Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
The Bluebird Café has installed a new art exhibit featuring the work of Nashville songwriter
Ray Stephenson. The exhibit features his paintings of legendary songwriters, both past and present.
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
The paintings Stephenson selected – and in some instances
specifically painted – for the walls of The Bluebird Café concentrate
exclusively on renowned figures in songwriting history. Some of these
esteemed songwriters – from Willie Nelson to John Prine – have actually
played The Bluebird Café.
Pictured
(L-R): Renee White, Tennessee State Museum; Ray Stephenson; Dane
Gorman, speakcasting; Susan Heard and Jill Block, co-managers of Ray
Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
In addition to paintings of Nelson and Prine, the exhibit also
features paintings of Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Townes Van
Zandt, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Lennon & McCartney, Guy Clark
and Johnny Cash.
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Stephenson joined songwriter friends
Buddy Owens and
Steven Dale Jones on Friday (May 20) for an in-the-round performance and exhibit opening party.
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
“Music and painting for me are both sides of the same coin. They both
are lyrical, both involve singing, both tell stories, and reach inside
and speak to others from what is coming from inside of me,” Stephenson
explains. “It’s an incredible opportunity to share both sides of my
creativity in one venue, The Bluebird Café, which is where I began my
songwriting career many years ago.”
Ray Stephenson and Erika Wollam Nichols. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Bluebird Café GM
Erika Wollam Nichols said, “These
‘heroes of song’ that Ray brings to life through his paintings represent
the shoulders on which today’s songwriters stand. Having them here at
The Bluebird is both an homage to musical history and an inspiration for
the current generation of writers who play here today. His work not
only portrays these iconic figures but also reflects their spirits and
their characters, through his use of composite imagery and text, in a
way that no photograph can duplicate.”
Steve Tolson and visual artist Rob Hendon. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Stephenson’s songwriting credits include the title tracks of Kenny Chesney’s
Hemingway’s Whiskey and Blake Shelton’s
Red River Blue.
Pictured (L-R): Tommy and Joyce Stephenson with son Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
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