While the rest of the world seemingly goes on, we are still regrouping here in Nashville, post flood. While not everyone agrees with me, I maintain we need levity amid our heartache here. Our beloved Frist
Center for the
Visual Arts understood that and graciously opened it's doors to our
city for free from Tuesday until Sunday during the aftermath of our
city's 1000-year flood. I managed to breeze in this week to see  U-Ram
Choe, below, before it closes on Sunday, May 16. For a big heart, soul and
eyeball WOW, take a look:

On Sunday, Chihuly premiered at the Frist Center, launching a spring through fall city-wide celebration of innovative glass artist Dale Chihuly's work. In addition to the Frist Center exhibition, Chihuly will bloom indoors at Cheekwood Art & Botanical Gardens and sprout and sprawl across the lush gardens, including a giant, dramatically colored garden of glass. (I'll be writing a future Arts Friday posts about this temporary local treasure. Given my impending move and marriage, it may be September before I feature Chihuly at Cheekwood, but I've scheduled a photography date then with another blogger for this purpose. I'll still be blogging here, just many posts will be pre-published.)  And, in the meantime, on May 20-22, the Nashville Symphony will perform Bartok's Bluebeard Castle backdropped by a spectacular set of 14-foot sculptures designed by Chihuly. I also did a quick tour of the Frist show. Amazing. The film of the artist's creations is a must. I will return.

This season of art at the Frist Center is rocking hot.  The Golden Age of Couture, Paris and London, 1947-1957, also premieres at Frist Center June 18-Sept.12.

Photo: Frist Center for the Visual Arts, The Golden Age of Couture, Cristobal Balenciaga, silk taffeta, 1953-54, copyright; V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum, [courtesy, Frist Center].

The Nashville Symphony is currently beleaguered by damage sustained to its downtown architectural jewel of a home. The flooded basement damaged some
instruments, including the grand pipe organ. Performances are being
relocated for the next four to six weeks.Yet, like the graceful Phoenix that Nashville instantly began to prove it is, the symphony offered a free outdoor performance in front of the Metro Courthouse public square last weekend. We were there. And, WE ARE NASHVILLE!