara Kitzrow.

The Pollinator Garden was originally established by long time gardener Alida Morgan who lead the rehabilitation and planting of the grounds around a pass-through pedestrian walkway between buildings in Cowan.  Over time it has become a pollinator haven for many species of bees, friendly wasps, and butterflies.  After two years of Monarch butterflies sightings the gardeners (also gallery artists) decided to create a Monarch Way Station.  Any garden can become a waystation by taking some very deliberate steps to support monarchs. Monarchs require plants that supply nectar for the adults as well as plants for laying eggs and nurturing monarch caterpillars through spring and summer. Adult monarch are not particular about nectar sources.  High-energy nectar sources include: almond verbena, basil, bee balm, echinacea, fennel and many more. But monarch butterflies require the milkweed plant to lay eggs and to feed the resulting butterflies. 

​Luckily Tennessee has 14 native species of milkweed!  Additionally, to maintain the best plants for monarchs, the garden needs to have at least 6 hours of sun each day and soil should be low clay and have good drainage. Plantings need to be close together in places to provide shelter from predators and the elements.  The garden must also have places for butterflies to rest, to drink, and to dry their wings.  The Pollinator Garden has a butterfly house, a number of ceramic tower sculptures that provide places for them to get water and to rest.  The garden also has a herb garden to serve as a place for egg laying and caterpillar feeding for other butterflies. And no insecticides!
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The Monarch Watch provides free milkweed seeds and assistance in creating monarch habitats for schools and educational non-profits  (see website above).  Our communities are invited to take a break in the Pollinator Garden and enjoy one of nature’s most dazzling creations. 

Yearning and Yielding to the Green -some art,
​by Tanya Ingvoldstad Otero

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“The process of creating art allows me to play with yielding and yearning. One of my life’s lessons has been to yield and let go. I am growing into a new kind of yielding. One of a releasing into creation and connection, the Green. This is my yearning.
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More important than the finished pieces, is the gladness creating art gives me. I invite you to share in my joy and I am full of gratitude for your presence.”

Tanya has been a life-long creative and artsy dabbler. She thrives surrounded by the natural world and the diverse human community. Tanya weaves images from nature and feminine figures into her art. Recently, her dog, Irie, has also become a subject. Primarily, Tanya paints with acrylics and in this show she experiments with mixed media. 

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Being a Flower is a Big Responsibility 

Community Shows 2023/2024
The Franklin County Arts Guild (FCAG) is seeking artists, emerging artists, and amateur artists to participate  in its Public Art Community Shows at the Artisan Depot in Cowan, TN. The FCAG invites original contributions from Franklin County artists of all ages in any media for inclusion in its Community Arts Shows.  If you or you want to help a child to submit work for a community show submit work at the Artisan Depot on published intake dates during gallery operating hours (12-5 pm Thursday-Sunday).  Each artist is free to interpret the theme of each show as they wish. Use all your creativity and inspiration!
Show Schedule 2023/2024

April 6-May 28 "Being a Flower Is a Big Responsibility" Show: April 6-May 29
Reception: Friday 21st 5:00-7:00
     


June/July     Something for Children                    
Art Intake May 25-28 Show: June 1-July 30
Reception: Friday, June 16, 5:00-7:00 pm

Aug/Sept "Where did summer go"
Art Intake: July 27-30 Show: Aug 3- Oct 1
Reception: Friday, August 18, 5:00-7:00 pm

Oct/Nov "Something wicked this way comes"
Intake: Sept 28-Oct 1 Show: Oct 5- Nov 26
Reception: Friday Oct 20 5:00-7:00 pm

Dec/Jan "Winding down"
Intake: Nov 23-26 Show: Nov 30-Jan 28
Reception: Friday, Dec 15, 5:00-7:00 pm

Feb/March "Softly Stirring"
Intake:Jan 25-28 Show: Feb 1- March 31
Reception : Friday, Feb 16, 5:00-7:00 pm

April/May "The root of it all"
Intake: March 28-31 Show: April 4- June 2
Reception: Friday, April 19, 5:00-7:00 pm

June/July " All things you can ride on"
Intake: May 30-June 2 Show: June 6- July 28
Reception: Friday, June 21, 5:00-7:00 pm