Ellen Parker Bibb, 2024 President
Dear Chestnuts,
I can hardly believe it is almost 2024!
When I joined The Chestnut Group in 2017, my goals were to meet other artists, to gain plein air painting experience, and to participate in a few art shows. I had no idea it would be so much more! The supportive and encouraging nature of the group and the connections I made and the resulting experiences I had were totally unexpected. And now, I want to keep the momentum going so that this group can continue to do for others what it has done for me. I am excited (but also a little nervous) about the opportunity to serve as 2024 President. I want 2024 to be a successful and enriching year for all our members and partners. After a triumphant 2023, in April with our new partner, Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms, and our most recent show in November to benefit long-time partner, Friends of Radnor Lake, the excitement is palpable!
We are already off to a great start with fun things on the calendar, and more in the works! Please mark your calendars for our first Member Meeting, February 4th, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood Library. Amy Crownover, Executive Director of Greenways for Nashville, will attend to answer questions and update us on all things Greenways, as we paint and plan for our April show, “Painting the Greenways.” Board Members will share additional plans for the year, including 2024 “Paint Your Heart Out” workshops (that members will have the opportunity to pre-register for at a discounted price, before tickets are made available to the public!) We are excited to share information about a Summer Gallery Show in the works, and our fall show with Friends of Shelby Parks & Bottoms. Additionally, we will host numerous paintouts (and pop-up paint outs), a member Summer Social, and our always popular “Tis the Season” Holiday Party. There is much to look forward to in 2024!
We can all be proud to be members of one of the largest, most vibrant plein air painting groups in the country, and what makes being a Chestnut so special is you, our loyal members. Whether you became a member because of your care for the environment and conservation, to learn to paint in plein air, to improve your painting skills, to meet new painting buddies, to learn more about becoming a professional artist, to sell paintings at the shows, to find opportunities to teach, or to see what you might get at the Holiday Party painting swap, 2024 will be a year of learning, growing, connecting and giving back that I don’t want you to miss—and January marks the time to renew your membership!
You can renew your membership TOMORROW, January 1, 2024, by clicking HERE.
Your 12-month membership runs from January 1 to December 31st. Don’t miss a moment and renew on January 1! Membership is $90, but please consider adding an additional amount as a gift if you are able. Deadline to renew is February 28. We are a nonprofit organization, running entirely on membership dues, donations, and our small portion of show sales. Also, while you are logged in, please take a minute to update your artist profile. Click the Members tab, then ‘update my profile.’ Please check and update your information as needed, including links to your social media, as well as current images of your work to benefit you and the group.
Cheers to an exciting New Year!
Ellen Parker Bibb
2024 President
The Chestnut Group
CLICK HERE: https://chestnutgroup.org/renew-membership/
To learn more about our organization and JOIN us, CLICK HERE: https://chestnutgroup.org/join