ARTIST SPOTLIGHT | Portrait Artist BRANDON VAN LEER presents TIMELESS
Acclaimed artist Brandon Van Leer is set to unveil his latest collection, “TIMELESS”, a captivating exploration of the enduring legacy left by iconic figures whose influence transcends generations.
Art Opening April 18th, 2024 from 6-9pm at SAINT ELLE!
Graciously sponsored by Guidance Whiskey. Signature Cocktails will be served + STE Full Service CASH BAR.
Parking is Limited and RIDE SHARE encouraged.
THE SHOW
"Timeless" delves into the essence of individuals whose careers echo through time, leaving an indelible mark on culture and society. With the use of charcoal and graphite, Van Leer immortalizes luminaries such as Johnny Cash, Kobe Bryant, and Dolly Parton, capturing not just their likeness but their evolutionary careers.
THE ARTIST
As a native of Nashville, Tennessee, Van Leer's artistic vision is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural tapestry of Music City, making Saint Elle the perfect venue to showcase his latest creations. The fusion of art and spirits will be celebrated through the partnership with Guidance Whiskey, whose curated selections will complement the beauty of Van Leer's work and the legacy of the individuals he portrays.
THE SPONSORS
GUIDANCE WHISKEY
Guidance Whiskey is a premium spirits brand known for its dedication to craftsmanship and quality. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Guidance Whiskey is committed to celebrating the enduring legacies of cultural icons through its curated selections.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Saint Elle is a dynamic cultural space located in the heart of Nashville, dedicated to showcasing emerging and established artists across various disciplines. With a focus on fostering creativity and community engagement, Saint Elle is a vibrant hub for artistic expression.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT | Portara Ensemble Presents: VOYAGER
Get ready to embark on a musical journey like no other as Portara Ensemble presents VOYAGER, an immersive in-person choral concert.
Join us for an evening of live choral music as Portara Ensemble presents VOYAGER, a program inspired by the wonder of space exploration. Grab a cocktail as you experience music reflecting on our place in the universe, including works by Christopher Tin, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Elaine Hagenberg, and several works by local Nashville composers.
This program also features the world premiere of a new commissioned work by Sarah Rimkus, inspired by the journeys of the Voyager satellites.
Enjoy the performance with a space-themed craft cocktail that’s out of this world!
Purchase your TICKETS TODAY!!
A cocktail reception starts at 6:00 PM with full cash bar & N/A drinks, performance begins at 7:00pm.
Portara recording “The Longest Night” at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville
Founded in 2010, Portara Ensemble uses choral music to elevate and inspire audiences through the transformative power of artistic collaboration and community engagement. Portara, like so many other Nashville artists, recognizes the need for a broad sound palette, and is known for its ability to reinvent the character of the ensemble not only from concert to concert, but from moment to moment during a performance. Portara utilizes the singular power of the human voice to open doors to all kinds of cultural and artistic possibilities. Whether it's an intimate performance of choral classics, or backing up country music's biggest stars on national television, Portara prides itself on being vocal chameleons - able to become whatever the moment calls for, in service to the spirit of creativity.
Artist Spotlight | Numinous Flux Dance Co. performs BREATHE
This month we announce our “Artist Spotlight” with Contemporary Dance Company, Numinous Flux as they perform their latest piece of work BREATHE.
Since early 2018 this local Nashville dance company has been writing and producing this performance revealing the complexity of the journey of mental and emotional health. Breathe is an expression of the inner life and what we carry inside ourselves becoming tangible through movement and imagery.
*ONE NIGHT ONLY* RSVP NOW - Reserve your FREE TIX HERE!!
*Tickets are complimentary but must be RESERVED. Please consider making a donation to keep the artistic non-profit growing and performing. Donate TODAY!
At SAINT ELLE we have always been inspired by the creative spirit that defines Nashville and are excited to host this evening of art & community!!
A Cash Bar will be serving Beer, Wine & and Curated Cocktails, so join us at 6:30pm to share a cocktail and connect before this amazing performance.
Read more about Numinous Flux and their Creative Director + Founder, Laura Valentine, in our interview below.
Tell us a little bit about your background and why you created Numinous Flux?
In my youth, I trained at Rhythm Dance Center in Marietta, GA in a variety of styles, and performed with a rigorous competition team, I also participated in quite a bit of theatre and musical theatre around the community. I later attended Appalachian State University where I focused on modern, contemporary, improvisation and my discovered my main love, choreography. Though college was my entry into the official realm of choreography, my true understanding of movement as an artform came to me unexpectedly and visited me long before my schooling: in doorways, laying awake in bed, in traffic patterns and waiting rooms, in jazz clubs, in long conversations, at galleries, at the grave, on the table, giving birth, being thrown in the lake, deep within me and inside my wild dreamscape.
I have always longed to become part of what moves or doesn't move. To feel into the world around me and within me and acknowledge its beauty. To externalize it into shapes and fluent sculpture. Then to reach deeper for the meaning and connection behind it all. To find a shared inner movement between artist and audience. Numinous has been my greatest inlet and outlet. Poetry in physical form.
Photos | BREATHE Ireland Photographer: Teyana Maryshko
Producers: Whitney Gorbett + Rachel Delap
What is the inspiration for BREATHE?
Sometimes when an experience elicits a strong emotion or reaction, the inside of the body can hold multiple sensations at once. Each of the five dancers in Breathe represents one part of a whole. This bodied work; an abstract moving mosaic of selves. The movement illustrates how our inner parts can become polarized and go to war with each other at a certain thought or in a moment of high intensity or sensation. Part of us holds the shame, part of us rages, part of us holds a loneliness or compliance and our mindful part must make all our parts feel like welcome guests and move from being a passive observer, to an active being. I like to think of this show as moving from a cacophony of conflict into one harmonious breath.
How was the Numinous Flux collective formed?
My biggest dream was always to direct a dance company. In my early days, I spent hours moving my rock collection into different configurations and pretending each rock was a beautiful dancer. Foreshadowing my life to come. I began putting on full length productions as a junior in college, and continued building communities of dancers well into adulthood, changing up the name of the collective every so often, but always with a focus on relationship and healing. Each new show fell into place naturally, and eventually Numinous Flux, as a name, stuck. It felt right. Numinous meaning simultaneous fear and awe and flux being an exchange of energy. It certainly has a magical quality to it; this company. We never hold auditions. The dancer's arrivals are each unique and timely. People seem to be drawn in or out in the right moment of life. The work almost seems to determine who will embody it; and my job seems to be to listen to the work and trust in it.
How long have they been performing?
Numinous Flux has been a performing company since 2014.
BREATHE Ireland
How are the dances created? Does each dancer choreograph their own piece?
I choreograph each piece of the work, but the creative process is always different. When I begin working on a show, everything becomes relevant. Everything in my life gets folded into the movement. Sometimes the music comes to me first, other times I see the story taking shape and hear the song later. Once I saw a man arguing on the phone on a cement staircase in downtown Nashville. Hands flailing, frustration faced, then a sudden stillness... that man became the inspiration for the first piece after intermission of Breathe. Most often after I set the movement or direction, it becomes more of a relational process with those embodying it. It's never business; its always personal. Crossing thresholds to bring what's inside of each dancer to the outside. Working with the chemistry that evolves between the artists in the room. And giving space for moments of improvisation, so that the work is happening in real time. With each piece, once choreography is set, it becomes a highly collaborative process emotionally. The sensing of the art so affects the making of it. A dancer's interpretation is an ornate key. A movement done in jest reads much differently than the same movement done in fear.
What is something about this work that someone might not pick up on immediately?
There is a lot of symbolism in this show, Breathe. Boxes being taken down, a glass wall, rice, the corners of the stage, a veil. Each layered with meaning to further explore the beauty of the work. Each dancer has a different relationship with the fixtures onstage. This is all purposeful. A veil can suggest many things: a wedding, death, a covering, something spiritual, breath... These objects are like keys that open us further and help us find more meaning in the transformative creative process.
If you could choose one word to describe the emotion of this production, what would it be and why?
Intense - because that is the word I would use to describe my life experience, which is where Breathe originates.
Learn more about the SHOW & Reserve your TICKETS HERE!
Artist Spotlight | Benji Peck
This month we announce our FIRST in PERSON “Artist Spotlight” with Benji Peck.
RSVP NOW- 6.24.21 | 7-10pm - www.thinkingfeelings.com/rsvp
At SAINT ELLE we have always been inspired by the creative spirit that defines Nashville and are excited to host this evening of art & community. Benji has built a reputation with his Brand Identity Design Company, Peck Design Associates (aka PDA), as a premium creative house whose versatility is sought after from curated boutique hotels and architecture firms to CBD and cold sweet treats. We collaborated with PDA on our vision for SAINT ELLE, and found we shared a harmonious “creative spirit”. The timeless, beautiful branding that evolved is one we feel is truly unique and continues to inspire our venue every day.
We are beyond excited to host his latest series of paintings, THINKING FEELINGS for *ONE NIGHT ONLY* on 6.24.21 from 7-10pm. Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, as well as Full Service Cash Bar make this a night in Nashville you won’t want to miss.
Featured Artist - Benji Peck - painter / photographer / creative director + designer at PDA.
RSVP today! www.thinkingfeelings.com
Read more about Benji and the show in our interview below.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into art?
I’ve loved drawing and really doing any kind of art for as long as I can remember. I remember sitting in The Kettle with my mom and grandparents and drawing Garfield in a leisure jacket holding a martini over and over again. I can still draw it from memory.
I got my BFA from Oklahoma Christian University in Graphic Design and Illustration. But throughout school and afterwards, I never stopped painting. I showed a few times out of school in Oklahoma, but don’t think I had really found my voice yet. Particularly in relation to abstracts.
In graphic design the output—even when gestural—is controlled. It’s often as much a process of restraint as expression. So early on I struggled to let myself explore the freedom of expression that abstracts allowed. But with time I began to use painting as a way to process my experiences and emotions. It became an outlet and as such, I learned to stop over analyzing it in the moment. There’s always time to take a more critical look at the work, but that beginning process must be a more fluid “letting go” of control. Reacting to the piece itself as it happens.
My Wandering Awareness
Oil on Canvas 58” x 80”
Ms. Interpretation
Oil and Graphite on Canvas 58” x 80”
How do you approach starting a new piece?
I always stretch my canvases just before I begin painting. It’s imperative to the process for me. The raw materiality of unprimed canvas or linen vs primed canvas or wood directly influence what the piece will become. Handling the canvas, stretching, stapling, folding the corners, etc. acts as a way of getting-to-know the materials, paying respect to them, understanding their durability, and considering how paint or graphite or oil pastels will interact with them. I try to stay open to what the piece will be through this process, so that I am allowing room for the materials themselves to reveal what they are capable of becoming.
Painting is like meditation in that way. You have to be intentional about it, you have to choose to do sit with it, and make space for the possibility. And when I stretch a canvas, the process is my intentional act of creating. I’m literally making space for some expression. While I sometimes do have an idea of what I am going to create, I do my best not to go in with assumptions or concrete ideas, but openness.
Where did you draw inspiration for these specific pieces / series?
In Art History, I read about a 14th Century Florentine painter named Giotto, whose mastery had become well-known around Italy, and eventually caught the attention of the Pope. The Pope sent a messenger to Giotto to request some sample works for his consideration. Giotto took out his brush and painted a “perfect” circle on a canvas and told the messenger to take it back to the Pope as his submission. The messenger was befuddled, but the Pope ultimately saw the genius in it.
This story stuck with me for many reasons. The brazenness, a bit of a thumbing of the nose to authority, and this concept of perfecting the simple.
Furthermore, there are no perfect circles in nature. There are no perfectly straight lines in nature. They exist only in math and in our imaginations. Yet we see them, and we recognize them. That fascinates me: that something we have never truly seen before, whose existence we also have never questioned, and yet deep down, we all know what a circle is. It’s as if the circle beckons us from another dimension, connecting us to it.
I love that there are solutions that exist inside our understanding of them, yet remain outside of our comprehension. And I love most of all when math, nature, and human behavior overlap. It a beautiful chaos that, if we sit with it long enough, we can begin to see there is still order in all of it.
And herein lies the rub, we are constantly trying to get better, trying to improve ourselves, to become as close to perfect as possible, yet knowing we can never truly attain it. To take that one step further, I’m not so sure that we don’t actually despise true perfection when presented with it. We seem to always be drawn to the humanity and realness of the imperfect.
This series is a representation of that process for me. Of striving and failing. Of hope and disappointment, of permanence and impermanence. I often feel I am of two minds. I desire to see all sides of all problems to find the best possible solution—the perfect solution. What often results is a spiraling process of overthinking and, on occasion, a sense of paralysis.
Morninglight
Oil on Canvas 53” x 66”
Dusk
Oil on Canvas 53” x 66”
How does where you live affect the outcome of your work?
That’s interesting to consider. I think people have very different relationships to where they live, be it the city they live in, the house they live in, or the state of their mental health. To live in any physical location is to first inhabit ourselves (our own skin if you will) and I believe our life experiences strongly influence our relationship with the spaces we inhabit. I was displaced a few times throughout the creation of this series, and I can see in each painting what place I was in, or rather my state of mind. Some of the paintings feel groundless and unsettled, a sort of floating abstraction, while others belie a sense of deep introspection from a place of acceptance and belonging.
Spiraling Staircase
Graphite and Pastel on Canvas 54” x 54”
Do you listen to anything specific when you are working?
Yes, though it changes depending on what frame of mind I am in and what I am creating. Music has always been something of a safe place for me to get lost in. Even in the darkness of being unsettled, or in the murk of ambiguity. Painting is a wonderful world to get lost in, especially with a great soundtrack.
It’s also remarkable to me how our senses lock in a memory so vividly. There are certain songs that take me directly to a place and time, the painting I was working on, and the conflict that I was wrestling with at that moment. It can be beautiful and painful and cathartic all at once, to listen to those songs and let my mind take me back there.
What is something about this work that someone might not pick up on immediately?
In an effort not to overprescribe what the work should/shouldn’t communicate, I will stick with the process for this answer. I often paint the backs of the paintings first. Raw canvas has an unforgiving memory. That’s one of the beauties of working with it. It forces you into the present, forces you to be intentional with every gesture, every line, every scrape, because you often cannot cover it up. Painting the backs of the painting affects how the canvas will accept the paint when you apply it to the front surface. This process became synonymous with the theme itself as it relates to our internal dialogue, and how that dialogue ultimately affects our decision-making process and later our feelings about the decisions we make.
Learn more about this SERIES and the SHOW at www.thinkingfeelings.com
Artist Spotlight | Theresa Bear
Theresa Bear is one of those artist you come along that mesmerizes you. Currently residing in Portland, OR where you can find her chasing a dream to find and give voice to unstoppable magic!! …And magic is exactly what she creates!! If you come across one of her pieces, there is going to be no question that it is from her mind and a unique creation. We have three of her pieces adorning our moody green hallway and we think they are absolute show stoppers!!
We VIRTUALLY sat down with Theresa to chat art, music and inspiration! Read on to learn more about this talented Artist!
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into art?
I spent a big portion of my childhood in nature. My mother would take me and my brothers up to my grandparents small scale farm in PA on weekends or weeks in the summer. The privilege of feeling the magic, safety, and wonder of nature grew to be the essence and foundation of my life. My art is completely inspired by the magic of nature on Earth. You will always see flowers in my work or pieces of nature. It is a theme that isn’t going away. I found like nature, art quickly became apart of my way to communicate and understand the World. The combination of nature and art is just the most beautiful force.
How do you approach starting a new piece?
I usually start all pieces from a place of wanting to understand, educate, or show a story in a new way. And the best way I start is I look at nature and how it translate a feeling or idea I have. An example would be this idea I had on friendship. I tried to look around me for how nature showed friendship and what metaphors it could translate in a picture. What came to me was two women. One was water the other woman with a watering can and flowers were growing from her and around her.
Where did you draw inspiration for these specific pieces / series?
We were made to flourish and bloom into our truest self. This series is a humorous and creative outlook on the process we go through in life to get to the spot where we are in full bloom. Everyone's bloom looks so different. I wanted to explore what that bloom looked like.
How does where you live, affect the outcome of your work?
I believe nature is medicine. We moved to Portland to have access to the wild medicine Oregon brings. Being able to play on the coast with my two year old, roam old growth forests, and climb mountains is the most beautiful gift I have the privilege of receiving. I find these places or lessons I glean from the Earth energetically and physically make their way into all of my art.
Do you listen to anything specific in when you are working?
I love listening to a good playlist, audio book, or podcast. Nothing gets the creativity boosts going like some good tunes.
What is something about this work that someone might not pick up on immediately?
I feel like a lot of my work has a lot of hidden layers to each of the pieces. I like to think the longer folks look at a piece the more it will tell them.
Artist Spotlight | Paul Collins
When searching for artwork to display at SAINT ELLE we tried to find unique artists that represented the venues style and emotion. Our sights landed on the work of Paul Collins and we were drawn to his approach and subject matter. Paul Collins is an artist, curator, and educator from Nashville, TN. Paul makes paintings, drawings and sculpture that combine humor, tactility and observation to examine the world. A self proclaimed “tree hugger”, Collins never met a vine he didn’t enjoy killing. Paul has an MFA from Yale University and has been a resident at Skowhegan, Anderson Ranch Arts Center and the Vermont Studio Center. His work has been featured in New American Paintings, Art Voices, Fresh Paint Magazine, and has been exhibited across the US. Paul teaches at Austin Peay State University.
Paul’s painting “Washed Out” now lives at SAINT ELLE! You can see more of his work at Red Arrow Gallery. Check out their collection of artists / artwork and prepare to be inspired!
Read on to learn more about Paul and his art!
Photo: Austin Lord for NATIVE
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into art?
I’ve lived in Nashville for a decade, but before that lived all over the place with the longest being NYC. I have always made art but one thing that has pushed my art in a big way is being around other artists. I’m married to the fantastic artist Alex Blau, I get to teach art in an incredibly inspiring artist community at Austin Peay State University, and nowhere beats Nashville for having a more welcoming and collaborative art scene.
Title: Artist Cabin
Title: Fallen Wood
How do you approach starting a new piece?
I make work by throwing myself into the process. The works are all done on site from observation and I work daily over a period of weeks at the same location rain or shine. When it’s raining the piece starts with putting down my coffee cup and putting on my boots and getting going. I have a homemade backpack for supplies and I carry the paper taped to a big sheet of pink insulating styrofoam. This painting was made at an artist residence in rural woodsy Georgia, and I just walked out my door and off into the woods. When I look around the world I can see beauty and interest everywhere, but when push comes to shove there is always something that catches my eye and calls me to action. I found this view on a path switchback looking up through a sequence of different tree forms. I propped my styrofoam up on a stump and started to paint. The rain started and washed my out twice before it calmed enough for the ink to stick.
Where did you draw inspiration for these specific pieces / series?
I’ve always revered trees. I’m surprised they are not more respected as living beings of incredible scale in time and space. Guess that makes me a druid or at least a “tree hugger”. I’ve been working in and around Nashville for years painting people and the city. I applied for this residency in the woods as a chance to focus on the natural world aside from people and peopleness. I set aside the time to drink in the majesty of trees and reflect back on my experiences with them over my life.
Title: White Pines
How does where you live, affect the outcome of your work?
Dramatically. I focus on my experience with the world and its influence on me and my family in every project I tackle whether it’s drawing in a courtroom or a forest. I have strived to make that connection tighter over time, which is why I paint more on the sidewalk than in my studio.
Do you listen to anything specific when you are working?
Anything just not news. I LOVE Damian Jurado and Modest Mouse ... or college stations on internet radio, 107.5 The River. When I’m working in public there’s usually someone curious about what I’m doing and talking to me. In the woods it was just silence and the rain.
What is something about this work that someone might not pick up on immediately?
Look closely and you can see the washouts where something was painted before the rain drops ate at the marks. Can you see where I have given up with the brushy end of the brush and used the stick end to scratch the ink into the wet surface of the paper?
Title: Washed Out
DIVE INTO WINE | A Monthly Sipping Series
Purchase your TICKETS HERE!
We will be collaborating with two of our favorite Nashville vendors for this special evening! Saint Elle Beverage Director, Micaela Tuttle, is teaming up with Woodland Wine Merchant to curate the wine selection and Please Be Seated is providing their Luxury Event Rentals. You will be in good hands all evening as we "DIVE INTO WINE" and learn HOW TO WINE 101! Purchase your tickets today and ensure your seat at the *Socially Distanced* Table.
We will be collaborating with two of our favorite Nashville vendors for this special evening!
Saint Elle Beverage Director, Micaela Tuttle, is teaming up with Woodland Wine Merchant to curate the wine selection and Please Be Seated is providing their Luxury Event Rentals.
You will be in good hands all evening as we "DIVE INTO WINE" and learn HOW TO WINE 101!
Purchase your tickets today and ensure your seat at the *Socially Distanced* Table.
Details and Tickets HERE!
Artist Spotlight | Codie O'Connor
Codie O’Connor is an abstract painter based out of Austin, Texas. When we saw her bright and beautiful paintings, we knew that she could create something perfect for our Bridal Suite. Codie worked with us on the color palatte, incorporating matcha & holly… the beautiful greens we use throughout the space. Art is something that drives us personally and we feel it’s integral in creating warm and inviting spaces. Check out our interview with Codie and learn more about her story and craft. Enjoy!
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into art?
My mom is also an artist, and as a kid I spent so much of my time on her studio floor creating whatever I felt like making that day. I was lucky enough to have access to a handful of mediums, but painting was always the one that challenged and resonated with me the most.
In college I earned a BFA in Arts Management, which was essentially studio and art history classes mixed with business classes- utilizing both sides of the brain. My end goal was to work in a gallery when I graduated so I could be surrounded by art every day, install exhibitions, and eventually dive into curating or provide a platform for my friends involved in the arts.
I worked for a while at a gallery I loved and eventually decided it was time to do the thing I had always planned on doing after graduating: go backpacking abroad. I spent several months backpacking through SouthEast Asia and living in a van in New Zealand before returning home to Austin. When I made it back to Austin, I started applying for gallery jobs, it was a slow process so in all my spare time I had built up a large collection of paintings. Somewhere along the line I was hired to paint a series for a small business, and suddenly commission orders started rolling in. Eventually I built my own series to release, began painting murals and was able to support myself through my work.
How do you approach starting a new piece?
My approach to starting a new piece really varies. Sometimes I just grab a canvas and start laying down paint until I feel like a piece is coming together- other times I am pulling from ideas I’ve had while out and about, those ideas are typically sketched out quickly in a notebook. I’ll use these sketches as references when I’m starting a new painting.
Where did you draw inspiration for these specific pieces / series?
I often look to topographical maps for inspiration. Nature has been and will always be the best artist around.
How does where you live, affect the outcome of your work?
I live and work out of a little bungalow in Austin, Texas. It’s a small space but it’s set up so my boyfriend and I are each able to have our own studios. There are lots of windows in our house and we are surrounded by tons of greenery, particularly pomegranate trees. The space can feel like a treehouse at times. Our door is never locked during the day so our friends are always welcome to drop by at any time (well, before Covid that is). This little house/studio feels really good to be in, and certainly puts me in the right mindset to create.
Do you listen to anything specific when you are working?
Nothing specific, however Neil Young is probably the most consistent artist I listen to!
What is something about this work that someone might not pick up on immediately?
It’s hard for me to say, however I do hope that it makes people feel grounded and relaxed.
Photo: Justin Rearden
The Women Behind Saint Elle
With the opening of our second event space, we thought it would be nice to share our story… a little behind the scenes, “play by play” of our journey to completion. So, we sat down with our friend and photographer, Justin Rearden, to give you a little glimpse of what we created at SAINT ELLE.
Saint Elle Owners (L to R): Leigh Watson, Nealy Glenn & Chandra Watson
Justin Rearden: Tell me a little about your background and how you ended up in the events business?
Leigh Watson: My sister, Chandra, and I met Nealy in college at the University of Evansville in Southern Indiana. After graduation we parted ways, Chandra and I headed to Los Angeles to start our career in music and Nealy to New York City for Acting / Film. After Nealy got her masters at NYU we reunited in Los Angeles and spent over a decade in the City of Angels, my sister and I as touring Musicians (the Watson Twins) and Nealy in the Film business. As creatives a “structured” life isn’t always part of the puzzle, so we all worked a side hustle… catering, bartending, waiting tables, part-time on commercial production sets, working at art galleries, flower shops, you name it! I think all these different positions have informed us in how we run our venues. Hospitality is always #1 at SAINT ELLE & the CORDELLE and we run a creative, efficient, organized team.
JR: Where did you draw inspiration for the space from?
Chandra Watson: I wouldn’t say there is a specific city, but when I’m traveling unique restaurants, boutique hotels and hospitality experiences are always an inspiration. I love the thoughtful details that go in to the experience from design/flow, to a cute book of matches or a hand thrown ceramic plate… all of it creates inspiration. We tried to incorporate elements like this at SAINT ELLE in hopes of making our guests feel welcome and appreciated.
JR: How do you balance style with budget when shopping for a space?
LW: We are all really into Interior Design and creating comfortable spaces. I think we really look for those key design pieces that are maybe a higher price point and then look for the more affordable accent pieces. Picking all the furniture and decor for SAINT ELLE proved to be a challenging task. Right when we started shopping, we went into quarantine due to COVID, so all retail was closed. Fortunately, we have the internet and very visual minds!! There were a million emails back and forth between the three of us full of website links, mood boards, furniture mapping and budgeting that took a ton of time to put together. Spending that extra time searching for the more cost effective items really paid off in the end and I still feel we created a space that feels elevated, yet approachable.
JR: What was your favorite splurge piece?
Nealy Glenn: I think my favorite splurge piece was the bathroom wallpaper. We found an amazing artist in Krakow, Poland on Etsy who makes the most beautiful wallpaper. He was super easy to work with and made the process so enjoyable. I always love finding artists from all over the world that add to the spaces we create.
JR: Which corner or room in the venue is your favorite?
NG: The bar is my favorite! It feels so warm and high style. It transports me and makes me feel like I am in a different time and place
CW: This is a tough one as the little surprise moments within the space are a fun reveal. I will say our restrooms continue to get attention from visiting clients. The Olive Branch wallpaper, the brass sconces and Tuscan tile bring a wow factor for client and guests.
JR: What piece would you steal for your own home? .
LW: Just one piece??? Wow, that’s hard… probably one of the artwork pieces we purchased for the venue. The painting from Codie O’Conor was a commission and she used our color palette, which makes that piece a “one-of-a-kind” specific to SAINT ELLE. The Theresa Bear botanical photographs line the hallway to the Suite and are just so unique. Paul Collins’ black and white of the “Winter Forest” is an abstract nod to all our plant life at the venue. Each one of these pieces was thoughtfully chosen and a representation of our venue through artwork.
CW: Would have to say the Codie O’Conor painting in the Bridal Suite :) It’s a wonderful unique addition… it also looked great in my Living Room LOL!
NG: I would steal the plants. One can never have enough!
JR: Whats your favorite drink on the menu?
NG: All of our drinks are delicious, but I would have to say my favorite is The Saint Elle. It’s a unique twist on a familiar bourbon drink that is so refreshing and tasty. Notes of Rosemary and Apricot served on the rocks… instant classic!
JR: Who takes care of all the beautiful plants?
CW: Awe the plant babies! Our Sales Associate Mandy and I take care of them weekly, making sure to water, prune and clean the carts when needed. It was a bit intimidating at first as the plants are quite large in size and a big feature, so we want to make sure they always look lush and beautiful. Luckily the natural light in the space and the custom built moveable plant platforms allow us to easily move them throughout the venue into their perfect positions for both “sunlight sessions” and “event ready” looks.
Designer Spotlight | Katie Vance
Katie Vance is a name that Nashville knows well. She’s a Partner and the Interior Design Director for Powell Architects, and all around trendsetting genius. From restaurants and coffee shops, to hotels and breweries, her impeccable touch is all over Nashville (and beyond). We had the pleasure of working with Katie on our first venue, The Cordelle, and knew going into this project that we wanted her involved.
Over the years of working with Katie, we have become great friends. But, in our first designer spotlight, we wanted to sit down with her, where you could get to know her and gain some insight on how she approaches projects.
Where did you passion from interior design come from?
Growing up I had a Grandmother that was a floral designer and a Mother who was as crafty as they come so I think I had the creative gene from the start. I became obsessed with Tricia Guild books in high school (she's an amazing British Designer) and fell in love with Interiors.
Where did you draw inspiration for this project?
Once I saw the initial Moodboard the Owners had pulled together for the project I felt so incredibly inspired. The concept is such a fresh take on an event space. I pulled together moody greens and unique textures that complement the original architecture along side classic tones of walnut, brass and marble. This lead to a beautiful juxtaposition of modern forms with classic finishes. I also am a Plant Lady so their Oasis concept was a dream!
How does designing a space this large factor into your design decisions?
Having such a large space forces you to consider the small, intimate moments and where to have those spaces be defined within the space. The Bar design allowed us to create a more intimate room within a room and offers an inviting environment with the warm glow of the brass pendants, antique mirrors and walnut wood bar front.
What makes this space different from other spaces you have designed, like restaurants and bars?
Designing Event Spaces is so much fun because you get to envision all the monumental events and moments that will take place and think about what is the best backdrop for a multitude of styles and tastes. You want to create a space that is a memorable yet blank canvas for the client to come in and make their vision come to life. While working with the Owners to create this space it was important to all of us to keep those same hospitality touches used in restaurants and bars just used in creative ways here. We also focused heavily on versatility - what could be reimagined to move within the space, how could the lighting change, what would make the Bridal Suite functional yet dramatic for photography etc. I feel with the Owners experience in the Event Space world and my experience in the Hospitality Design world we created a space together like no other.
What is one detail that you absolutely love, that others might overlook?
I love how the back bar grand mirrored arches mimic the Saint Elle logo bringing the entire concept together.
