Tennessee Craft

06/23/2026

Shining the spotlight on creativity
Say hello to this week’s featured Tennessee Craft artist.

Lisa "LAH" /ehl-uh/ Harden

Lisa "LAH" Harden is a 2025 Tennessee Craft Emerging Maker Merit Award recipient and nature-inspired photographer working under the name Good Natured by LAHarden, creating one-of-a-kind works through Polaroid emulsion lifting - a rare, tactile process of transferring instant film onto cotton paper by hand. Her practice is rooted in a deep reverence for the natural world, and the slow, intentional nature of her process is as much about healing and mindfulness as it is about the finished work.

You can see her artwork at Auroras & Sad Prose Exhibit.
A Love Letter to Nature, Photography & Healing Words

Opening Reception: July 9, 2026 | 5–8 PM

Downtown Artists Co-op
96 Franklin Street, Clarksville, TN

Exhibition on view through August 1, 2026

Join artist Lisa "LAH" Harden for a deeply personal solo exhibition featuring more than 30 original Polaroid emulsion lift works paired with poetry that explores memory, beauty, loss, and healing.

https://www.threads.com/

06/22/2026

Artists and creative entrepreneurs, this is a great opportunity to learn more about contracts, intellectual property, and other legal considerations that can help protect your work and your business.

We encourage our creative community to take advantage of this free educational resource.

Join CERF+ for a free webinar: When Is It Time To Talk To An Attorney?
Wednesday, July 8, 3-4:30pm EST
Christia Ravenell, Director of Legal Services

Join Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (MdVLA) for a discussion on common legal issues that an artist might face when pursuing creative endeavors. The discussion will include an introduction to contracts, intellectual property, and business entity basics. The goal is to empower artists to better understand legal issues related to their creative work and assess when the right time is to talk to an attorney for additional support. This information is relevant to any type of creative entrepreneur or small arts organization interested in protecting themselves and their art.

Please note: This webinar will not be recorded, and a replay will not be available.

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ovdxKN-wQuemw2yTWXa_xw

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06/18/2026

Handwork 2026 is a nationwide celebration of American craft, led by Craft in America for the U.S. 250th. Tennessee Craft joins as a partner, showcasing artists through its Spring & Fall Fairs and the Best of Tennessee Craft: 2026 Biennial - plus a nationwide Open Studio Weekend for makers.

06/17/2026

Best of Tennessee Craft: 2026 Biennial

In the studio - bringing the next vision to life? This is your moment. Apply to the Best of Tennessee Craft Biennial and put your work on a statewide stage.

Hosted at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, this juried exhibition celebrates the very best in contemporary and traditional craft, designed to elevate your work and expand your reach.

Exhibition Dates: October 24-December 12, 2026

Open to all Tennessee artists, 18+
Deadline: July 31, 2026

Carol Sauvion, Craft in America, Guest Juror
$2,950 in cash awards

Apply now on CaFÉ – Call for Entry)

06/16/2026

Shining the spotlight on creativity – Melissa Oesch
Get to know this week’s featured Tennessee Craft artist and their incredible work.

Tennessee Craft member, Melissa Oesch is the artist and maker behind Re-Imagined by Luna, where reclaimed leather is transformed into one-of-a-kind journals, sketchbooks, bags, and functional works of art. Melissa is based in Lexington, Kentucky.

A lifelong journal keeper, Melissa draws inspiration from nature, ancient spirituality, and the belief that creativity can be a powerful source of healing. Since 2005, she has embraced the meditative process of bookmaking, creating durable, handcrafted pieces rich in texture, character, and whimsy.

Because each piece is made from repurposed materials, no two creations are ever alike; each carries its own story, ready for a new chapter.

Handmade. Sustainable. Unique.



www.reimaginedonline.com

www.facebook.com/reimaginedbyluna

Tennessee Craft member, Melissa Oesch, is the artist and maker behind Re-Imagined by Luna, where reclaimed leather is transformed into one-of-a-kind journals, sketchbooks, bags, and functional works of art. Melissa is based in Lexington, Kentucky.

06/11/2026

Use your art to spark conversation around sustainability, community, and food waste.

The Arts & Business Council, Urban Green Lab, and Turnip Truck Natural Market are seeking Nashville-area mural artists for the fifth installment of the Waste Less™ Mural Project - a paid public art opportunity in East Nashville centered around the theme “Food is What Brings Us Together. Waste Less.”

The selected artist will receive $5,050 in compensation plus up to $500 in reimbursable supplies.

Applications close Thursday, June 18 at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Visit the link in bio for full details and application information.

A great community opportunity within walking distance of our new offices in East Nashville!

06/11/2026

There’s something powerful about work made by hand.
A piece of clay shaped with care. A story held in someone’s hands. Craft connects us — across generations, communities, and experiences.

Tennessee Craft is more than exhibitions and fairs. It’s a statewide community of artists, makers, collectors, and supporters who value making things by hand.

Whether you create, collect, volunteer, or simply love discovering beautiful handmade work, there’s a place for you here.

Connect with artists and makers
Discover inspiring events and exhibitions
Support Tennessee’s creative community
Help keep craft alive for future generations

Join the Tennessee Craft community today. Visit https://tennesseecraft.org/members/sales-force-membership/

06/10/2026

Tennessee Craft is proud to be a participant in this important community event.
Artist Ashley Seay will be demonstrating printmaking, and there will be hands-on art activities for kids and adults..
Artist Ashley Seay will be demonstrating printmaking and there will be hands on art activities for kids and adults.

Join us as we honor our First Responders on June 13th.

06/10/2026

Artists - don’t miss this opportunity! Applications are now open for the 48th Annual Fall Tennessee Craft Fair, consistently ranked among the Top 200 Craft Fairs in America by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Join more than 200 artists in Nashville’s beautiful Centennial Park and connect with over 45,000 visitors. Known for its outstanding setting, engaged audience, and strong artist sales, the Fall Fair is a premier destination for fine craft artists nationwide.

A National, Juried Show - Open to artists across the U.S.
Applications close July 15
Apply now: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=13948

06/09/2026

Artist Spotlight
Jigyasa Valbani: Shining the spotlight on creativity
Get to know this week’s featured Tennessee Craft artist and their incredible work.

Meet Jigyasa, the artist behind ColoryTales in Nashville, TN. Her freehand mandalas, painted on wooden rounds with richly pigmented acrylics, are created as visual mantras - inviting calm, mindfulness, and connection. Beginning with hand-sketched designs, she carefully layers custom-mixed colors, fine details, and delicate brushwork entirely by hand, without stencils or digital tools. Through her work, Jigyasa shares more than art - she shares a quiet moment to slow down, breathe, and reconnect.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/colorytales/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091587504530

Etsy - ColoryTales - https://colorytales.etsy.com