2026 Paint the Town
An Annual Celebration of Preservation, Culture, and Community
Paint the Town 2026 brought together history, creativity, and community for an unforgettable evening in one of Nashville's most distinctive historic spaces. Guests gathered over food and drink, celebrated alongside fellow preservation supporters, and bid on original works inspired by the places that tell Nashville's story. Thank you for helping Preserve Nashville protect them.
2026 Event Highlights
The Bridge Building
The Bridge Building provided a distinctive historic setting for Paint the Town 2026, bringing guests together along Nashville’s riverfront. Thank you to host sponsor Infinity Hospitality for making this memorable evening possible.
Honoring Carole Bucy
Paint the Town 2026 honored Dr. Carole Bucy for her dedication to sharing Nashville’s history and inspiring a deeper appreciation for our city. As Davidson County Historian for 14 years, she brought the past to life through community lectures, cemetery tours, and her beloved Nashville 101 and 102 classes. The evening celebrated her enduring contributions to understanding the people, places, and stories that make Nashville distinctive.
Community & Friends
Supporters from across the city gathered to celebrate Nashville's character through preservation, good company, and a shared love of place.
Local Artists, Live Painting, & Auction
Local talent took center stage with live painting and an auction. Artists from The Chestnut Group also painted for the silent auction, bringing their creativity and love of place to the celebration. Our thanks to Ellen Parker Bibb, Lee Ann Burney, Christine Carrier, Sarah Clinton, Bitsy Hughes, Luke Joshu, Georgina Lanning, Mary Ann May, Shane Miller, Martha Case Nemer, Judson Newbern, Deb Pipes, Katherine Raymond, Amanda Sites, and Melody Trivisone for sharing their talents in support of preservation.
Exciting Announcements
The evening celebrated the April 2026 strategic alliance between Preservation Society of Nashville and Historic Nashville, Inc., marking the first Paint the Town since the organizations joined forces. Looking ahead, the Mayor shared that work on Nashville’s first preservation plan since 1998 would begin in 2027, in collaboration with Preserve Nashville. Together, these milestones signaled new momentum for protecting the places that define our city.
Live Auction Artist Spotlight
Christine Carrier
Nashville-based artist creating coastal-inspired paintings with fresh, contemporary compositions and a refined sense of color harmony. Working from the three primary colors and white, her work blends timeless influence with an unexpected perspective.
-
Website:
christinecarrierart.com -
Instagram:
@christinecarrierart -
Known For: Coastal-inspired work, thoughtful color harmony, and vibrant compositions
Martha Case Nemer
Nashville-based contemporary artist creating vibrant, expressive paintings that celebrate human connection, joy, and everyday moments. Working intuitively with acrylic, mixed media, and bold color, her work blends whimsy, elegance, and emotional depth.
-
Website: marthacasenemerart.com
-
Instagram: @ArtByMartha
-
Known For: Expressive figures, florals, abstract compositions, and rich color and texture
Bitsy Hughes
Nashville artist recognized for engaging cityscapes, florals, and abstract paintings in acrylic on canvas. Her work uses a broad palette of soft and vivid colors inspired by the beauty of everyday surroundings.
-
Website: bhughesartworks.com
-
Instagram: @bhughesartworks
-
Known For: Nashville cityscapes, florals, abstract paintings, and vibrant use of color
Shane Miller
Franklin-based artist creating atmospheric landscapes that explore subconscious emotion through memory-inspired imagery. His work evokes the feeling of a distant dream, using expressive compositions to create scenes that feel both familiar and deeply personal.
-
Website: shaneartistry.com
-
Instagram: @shane.artistry
-
Known For: Atmospheric landscapes, dreamlike compositions, memory-inspired paintings, and emotional storytelling through landscape
Melody Trivisone
Nashville-based artist working from Thompson Station, known for intricately rendered botanical drawings and her celebrated Leaves of Tennessee collection. Her sepia-toned pen-on-paper works are admired for their fine detail, nature-inspired subject matter, and timeless quality.
-
Website: melodytrivisonefineart.com | theartofplayingwithflowers.com
-
Instagram:
@theartofplayingwithflowers | @melody_trivisone -
Known For: Botanical illustrations, Leaves of Tennessee, nature-inspired drawings, and fine pen-and-ink work
Why do People Attend and Support?
Paint the Town is more than an event—it’s a catalyst for preserving the places and stories that define Nashville. Attendees join us in painting a brighter, more historic future for our city.
Nashville’s rapid growth makes our mission more urgent than ever. By attending Paint the Town and supporting Preserve Nashville, we help ensure that our city’s unique stories, neighborhoods, and architecture are protected for generations to come. Your future participation fuels advocacy, education, and hands-on preservation projects, amplifying the impact of every dollar raised. Join us and be part of a movement that sees preservation and progress as vital partners.
