Artists Raise Money, Awareness for Duck River
Painters to hold Nashville exhibit and sale to benefit Conservancy's Duck River Program
Nashville, TN — January 16, 2009 — In an encore presentation of their successful show last fall, the Chestnut Group, an alliance of Middle Tennessee landscape artists, will hold a Nashville exhibit and sale of their paintings of the Duck River to support The Nature Conservancy’s conservation work on the river. The paintings draw attention to the scenic beauty of what is arguably North America’s richest river in varieties of animal life, and a Middle Tennessee treasure.
For the Duck River exhibit, plein air artists from the Chestnut Group have spent several months painting outdoors along the Duck River, drawing inspiration from nature. Plein air, a French term meaning “open air,” refers to artists who create their landscape paintings on location.
More than 30 painters will participate in the exhibit. Half of the proceeds from the sale of paintings at the event will support The Nature Conservancy’s Duck River Program. Since the Chestnut Group’s founding in 2001, it has raised over $100,000 to support local environmental causes.
The exhibit will take place Friday, February 13 through Saturday, February 21 at HA Gallery, 1506 8th Avenue South in Nashville. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Last October, the Chestnut Group’s art show in Columbia not only raised several thousand dollars for conservation of the Duck River, but also raised awareness of the Duck River as a natural resource.
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The Duck River in middle Tennessee has more fish species per mile than any other river in North America. Photo © Byron Jorjorian
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“The Nature Conservancy’s Duck River Program embodies the drive behind our group,” said Andrea Jones, chair for the Duck River event. “The Chestnut Group’s mission is to preserve the land that we love to paint to help ensure that it is there for future generations to enjoy. Working along the scenic Duck River has opened our eyes even more to the stunning beauty within our state.”
Winding 269 miles through Middle Tennessee, the Duck River is one of the state’s most scenic waterways. It is the sole water source for more than 250,000 Tennesseans, and its water quality is crucial not only for humans but also for the animals and the economy of the region. Underneath its surface, the Duck River teems with an almost unsurpassed variety of animal life, including 151 species of fish, 55 freshwater mussel species, and many other forms of aquatic life. In fact, the Duck River contains more species of fish than all the rivers of Europe combined and has more species of fish per mile than any other river in North America.
Since 1999, The Nature Conservancy’s Duck River Program has been working with local communities, businesses and government agencies on long-term protection of the river’s water quality and ecological integrity. Initiatives have included stabilization of eroding stream banks, creation of “smart growth” guidelines for developers, and relocation programs for endangered species of mussels.
To obtain digital artwork and photos, or to arrange interviews with Chestnut Group representatives and Nature Conservancy staff, please contact Paul Kingsbury: 615-383-9909, pkingsbury@tnc.org.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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