Artist moving LA to Nashville.Need a little insight please! (Murfreesboro: homes, find a job)

[tinyteeth]

Moving from LA to Nashville. 29 female, visual artist. I believe I've lived in the East Nashville equivalents of LA and Brooklyn so I will be looking both there and Sylvan Park. I'm open suggestion.
Are there any other small towns along the outskirts of the city with some interesting things happening? Where art and music experiments may be occurring quietly? Coming from LA, I'd love to find a place that is green and scenic and also very real, with some neat people doing some neat things.
Any thoughts?

[ariesjow]

East Nashville and Sylvan Park should definitely be high on your list as good bets especially the former. Did you see the recent article in the N.Y. Times on East Nashville?

I'll ask around and see if there is much of an artsy scene developing in the suburbs or satelitte towns a little further out. I would think that this would be possible in Murfreesboro given the size and the presence of MTSU which now has the largest enrollment of any university in TN. Maybe Franklin as well? I don't get out to either one quite enough to speak about what sort of neat, artsy activities they have going on, but I'm very curious now and will ask around.

[BirdieBelle]

If you're coming from LA, your first choices are probably the best fit.

The visual arts landscape in Franklin, south of Nashville, is expanding rapidly. This is a creative area with a LOT of talented people. South of Nashville, you will mix evenly with artists as well as the patrons, for lack of a better word.

Here is one example of a growing "event" (not a very good website, IMHO):

Franklin Art Scene

This is a link to the official Downtown Franklin page, which is a better representation of the vibe there:

Franklin Art Scene | Downtown Franklin Tennessee (http://downtownfranklintn.com/franklin-art-scene - broken link)

If you want a TINY town, look into Leiper's Fork (rhymes with "Leapers"):

Leiper's Creek Gallery in Historic Leiper's Fork

[vivelafrance]

There's an artist community connected to TN Tech University in Smithville (Appalachian Center for Craft | Tennessee Tech University).
I've also heard of some artists in Bell Buckle, south of Nashville.

I think you'll find East Nashville to be the main center for independent artists in middle TN, though. The great thing about it is that it's very close to the center of the city but also close to the Shelby Bottoms area which is a large preserved green space that can really feel quite rural and idyllic.

[canweb30]

Hello TinyTeeth,
My husband and I are trying to move to Nashville this fall...I love it there and the people are very friendly. Since you are moving...do me asking where did you find a job?

Thanks

[tinyteeth]

Hey everyone: Thanks so much for the comments. Aries, I just checked out the times spread, pretty sweet! My heart skipped a beat. I very much appreciate you asking around! Wmsn, Leiper's fork sounds quite lovely, thing is, I may be hoping for a bit, just a sliver more of a contemporary art feel. A place where I know that innovation is in the air, even if its not overtly apparent everywhere. I lived in a little burrow of Philly once, Mt. Airy, it was lush and green with yards and charming old homes. It was also rife with art and music and some cutting edge ideas, but not everyone would know it. These old tall trees kept this balance about it. I'd love to stumble upon a star like this in/around Nashville and I'm sure I will. Perhaps it's one of these places we are all discussing. I will say that Franklin looks beautiful. Vivelafrance:Bell buckle sounds quite enchanting. Ill have to make a visit. I am beginning to agree with you insofar as East Nash being whats up though.
Canweb: I have enough freelance work right now to keep me afloat right now. I'll likely find something when I settle in.
I 'd love to hear more.

[BirdieBelle]

Not trying to convince you, but looks can be deceiving.

Creativity doesn't always "look the part."

The thing about this Nashville area, including the outlying counties, is that "art and music experiments" happen all the time, organically. The woman who looks like she leads the church choir (she probably does) also may be a renowned abstract painter. It's just part of the uniqueness of Nashville.

It's one of the most creative places I've ever lived.

I'm sure you'll know what's right for you when you see it.

[steindle]

East Nashville is A LOT different from Mt. Airy, just FYI. And despite its status as the "Brooklyn of Nashville," there is almost literally no comparison between the two in terms of look, feel, demographic composition, anything.

Ideally I would visit to get a real sense of things here before making the leap.

[tinyteeth]

Wmsn: Of course, really there is "no part" just some preferences, which could always shift. i still look forward to checking out the places you suggested. One of them may be pitch perfect.

Steindle, I agree in many respects. But I do think abstract comparisons can be always drawn. I have made a quick trip (though hardly detailed) a bit ago and East Nashville, in terms of the ideas being generated there, feels quite similar to other places I'v lived. This is perhaps what I should have clarified. Of course in terms of demographic, look, and much else, I agree with you, the differences, even upon first glance, are vast. I'm still gonna go for it rather blindly as I will be putting an installation up in the city, so i figure, just do it.

[mlp206]

Hello,

I may be a little late to this post but I live in East Nashville. I live in Inglewood which has a bit more of what you described. I have been in E.Nashville for 14 years now and love it. My husband is a musician and I am an aspiring film maker. We love the vibe here and we have spent a lot of time traveling and visited a lot of different places including LA and Brooklyn. There really is no way to compare either city to Nashville or E.Nashville. I think you will love it here.

Welcome..