Co. H and Native Magazine Prepare ‘Strange Material’ for August 17 Exhibition

Watkins students, alumni and faculty collaborate in multiple media show at MOONBASE

The artist collective Co. H and Nashville culture magazine Native present a one-night group exhibition, Strange Material, on Friday, August 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. at MOONBASE in Marathon Village. Curated by Watkins students Jessica Clay and Robert Grand, Strange Material showcases work made collaboratively and in a variety of media, including sculpture, photography and video.

The show, with reception, is free and the public is invited.

Participants in the show are Kellie Bornhoft, Brett Bornhoft, Ann Catherine Carter, Megan Chunn, Robert Dunn, Robert Grand, Courtney Greenlee, Rachel Growden, David King, Clinton McKay, Claudia O’Steen, Willie Stewart, Dr. Donna K. Whitney and Moses Williams.  Kellie Bornhoft, Carter, Grand, Growden, King, and Williams are students at Watkins; Chunn, Dunn, Greenlee and O’Steen are alumni; and Dr. Whitney is an adjunct professor. Regional artists McKay (Louisville, KY) and Brett Bornhoft collaborated on several pieces in the exhibition. 

Curators Clay and Grand are seniors at Watkins, studying for BFA degrees in Fine Art and Photography, respectively.  According the Clay, “We were looking for work that was collaboration-based, and we encouraged that ‘collaboration’ be interpreted in various ways.  The work is both materials-based and engages with physical or interpersonal spaces, facilitating a dialogue with artists on how to share ideas.”

“Both Native and MOONBASE are strongly committed to Nashville’s creative community, especially young artists,” said Dave Pittman, editor of Native. “When Co. H approached us about doing a show, it was impossible to say ‘no’ to such a promising and talented group of young people. In a couple of years, we’ll be lucky if they even take our calls.”

MOONBASE, a collaborative workspace and art gallery, is located at 1310 Clinton Street in Marathon Village.

For more information, visit companyh.tumblr.com

Pictured:  (above) “Billboards” by Ann Catherine Carter and (left) “Necklace Necklace” by Rachel Growden.

Founded in February 2011 by Watkins Fine Art majors Kellie Bornhoft and Moses Williams, Co. H is a collective of artists from various disciplines in the visual arts providing exhibition, collaborative and development opportunities for both students and professionals. Co. H has hosted lectures by local artists and visual arts professionals, held studio critiques and contributed to multi-disciplinary performances throughout the community (including Emergence at Nashville Ballet earlier this year), and its members have traveled together on art-centered trips to New York and Chicago.  Most recently they staged “Council” at Watkins’ Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery; Strange Material is their second annual summer show.

Native is a new monthly culture magazine dedicated to Nashville’s burgeoning creative class. It provides in-depth print and digital coverage of Nashville food, drink, film, art, design, and music. Visit natv.is

MOONBASE, founded in early 2012, is collaborative workspace for creative professionals that also houses a small art gallery (1310 Clinton Street in Marathon Village).