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An Interactive | Multi-Sensory | Historical
Art Exhibit
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Discover the Art
Ed Rode's exhibit celebrates Nashville’s songwriters and musicians by engaging visitors with unforgettable images, amplified by fascinating insights and rich sounds. The show features archival canvas prints in multiple sizes with image labels and QR codes delivering informative support material to visitors' smartphones. While viewers wander through this exhibit, each piece invites them to slow down, think, wonder and reflect.
Over his 30-year career documenting the Country Music industry, Ed forged partnerships, fostered friendships and at times, welcomed these songwriting artists into his world as family. This special status allowed him to truly get to know, understand and dive deeper into the hearts of his subjects, often photographing them throughout their careers. Documenting both the renowned and the lesser-known, this collection showcases a wide range of subjects, spanning from mesmerizing on-stage performances to secluded countryside hideaways.
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Hear the Stories
By scanning a “Backstory” QR code displayed on the work’s wall label, visitors hear an audio track of Ed’s trademark charismatic, easy-going storytelling style, bringing to life the details behind the moments caught on camera. Listen to how he maneuvered unusual and even dangerous situations to capture the vulnerable, provocative and unexpected moments.
A text document of the audio track is provided to the venue for print and display purposes.
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Listen to the Music
Visitors can also access playlists for each artist by scanning a “Music” QR code. By connecting songs and lyrics to songwriters and performers, the power of music adds another dimension to the experience. The song “Wichita Lineman,” for example, made famous by Glenn Campbell, was actually penned by songwriter Jimmy Webb, who also wrote “MacArthur Park” and “Galveston.” By scanning Jimmy’s “Music” QR code, you can access a variety of playlists on Spotify and Apple Music. In addition to introducing visitors to interesting songwriting facts and connections they might not know, the exhibit also puts a spotlight on behind-the-scenes songwriters whose creations quietly fueled mega hits for other performers.
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Connect Socially
Interact with visitors and the community through social networks. By using hashtags, museum-goers post favorite memories of the songs and artists they love. So many of life’s milestones are connected through music, and reliving and sharing them virtually can be enjoyable, validating and healing. This dynamic channel of communication engages audiences during and after the visit.
Community Engagement
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Songwriters in the Round
Host Nashville singers and songwriters to showcase their talents in a “Songwriters in the Round,” a Nashville tradition. A “Round” is where a group of three or four songwriters intimately share songs and stories on a single stage. Local talent can also be featured using this special format.
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Artist Lectures
Tap into Ed’s generous, passionate spirit as he shares his adventures from around the globe. His interactions with Country Music’s most celebrated performers, such as Dolly Parton, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn, as well as deejays, fans, executives and musicians have afforded him a unique perspective on the country music world. Ed’s warm, engaging speaking style, combined with accompanying images, delivers an entertaining, insightful and information-packed evening.
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Songwriting Events
Let your town’s creative juices flow by sponsoring a local songwriting contest. Celebrate the finalists with an in-person or Zoom performance and award the winner special prizes. Local restaurants, breweries and performance spaces are perfect co-sponsor partners.
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Workshops
A variety of workshops hosted by regional or local experts in photography, music, poetry and writing can be offered during the exhibit’s run. Ed’s background in education, teaching and advising make him the ideal guest lecturer for hands-on artistic and technology-based classes.
Willie Nelson
Dolly Parton
Neil Diamond
Luke Bryan
Kris Kristofferson
Lyle Lovett
Brothers Osborne
Lucinda Williams
Emmylou Harris
Chris Stapleton
Dierks Bentley
Wynonna Judd
Darius Rucker
Ricky Skaggs
Doc Watson
Riders In The Sky
Buddy Miller
Billy Joe Shaver
Guy Clark
Hal Ketchum
Raul Malo
Little Jimmy Dickens
James House
Jimmy Webb
Bobby Braddock
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Kenny Rogers
Loretta Lynn
Taylor Swift
Waylon Jennings
Glenn Campbell
Peter Frampton
Jimmy Buffett
Alison Krauss
Don Henley
Chris Cornell
Bill Monroe
Chet Atkins
Patsy Montana
Delbert McClinton
Steve Earle
Tony Arata
Hunter Hayes
Gretchen Peters
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Cowboy Jack Clement
Kid Rock
Joe Don Rooney
Jack White
Kenny Greenberg
Johnny Cash
Charlie Daniels
Brad Paisley
Jason Aldean
Vince Gill
Blake Shelton
Brooks & Dunn
Bonnie Raitt
Hank Williams, Jr.
Duane Eddy
Grandpa Jones
Lionel Richie
Keb’ Mo’
Porter Wagoner
John Prine
Mac Wiseman
The Chicks
Marty Stuart
Dr. Ralph Stanley
Del McCoury
Rodney Crowell
Scotty Moore
Harlan Howard
Billy Gibbons
Wally Wilson
“What’s so cool about this exhibit is how many layers there are behind the images — and when you peel them back, it becomes a multi-sensory experience.”
— Ed Rode
Please scroll through the images below to sample the exhibit’s content.
About the Artist
Ed Rode
Nashville’s Songwriters & Musicians is a collection of images and stories spanning my 30-plus year career of documenting legendary and contemporary artists in Nashville and beyond. The outcomes of this project are threefold: a catalog, touring exhibition and lecture series.
How it began
A conversation 30 years ago with Chet Atkins changed my perspective and set me on the path to capturing some of the most iconic – and certainly most fascinating – songwriters and musicians for what will become a coffee table book. Chet reminded me of the importance of the songwriting community in Nashville, so naturally, he was the first artist to pose for this project. The collection of hundreds of images of the most beloved figures in songwriting and country music includes Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Glenn Campbell, Kris Kristofferson and many others.
This project has been extraordinary in the sense that I set out to meet the people behind the songs, capturing the personalities and environments that make up this city’s fabric of songwriting talent. Putting faces with names is a lot like putting words with music; it fleshes out the experience in an unexpected way.