Book Signing for Jane Austen's Emma with illustrator Janet Lee THIS THURSDAY, December 15, 2011 from 4:00m - 8:00pm

It doesn’t matter whether you are a fan of Jane Austen or Janet Lee, because we are going to have BOTH for you this Thursday night at Art & Invention!

Nashville’s own Janet Lee has taken the world of illustration by storm,and we are thrilled to have her in house to autograph her latest book, Marvel’s graphic novel adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.

In fact, she will not only sign your book, but also do a free, quick sketch for anyone who asks!

 Don’t have your copy of Emma yet?

Don’t despair! We have plenty on hand for everyone.

And, as if that isn’t enough, we even have the original page illustrations from Emma on display and available for purchase at the gallery.

How does it get any better than that?

 Art & Invention Gallery is now open

EVERY SINGLE DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!!

Our Holiday Hours:

Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm

Sunday, noon- 5pm

(We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve, or when that last desperate shopper exits the building)

Art & Invention Gallery /1106 Woodland St / Nashville, TN 37206 /615.226.2070

5 Points Holiday Open House

THIS SATURDAY, December 3, 2011, Art & Invention Gallery will be one of 17 shops hosting an Open House in East Nashville’s 5 Points! 

6:00pm – 9:30pm

Throughout the country, there is a huge movement to “shop local” for the holidays, and the shops in East Nashville are ready to help you do just that!  Seventeen indie businesses have banded togetherto provide shoppers with a night of fun, frivolity, and great holiday gift ideas.

Below is a list of the 17 participating businesses:

ALEGRIA: (1108F Woodland Street / 615.227.8566)

Alegria specializes in high end leather goods for men and women, unique gifts, jewelry by local artists, accessories, soaps and candles. The store is currently bursting at the seams with new merchandise for everyone on your holiday list!  And to help make your holiday shopping more enjoyable, Alegria will be serving hot cider and snacks during the December 3^rd Open House.

Holiday Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / (December 12 – 24, open until 7:00pm) We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve.

ART & INVENTION GALLERY:(1106 Woodland Street / 615.226.2070)

Art & Invention Gallery hosts their 10^th annual “Holiday Art Show”- a group featuring smaller works of art and handmade artisan wares.  Perfect for the holiday shopper looking for an original gift!  (Paintings, prints, jewelry, pottery, glasswork, furniture, fiber art, Christmas ornaments, etc…) By scouring the country, we have gathered a large array of work- everything from the whimsical to the exquisite, and in all price ranges. We strive to provide a little something for all tastes and pocketbooks!

Holiday Hours:   Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / (December 12 – 24, open until 7:00pm) We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve.

BACK EAST: (1110 Woodland St. / 615.226.1015)

Back East and Wonders On Woodland invite you to join in the merriment of 5 Points at their Open House.  East Nashville’s fun little antiques shops are full of interesting finds for the collector and vintage lover on your shopping list.

Holiday Hours: Open every day ’til Christmas! Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm

BRYANT GALLERY:( 1113 Woodland Street / 615.650.0063)

Bryant Gallery presents 20+ artists showing work suitable for gift giving.

Holiday Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, noon – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm

EAST GARDEN: (1108D Woodland Street / 615.226.6670)

The East Garden is known as the place to get tasteful, quality fresh flowers, wedding flower services, gifts and vintage home items at a fair and reasonable price.

Holiday Hours:  Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / (December 12 – 24, open until 7:00pm) We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve

EASTSIDE CYCLES:(103 South 11th Street  / (615) 469-1079)

Tis’ the season for warm riding clothes and bright bike lights, so come and find bike gear that will make this winter more comfy.  Eastside Cycles has bike jewelry and other stocking stuffers to bring joy to your beloved cyclist.  We’ll have 2011 road and mountain bikes available at 15% off, clothing at 40% off and some shoes at 65% off. We’ll serve hot apple cider, spiked with cinnamon whiskey, and other seasonal treats.

Store Hours: Monday – Friday, 11:00am – 7:00pm / Saturday, 10:00am – 6:00pm

FAIRYTALES BOOKSTORE / PIED PIPER CREAMERY: (114 South 11th Street / (615)915-1960)

Pied Piper Creamery and Fairytales Bookstore will have free cookies and hot chocolate available for all who visit. Pied Piper will be featuring “Grinch Green” ice cream, and Fairytales will be making Christmas ornaments with the kiddos! We will have a special story time @ 7:00 with a reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We look forward to seeing you then!

Store Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am – 8:00pm / Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm / Closed on Mondays.

FANNY’S HOUSE OF MUSIC: (1101 Holly Street / 615.750.5746)

 Holidays are supposed to be happy… so stop by Fanny’s House of Music for some Chocolate Elvis and yUletide Ukulele Music!

East Nashville’s own Ukedelics will perform Christmas Classics from 7:00-8:00 pm.  You just can’t be sad around this group’s sound!  And if you’re thinking of having a “Blue Christmas”, just try it with some of Leigh’s Chocolate Elvis dessert.  Ain’t gonna happen!

Did you know the Ukulele was the number one musical gift last year?  Fanny’s will be offering 10% off all Ukes for the open house!

And while making your holiday lists, don’t forget a fabulous outfit for all those Holiday Parties!  Diamond Star Halo and T.P Vintage are located inside of Fanny’s, and have what you need!

Store Hours:  Monday – Saturday, 11:00am -6:00pm / Sunday, 1:00pm – 5:00pm.

5 POINTS DIGITAL IMAGING:  (1108A Woodland Street/ 615.591.1557)

Servicing commercial accounts, the fine art community and end users alike, 5 Points Digital Imaging offers onsite consultation with prospective customers, and provides creative solutions to their printing needs.

Beer & Bumper Stickers!!!

Join us during the Holiday Open House for a beer & to create your very own personalized bumper sticker… We will print one for you for FREE! (And it doesn’t get much better than that!)

Store Hours: Tuesday- Friday, 9:00am-11:00am & 2:00 pm -5:00 pm / Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm (Closed Sunday & Monday)

GOODBUY GIRLS: (1108E Woodland Street / 615.281.9447)

The holidays are here and Goodbuy Girls is packed with trendy $5 and $10 stocking stuffer accessories like leg and arm warmers, rings, bracelets, necklaces, nail polish, etc. We have quite the collection of cozy sweaters, holiday dresses and of course, vintage cowboy boots for men, women and children. Come be merry with us GGs!

Goodbuy Girls specializes in new contemporary items and vintage pieces for all occasions – in particular, honky-tonkin’, going to Red Door, 5 Spot & Foo Bar or having/attending a shot-gun wedding. Most notable is their selection of used cowboy boots and their $5 Goodbuy of the Day listed daily at http://goodbuygirlsnashville.com

Holiday Hours:  Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / (December 12 – 24, open until 7:00pm) We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve.

THE GREEN WAGON:(1100 Forrest Avenue / (615) 891-1878)

The Green Wagon will help kick off the holiday season by offering hot chocolate during the Open House, (with the option of peppermint schnapps added for a more adult beverage) You can also buy Bang Candy marshmallows to round out this delicious holiday experience.

With 75% of their inventory originating here in Tennessee, The Green Wagon is your go-to destination for local, unique, all-natural gifts that create a healthy body, household, and planet!

And as if that wasn’t enough, we’ll also have 15% off all Nashville made products!

Store Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm

HIP ZIPPER: (1008 Forrest Avenue / 615.228.1942)

The Holiday Halls of the Hip Zipper will be ‘Decked Out’ with a plethora of vintage winter & holiday delights for your perusal.

We’ll also offer (thru Facebook)  25% OFF your total purchase when you ‘Check-In’  to the Hip Zipper through our Facebook page while the Open House is going on.

Here’s how it works:

- ‘Like’ the Page ‘Hip Zipper Vintage’ on Facebook

- Check into Hip Zipper through the Facebook page

- Use the Deal When prompted.

This Holiday Facebook deal is good between 6:00pm – 9:30pm on Saturday December 3, 2011, and is limited to one use per person.

For those who are not on Facebook, we’ll still offer 15% off your total purchase made during the Open House Saturday night.

We’ll also be serving festive refreshments and a chance to “Sing For Your Savings:”  Holiday Karaoke Shenanigans complete with gift certificate drawings for those ‘nutty singers’ who choose to ‘roast thems-elves over an open mic…’

Store Hours: Tues -Thurs 12:00pm – 6:00Pm / Friday & Saturday, noon – 7:00pm / Sunday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Closed Monday

METROPOLIS  ANTIQUES & GIFTS: (1017 Fatherland Street / 615.262.4828)

During the Holiday Open House, Metropolis will be hosting a mystery sale.  As customers check out with their purchases, they will draw a mystery card which will give them a discount ranging from 10% -40% off the purchase they just made.. This special sale is for one day only.   Official rules will be posted in the store

Holiday Hours:  Monday – Thursday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Friday & Saturday 11:00am – 7:00pm / Sunday 1:00pm – 5:00pm (These hours are subject to change and will be posted at our store)

MOSS: (1108C Woodland Street / 615.973.3440)

Moss is a new clothing boutique for women featuring contemporary, eclectic styles with a little something for everyone.

During the Holiday Open House, Moss will be serving wine and cheese and offering 20% off any Lucky brand denim.

Holiday Hours:  Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / (December 12 – 24, open until 7:00pm) We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve.

THIS OKTIPUS: (1108B Woodland Street / 615.713.0241 / thisoktipus@mac.com )

This Oktipus Printing Company features an array of letterpressed goods, fine stationery, and nostalgic ephemera.

This Oktipus makes custom invitations, posters, and stationery, printed on an antique Vandercook Letterpress. In addition, This Oktipus features quill pens, Italian inks, vintage notebooks, wax seals, and boasts a letter writing station replete with things to make your letter beautiful.  Write a letter and save a post office!

Beginning November 25th, This Oktipus Printing Company invites you and the kiddos to use our writing station to write their letters to Santa on our complimentary North Pole Stationery.  Older kids can try their hand at our old world quill pens or our midcentury typewriter for the beginning of a truly, vintage Christmas.

Holiday Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 4:00pm

WAGS & WHISKERS: (1008 Forrest Avenue / 615.228.9249)

Wags and Whiskers is East Nashville’s Original Self Serve Dog Wash and Holistic Pet Food Shoppe!  We proudly offer a wide variety of food and treats for cats and dogs.  You will also find fun toys, natural supplements, collars, leashes and more.

During the Holiday Open House, we will have gift basket raffles, take home treat bags for your canine companions and, of course, libations …but only for our 2 legged friends!

Store Hours: Weekdays, 9:00am – 8:00pm / Saturday, 10:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / Christmas Eve, 9:00am – 5:00pm

WONDERS ON WOODLAND (1110 Woodland St. / 615.226.5300)

Wonders On Woodland and Back East invite you to join in the merriment of 5 Points at their Open House on Saturday, December 3.  East Nashville’s fun little antiques shops are full of interesting finds for the collector and vintage lover on your shopping list, showcasing everything from antiques and primitives, to home accessories and vintage jewelry.

Holiday Hours: Open every day ’til Christmas! Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm

From December 3- December 24, Art & Invention Gallery hosts their 10^th annual “Holiday Art Show”-  featuring smaller works of art and handmade artisan wares by over 75 artists!

We think we are the perfect choice for the holiday shopper looking for an original gift!  (Paintings, prints, jewelry, pottery, glasswork, furniture, fiber art, Christmas ornaments, etc…)

By scouring the country, we have gathered a large array of work- everything from the whimsical to the exquisite, and in all price ranges. We strive to provide a little something for all tastes and pocketbooks!

Come see what we’ve come up with to delight you!

Holiday Hours:   Monday – Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm / Sunday, noon – 5:00pm / (December 12 – 24, open until 7:00pm) We will close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve.

Art & Invention Gallery has brought together many of Nashville’s favorite artists for “Proto Pulp – Classic Books of the Future”, a one-of-a-kind group exhibit devoted to children’s books. In addition to working in a variety of media such as printmaking, drawing, painting and sculpture, each of the participating artists is also an aspiring children’s author.

“Proto Pulp” includes several completed book projects, along with artwork, designs and prototypes for future books. Though the works in the show have been created for young readers, they’re also intended to delight and inspire people of all ages.

“Proto Pulp” runs September 23, 2011 – October 23, 2011

MEET THE ARTISTS:

ADRIANNE WAXMAN:  Adrianne Waxman is a folk artist who has taught classes for Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, The Natural History Museum of New York, and the Print Center of Philadelphia.

“Power Animal” is a series of folk toys, paintings and a illustrated deck of animals to help you find your power animal. Everyone can identify with an animal. Finding the one that gives you power is an adventure!

BETHANY TAYLOR:  Bethany is an aspiring children’s book author and a letterpress printer working at Hatch show Print in Nashville, Tennessee. Printmaking and the joys of motherhood inspire her to create works for children.  “Life is a challenge and I attempt to try my best to make things to share with others.”

Her new book,  Monsters Aren’t Scary,  is inspired by her son and is a response to the fear expressed by many pre-schoolers regarding the presence of monsters.  She feels that by putting monsters in the context of having a home, they remain magical, but are less scary.

DEBORAH ALLEN: Memphis-born and Nashville-raised, Deborah Allen is a multi-million selling, award-winning, twice Grammy nominated songwriter, recording artist, producer, and performer. Deborah now adds published children’s book author to her repertoire with the release of a new holiday classic, The Loneliest Christmas Tree.

The Loneliest Christmas Tree was written by Deborah Allen , and illustrated by Molly Brooks.

“The little tree was a very lonely tree. In fact, he was the loneliest Christmas tree in the forest. He watched as all of the other trees around him were taken away to become beautiful Christmas trees in happy people’s homes. Slowly, a large city grew up around him. Life as a tree in the big city wasn’t too bad, until a developer decided that the tree had to go to make way for a parking lot. He would have gotten his way, too, if not for an unlikely savior and her equally unlikely friends…”

JANET LEE: Eisner Award-winning illustrator Janet Lee lives and works in Nashville.  Self-taught, she developed her layered art style after her son was born because it was portable and dried before a toddler could get his hands into it.  Janet’s first work in illustration, Return of the Dapper Men, is an original graphic novel published by Archaia Studios Press.  Return of the Dapper Men has received glowing reviews in USA Today, MTVGeek Guide, and was featured in the 2010 Holiday Gift Guides for Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, and the New York Times.

During the Proto Pulp show, Janet will be showing her original illustrations from the Marvel Comics graphic novel adaptation of Jane Austen’s  Emma . Publication date (collected edition): October, 12, 2011

Janet’s book, The Alice In Wonderland ABC’s, which was featured at the first Proto Pulp show, is now under negotiations for publication in Summer of 2012.

 

JOHANNA MUELLER: Having earned a BFA in printmaking from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2004 and an MFA from George Mason University in 2009, Johanna actively shows her work locally and nationally. While based in Denver, she has recently begun converting an Airstream trailer into a mobile print shop, which she tours across the country during summer months, stopping at galleries, boutiques, and universities. Johanna creates engravings that are technically intricate and visually intriguing. In order to develop her subject matter – a personal mythology – she draws from her own narrative as well as cultural and historical references, pattern, design, and the history of printmaking.

Creatures from the Chinese Zodiac features hand carved engravings of each of the 12 animals from the Chinese tradition.  Created as a limited edition of 8 books during an artist residency at Anderson Ranch Art Center in Snowmass, CO, each book is hand bound using the drum leaf binding method with elements of hand painting, and rubber stamp text.

JULIE SOLA: Julie Sola is a full time printmaker living in Nashville, TN who has always wanted to write and illustrate children’s books. Run Fast Milo! is her second book.

RUN FAST MILO! is the story of a little dog named Milo, who everyday looks forward to going to the dog park where he gets to hear his favorite words, “RUN FAST MILO!!!”

LAURA BAISDEN: Laura Baisden is an illustrator who found her niche in letterpress printmaking. Her work often anthropomorphizes animals in nature, and she relates to the art from children’s books.  Naturally, it’s time she illustrated a children’s book of her own.

In Skitter, a rambunctious raccoon impresses the forest with her wild ideas when she decides she doesn’t want to run from the old hound dog anymore.  She makes a plan to teach him a lesson he’ll never forget!

 

MAISY OWEN: Our youngest author, Maisy Owen, has been making up stories ever since she can remember, especially stories that incorporate horses.  Her horse-riding lessons are something she looks forward to every week.  Illustration is also a passion – she spends countless hours drawing and painting pictures or giving her little sister art lessons.  She was seven years old when she wrote and illustrated The Moonbeam Ladder.

The Moonbeam Ladder is a story of a young girl who is overlooked and underestimated.  Though kind and loving she is not inclined to continue to let her selfish sisters take advantage of her, so she sets off to ultimately find her fortune and discovers love and forgiveness along the way.

 

MARIANNE BOULDIN & SARAH KAUFMAN: Sarah Kaufman’s paintings are dream-like images in a world of magical realism.   The paintings combine deep textures and vigorous abstract grounds with finely detailed figures painted in oil to create both a beautiful surface and a mysterious narrative.

Sarah completed a BFA in painting at the University of Memphis, as well as a Master of Education.  After college, she traveled around China, Europe, and Central America, teaching and painting.  Sarah currently lives and works in Nashville.  She has been featured in the Nashville Arts Magazine and has won numerous awards in art festivals throughout the southeast.  Her paintings are in collections throughout the U.S. and the U.K.

The Tale of Bambu Mouse was written by Marianne Bouldin, and illustrated by Sarah Kaufman. This charming tale is about Bambu Mouse, who is swept up in a storm and finds herself in the middle of the city of Shanghai where she meets new friends and learns many lessons about friendship and home.

MARK SLONIKER: Mark Sloniker is a creature maker working in Nashville, Tennessee.  He is a self-taught artist who believes he can do anything he doesn’t know he can’t do.  He makes puppets professionally for Animax Designs while also using creatures in his own art.  His artwork has taken on many forms, such as installations, cd covers, books, interior decor, apparel and toys.

At Home In Your Heart  is the story about a giant who, in a moment of blind rage, eats his best friend who is a bird.  The bird now lives in his belly and they both work together to overcome this tragedy.

MOLLY BROOKS: Molly Brooks is a freelance illustrator and bookbinder from Nashville, Tennessee.

This is the story of a little girl who gets kidnapped by rats after her father’s death. The Rattenkönig (a group of rats huddled together so tightly underground that they become tangled at the tail) functions as a metaphor for the grief experience and the search for connection out of absence.

PROTO PULP- Classic Books of the Future closes on October 23, 2011.

Take a peak at theTomato Art Fest for 2011! There’s lots of information on activities, music, contests and everything happening at the Fest!

One of the things I am MOST excited about for the Spring (and, I admit upfront that I am biased) are the wonderful “Home Slice” Lazy Susans invented by my husband, Bret MacFadyen.  They are made to look like fruit slices and will brighten any table in an instant! They are available in two sizes (16 inches & 20 inches), and you have your choice of a tomato, lemon, lime, orange, or watermelon. We have some of them pictured below (they are the last thing I managed to get pictures of  before my camera took a bath).

Art & Invention Gallery will host a reception and book signing for RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN written by Jim McCann & illustrated by East Nashville’s own Janet Lee. Both writer and artist will be available to sign books and answer questions about their collaboration.

Original art work from the pages of the book will also be available for sale during this event and throughout the holiday season.

This book has been getting amazing reviews and has even made it to  the New York Times holiday gift guide!

Jim McCann is an award-winning writer of stage, television, and comic books.  Before he could write, he found himself escaping to the land of Wild Things and Lost Boys, swept away by fairy tales in books and movies.  He lived in Nashville, TN, but spent most of his time in galaxies far, far away. He wrote his first short story at the age of ten and hasn’t looked back.  Eventually he moved to the fairy tale city of New York where he fulfilled a childhood dream and life-long goal – working for Marvel Comics – where he stayed for six years before leaping off the sidewalk’s end into the land of full-time writing.  He spends equal time in lands far away and the ones created in his head. Anorev, the land in RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, is the biggest world he’s ever visited and hopes everyone feels welcome to take their shoes off and escape to whenever they want.

When Janet Lee was a child, she couldn’t decide if she wanted to be a singer, an actor, a writer, or an artist.  She stopped acting after high school.  She stopped singing after studying Opera.  She got a degree in British Literature from a near-ivy-league college and worked for more than a decade in the book industry, but she never wrote a novel.  Through it all she never stopped drawing and making things and telling stories with her art.  In time, she showed her artwork in galleries around her hometown of Nashville and was acclaimed by local critics. One day, her friend Jim McCann called to ask Janet if she would illustrate a wonderful book called RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN —which she had always wanted to do even before she knew the question.  And she did!

Below are just a “few” of the great things the media has been saying about RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN!

• USA Today:  Five More Awesome Comics from New York Comic Con
• USA Today:  Exclusive Preview Return of the Dapper Men
• USA Today:  10/8/10 Dapper MenPublishers Weekly:  Graphic Novels as Gifts
• Publishers Weekly:  Fans Wild for New York Comic Con
• Graphic Novel Reporter:  Fall 2010-Tweens/Other
• Ifanboy.com Book of the Month:  Return of the Dapper Men
• GraphicPolicy.com:  Return of the Dapper Men review
• HyperGeek.ca:  Review of the Dapper Men
• Newsarama.com:  Dapper Men Review

DUY HUYNH

October 23 – November 21, 2010

Join us for the Opening Reception

Saturday, October 23, 2010

6:30pm – 9:30pm

Art & Invention Gallery

1106 Woodland Street

East Nashville, Tennessee 37206

615.226.2070

www.artandinvention.com

Gallery Hours: Friday & Saturday, 11:00am – 6:00pm

Sundays, noon – 5:00pm

(We are available throughout the week by appointment.)

ATHENA WORKMAN: For  years, Athena has concentrated on mixed media: pencil-and-ink drawings decoupaged onto painted canvases and wood panels, but has recently begun creating art dolls. She’s attracted to the lonely, the weird, and things that live on the fringes of the imagination.

BETHANY TAYLOR: Bethany is an aspiring children’s book author and a letterpress printer working at Hatch show Print. The subject matter for her new book ’things on strings’ is inspired by her son Felix and his continuous amazement toward the world around him.

BILL ELLIOTT: Bill has been an illustrator and graphic designer for 20 years His work is mostly pen and ink and watercolor and usually involves something silly.

GREG MORNEAU: With each painting, Greg creates images that have a whimsical and childlike charm, and yet are poignant and profound. painting, I try to create images and titles that have a whimsical and

JULIE SOLA: Julie is a full time printmaker working at Hatch Show Print. After a day of typesetting show posters she works at home creating her own artwork.

“Proto Pulp” runs through October 17, 2010, and is an annual event devoted to local artists’ book projects.