The IndyGoGirls traveled to Nashville, Indiana on September 12th. Nashville is an historic artists’ colony which claims T.C. Steele as one of its native sons. Steele was an Impressionist painter known for his Indiana landscapes. This one is Tinker Place, oil on canvas, painted in 1891.
Nashville has held onto its status as an artists’ colony and expanded into a tourist-friendly small town with numerous shops providing everything from caramel corn to home décor items to fine paintings.
We began our visit at Trolly's BBQ where we had delicious pulled pork sandwiches. It was a hot day and we enjoyed sitting along the sidewalk drinking our cold beverages, eating the pulled pork and watching the crowds of people stroll past.
One of the reasons for our visit was the Pumpkins and Puppies event at the Brown County Art Gallery, a fundraiser for the Brown County Humane Society. There were dogs and cats available for adoption, a painting up for bid, and the gallery’s regular exhibits. It was tempting to take one of the animals home, or at least, one of the paintings of the “puppies.”
One of the reasons for our visit was the Pumpkins and Puppies event at the Brown County Art Gallery, a fundraiser for the Brown County Humane Society. There were dogs and cats available for adoption, a painting up for bid, and the gallery’s regular exhibits. It was tempting to take one of the animals home, or at least, one of the paintings of the “puppies.”
We were fortunate enough to happen upon one of the local artisans working at her potter’s wheel right on the sidewalk outside the Brown County Craft Gallery. Judy Prichard, a potter, who, with her husband, owns Oak Grove Pottery Studio and Gallery, is a talented and friendly woman. She patiently answered all of our questions, keeping her wheel spinning the entire time. Judy creates “functional and decorative pottery in terra cotta and stoneware.” We went inside the gallery and thoroughly enjoyed looking at the art for sale created by talented and creative local artisans. It was an unexpected treat.
Walking along the Nashville sidewalks and browsing through the quaint stores was an especially enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. Perhaps our favorite shop was the For Bare Feet novelty sock store in the Antique Alley section of town. The socks are produced locally at a family-owned factory in Helmsburg, Indiana, just outside Nashville. This Indiana original produces all of the socks used by the NBA and holds licensing agreements with NASCAR and many college athletic programs. We were delighted to find dog breed socks, which one of the Girls purchased for the rest of the group, as well as our favorite university team’s logo socks which were purchased as, what else, stocking stuffers!
Our final stop was at the Carmel Corn Cottage for bags of caramel corn and tall, cool drinks for our drive back home.
At the end of our trip, we decided we’d return to Brown County and Nashville at some point in the future. There’s a lot to see and do in this area—next time we’ll bring all of the IndyGoGirls.
"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."
Kahlil Gibran
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