Meet the 2025 Soundwaves Gallery Artists: James Threalkill, Liz Vatovec, Kate Ferrell

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  1. 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.

  2. 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!

    James Threalkill

  3. Artist James Threalkill is originally from Nashville, Tennessee and played wide receiver at Vanderbilt University after a three-sport career at East Nashville High School. James earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Arts upon graduation from college.
    James won an Emmy Award for his creation of a mural painting program with youth from the Edgehill Community in South Nashville. James illustrated a children’s book series entitled; “Visions; African American Experiences” that was featured on Sesame Street.
  4. James’ work has been featured on major television programs and in movies. His work has been collected internationally, including locations in South Africa where he met President Nelson Mandela. James currently works out of his studio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
  5. Artwork: Soulful Jazz, Acrylic on canvas
  6. “This piece is a depiction of a jazz saxophone player created with vibrant colors and textured surfaces. THE HE(ART) OF NASHVILLE is this the spirit of Music City and its rich history of music of all types that include jazz, country, rhythm and blues, classical, bluegrass, and others.”

  7. Liz Vatovec

    As a visual artist and photographer, my journey has been one of continuous transformation and discovery. Initially captivated by the allure of travel photography, my experiences at Austin Peay State University have profoundly expanded my creative horizons. Now, I examine the intricate beauty of human connections through photography and explore mixed media’s boundless potential through sculptural works. My work is a dialogue between viewer and subject, connecting us through the threads of our collective human experiences. My passion is to create art that reflects the world as I perceive it and invites others to experience it from new perspectives. I aim to pay tribute to the resilience and diversity of the human spirit, using my art as a conduit to explore, challenge, and connect.

Artwork: Honky Tonk Blues, Photography
“This photograph captures the soulful atmosphere of Layla’s Honky Tonk, a Nashville gem known for its authentic live music. The solitary figure leaning against the doorway, bathed in neon light, evokes the timeless allure of Music City’s nightlife. Layla’s stands as a tribute to the spirit of Nashville’s honky-tonk tradition, where music, stories, and community intersect. This image embodies the HE(ART) OF NASHVILLE by celebrating the places and people that keep the city’s musical legacy alive, one song at a time.“

  1. Kate Ferrell

  2. Inspired by nature, color, and music, Kate believes that both creating and viewing art are acts of mindfulness – being grounded in the present moment. Her paintings convey a sense of freedom and the feeling of being fully alive. Using acrylic, collage, mixed media, and non-traditional tools, her work is characterized by expressive, gestural movement.

    Kate resides in Nashville, TN. Outside of the studio, she works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Siloam Health and teaches mindfulness-based fitness classes at Barre3 Nashville. Kate enjoys collaborating with fellow artists, teaching & attending art classes, and supporting local nonprofits with her art. She is driven by collaboration, giving back, and art’s ability to heal.

  4. Artwork: Where I Belong, Mixed media
    “Whether at Percy Warner Park, Radnor Lake, or in the Smoky Mountains, the Tennessee foothills and mountains are where I grew up and where my heart feels most at ease. This painting is meant to evoke the sense of calm and beauty experienced in our city’s and state’s parks. I believe Nashvillians (and all people) are interconnected, partly by the natural spaces that we share.”

  1. 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.

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