MACC Talk at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center

Aaron Dethrage is co-founder of Nashville’s hip-hop collective Six One Trïbe. Like New York’s Wu-Tang Clan, Nashville’s collective boasts a large roster of rappers, producers, editors and designers. Together, these amazing artists have come together to create a diverse and contemporary musical ecosystem. In this episode of MACC Talk, Dethrage joins host John Pitcher to discuss Nashville’s vibrant hip-hop scene. The episode is sponsored by Bryson McCarley State Farm Agency.

Stephanie Silverman has been the executive director of the Belcourt Theatre for nearly 20 years. Under her leadership, the Belcourt has been recognized as a national model for sustainable art house theaters by its peers and industry leaders. In this episode of MACC Talk, Stephanie joins host John Pitcher to discuss the state independent film in Music City. She also shares her views on the 98th Academy Awards. The episode is sponsored by Chef’s Market.

The late-great Nashville artist Barbara Bullock is the focus of a new exhibit titled Sistah Griot: The Iconoclastic Art of Barbara Bulllock. The exhibit, expertly curated by Nashville photographer Carlton Wilkinson, runs through April 26, 2026 at Nashville’s Frist Art Gallery. Bullock painted vivid characters living in a topsy-turvy world. Her work offers satirical commentary on societal norms, and they serve as powerful critiques of systemic racism, sexism and classism. In this episode of MACC Talk, Wilkinson joins host John Pitcher to discuss Bullock’s art and legacy. The episode is sponsored by Copper Creek Electric.

Jim Sherraden spent 34 years working at Hatch Show Print, Nashville’s iconic letterpress poster and print shop. Now, he creates prints that are truly works of fine art. In this episode of MACC Talk, Jim joins host John Pitcher to discuss his art, which is now the focus of an exhibition at the MACC titled From Brayer to Brush. The exhibit runs through April 5, 2026.

The Nashville Symphony Orchestra has named Leonard Slatkin its new music director. The celebrated maestro has a long history with the NSO. He was the NSO’s music advisor in the early 2000s and was on the podium when the orchestra opened its acoustically marvelous Schermerhorn Symphony Center in 2006. The orchestra also won the first three of its many Grammy Awards under Slatkin’s direction. In this episode of MACC Talk, Slatkin joins host John Pitcher to talk about his love for Nashville and his plans for the orchestra. The episode is sponsored by the Noah Liff Opera Center.

Women have played an oversized role in shaping Nashville’s contemporary art scene. That’s the theme of a new exhibition at the Frist Art Museum titled In Her Place: Nashville Artists in the 21st Century. The exhibit features nearly 100 works by 28 prominent Nashville women artists. In this episode of MACC Talk, Frist Senior Curator Katie Delmez joins host John Pitcher to discuss the women and art in this groundbreaking exhibition, which marks the Frist Art Museum’s 25th anniversary. The episode is sponsored by the Samaroo Group.

Richard Modica is the owner of Modfellows Art Gallery. Located in the Grassmere neighborhood of Nashville, the 2,000-square-foot gallery is a contemporary art space showcasing modern art from Nashville artists as well as nationally recognized talent. In this episode of the podcast MACC Talk, Modica joins host John Pitcher to talk about the rewards and challenges of running a private art gallery in Music City. The episode is sponsored by Sip Social Company.

What does an emerging visual artist need to do to get noticed? Ruth Chase has some ideas. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Ruth has over 30 years of experience as a professional studio artist. As Monthaven’s regional arts director, Ruth has introduced a new series called Meet Me at the MACC. The series helps new and established artists grow their careers. In this episode of MACC Talk, Ruth joins host John Pitcher to talk about the things artists need to do to advance their careers. The episode is sponsored by Grand Tents & Events. To see photos from our Meet Me at the MACC sessions, go to: https://monthavenarts.org/2026/01/ruth-chase-helpi…ow-their-careers/

Nadine Shillingford is a Nashville-based visual artist who creates intimate portraits using charcoal on paper. Her art captures people in everyday situations and evokes their spirit by highlighting their facial expressions. It’s a whimsical approach that gives vitality to her work. Twenty of Nadine’s fabulous works are on display at Monthaven as part of an exhibit titled La Femme Fatale. The exhibit runs Jan. 14 to Feb. 15, 2026 and is part of the MACC’s Black History celebration. In this episode of MACC Talk, Nadine joins host John Pitcher to discuss her unconventional background (she is a self-taught artist with a PhD in computer science) and her passion for the visual arts.

Banning Bouldin is without question one of Nashville’s most important artists. As founding artistic director of the dance collective New Dialect, Banning has helped transform Nashville into a dance hub. Her strikingly original choreography has been performed at such venues as the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and Oz Arts Nashville. She’s received numerous awards and honors for her work, including nominations for the United States Artist Fellowship and Guggenheim Fellowship. In this episode of MACC Talk, Banning joins host John Pitcher to discuss her life in dance along with her upcoming Winter Intensive. The episode is sponsored by Leavitt Family Medicine.