Hundreds gathered at the North Nash Fall Bash to celebrate the opening of a new community building by spray painting pumpkins, getting their COVID shot and listening to live music curated by DJ A.B. Eastwood.
The new center is located at the heart of the 26th and Clarksville Pike apartment complex run by Urban Housing Solutions, a nonprofit that manages almost 1,300 units of affordable housing across Nashville. The property contains specialized housing for artists to live and work in the community without contributing to rising rents.
The festival was also the debut of an audio project by Saran Thompson, or S-Wrap, one of the development’s artists in residence. “The Ground We Stand On” features the stories of eight North Nashville residents as interpreted by poets, musicians and spoken word artists.
Rose Gilbert WPLN News Saran Thompson listens to his audio project “The Ground We Stand On,” inside the new community building.
Thompson explained that, when he moved in two years ago, he was quickly inspired by the neighborhood. “The Ground We Stand On” reflects that admiration, but also increasing concerns about climbing housing costs.
“Being a resident here and understanding the housing crisis as well as gentrification in North Nashville, it made me want to be hyperconscious about the legacy, the history and the culture here, and making sure that I wasn’t contributing negatively,” Thompson said.
Mare Evans, a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, said that having art around her building made her feel more at home.
“It’s just very symbolic of the neighborhood,” she said. “I feel like North Nashville is very unique.”
Thompson and the development’s other artists in residence are planning a more comprehensive showcase for early 2022.
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