From the rhythm of the music created here to the natural beauty of our parks and greenways, there is a spirit of connection, celebration, and resilience at the core of Nashville’s identity. This city is a dynamic place where history is created and preserved, where innovation thrives alongside tradition, and where Nashvillians—old and new—are the beating pulse of a thriving and changing city.
The Soundwaves Gallery: THE HE(ART) OF NASHVILLE is a celebration of place, people, stories, and community spirit at the core of Nashville’s identity as a uniquely creative city. Meet the artists!
Beth LaPenna
Beth LaPenna is a Nashville-based artist whose creative journey spans decades of exploration and expression. Drawing from her background as a professional interior designer, Beth infuses her artwork with a keen eye for composition and a sophisticated sense of color.
Her transition from design to painting and collage art has allowed her to fully unleash her imagination, resulting in captivating pieces that invite viewers into vibrant worlds of texture and emotion. Her dedication to her craft, combined with her passion for storytelling and connection, fuels her desire to share her art with the world.
Homeward Journey Hand-printed and sewn paper collage on canvas: A heavily textured collage made with ribbons of hand-printed collage paper sewn on my sewing machine. My Grandmother bought me my first sewing machine here in Nashville and she always holds a special place in my heart. These ribbons weave through the collage as though you are floating in the ocean on your way home.
Martha Morales Purucker
Martha Morales Purucker, a Mexican-born artist, traded culinary arts for glass after discovering kilnformed glass in 2014. Her journey as a Deaf individual has shaped her unique perspective, reflected in her diverse art practice encompassing kilnformed glass, stained glass, mosaic, and sculpture.
Martha’s work has been exhibited in prestigious venues and galleries like Arts at the Airport and TN Craft Midstate. Her community contributions include “Pathway to a Higher Note,” a permanent installation at the Centennial Art Center, and her founding of GlassvilleTN, a teaching studio fostering creativity. Martha’s dedication to her craft has earned her recognition from the Art and Business Council of Greater Nashville and TNCraft.
Moonlight Heart Fused Glass – glows in the dark: A celestial masterpiece, Moonlight Heart is a captivating fused glass piece that illuminates the darkness. Though its beauty may be hidden during daylight hours, its luminescent heart reveals a hidden wonder. This unique piece is not just a work of art, but a symbol of love and resilience, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, light and beauty can emerge.
Jonathan
Jonathan is a fine art photographer known for creating surreal multiple exposure images that evoke powerful emotions and transform everyday scenes into dreamlike works of art. Working exclusively in-camera, their process blends precision and spontaneity, capturing layered reflections and textures that explore the beauty of light and form.
Jonathan’s unique style has gained recognition, earning them the title of Artistic Fellow for the state of Tennessee in 2025 and a spot in Nashville’s new soccer stadium, where their vision re-imagines 9th Ave as a captivating reflection in a hole dug to be developed. With an artistic goal of “beauty everywhere; for everyone,” they aim to score big with viewers by transforming ordinary moments into striking, magical masterpieces.
Reflection on 9th Avenue Multiple exposure photograph on canvas: This surreal composition captures the transformative essence of a city constantly under construction—physically and metaphorically. Created through multiple exposures, the photograph overlays the jagged texture of exploded rock from a massive excavation site against the clean lines of the city skyline and the ethereal expanse of the sky. The image portrays the raw foundation of progress, literally unearthed during the construction of Nashville Yards. The contrast between the rough, earthy textures and the polished architectural forms invites viewers to reflect on the tension between creation and destruction. The layered exposures mirror the city’s duality—its rich history and its rapid evolution into the future. This is Nashville’s he(art): a place where innovation rises from the ground up, transforming not only its skyline but also its spirit.
This unique exhibition features 44 artworks by 44 local artists selected by the Nashville Soccer Club and the Arts & Business Council in collaboration with a three-person curatorial committee comprised of local arts leaders Michael J. McBride, Artist, Illustrator, Printmaker, Painter, and Instructor of Art at Tennessee State University; Amanda H. Hellman, Director of the Vanderbilt University Museum of Art; and Michael Mitchell (aka mikewindy), Artist and Art Education Coordinator at Tennessee State University.
The artwork will remain on display in the Soundwaves Gallery at GEODIS Park through the end of the Nashville SC 2025 Season.