Sparks Fly as TN-7 Race Kicks into Gear

Good afternoon, everyone. Aftyn Behn and Matt Van Epps duke it out in the Seventh District... More updates on the East Bank, cranes incoming... And a look at Grant Garmezy’s work at the Maxwell Gallery.

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Behn Makes Appeal Across the Aisle With The Epstein Files

From Megan Podsiedlik

“A vote for me is a vote to release the Epstein files,” says state representative and Democratic Congressional candidate Aftyn Behn.

In a Facebook video, Behn asks her followers to “put on their tinfoil hats” and follow along with a conspiracy theory laid out by the Banner’s Sarah Grace Taylor. “State election officials have been aggressively pushing the certification date of this election up to three days after polls close,” said Behn. “The election’s on December 2. They want all of the information in by December 5.”

In alignment with the Banner’s coverage, Behn theorizes that the reason for the expedited timeline could be to swear in Tennessee’s winner at the same time as Democrat Representative Adelita Grijalva from Arizona. So far, Speaker Mike Johnson has not sworn in Grijalva during the shutdown.

With a number of major votes, including one to release the full Epstein files, in the balance, Democrats are suggesting that there may be something more calculated to Tennessee’s certification timeline. Election Commission officials have denied these claims. When closing out her video, Behn calls her Republican opponent, Matt Van Epps, “Matt Van Epstein."

For his part, Van Epps recently launched an ad blasting Behn for stalking ICE agents in Nashville. “This is great! We’ve got our girl squad, and we’re bullying the ICE vehicles and state troopers, so like, this is a win,” Behn says in a clip Van Epps’ team used from a post on her own media account. “Aftyn Behn, she’s so woke she thinks it’s a win to harass police,” says the narrator.

✹ THE SOUTHERN REVIVAL SALON

Join us for a classed-up, cowboy-formal type thing with an open bar, music, and the opportunity to meet some of the most talented and influential people in Nashville. Use the discount code PAMPHLETEER to get 25% off your ticket. (Buy Tickets)

🏗️ Updates on the East Bank East Bank Program Manager Jim Czarnecky gave an update on 29 projects already underway during Tuesday’s East Bank Development Authority meeting.

They’ve already broken ground and started construction on five projects, sixteen are transitioning from the design phase to the construction phase, and 8 are moving forward from planning to design. There are also twelve new development projects coming online, including the demolition of the Juvenile Justice Center and the old Titans Stadium.

The Fallon Company also gave an update and introduced its local partner, Elmington Capital, which will oversee the East Bank’s major affordable housing projects. Elmington President Ben Brewer said they expect to start breaking ground sometime next May.

“We're based here in Nashville,” said Brewer, a plus for those focused on insourcing the development of the East Bank. Brewer said Elmington is a “top five developer of affordable housing in the country,” and the majority of their 1,000 employees are Tennesseans.

✰ ✰ ✰

🎟️ SNAPping Back Governor Bill Lee brought attention to resources for residents affected by the “Democrat-led federal government shutdown.” The shutdown hs suspended federal funding for the SNAP program, potentially leaving Tennesseans without benefits in November. Lee criticized Democrats for failing to reopen the government and praised nonprofit and faith-based groups for stepping up to meet community needs.

State agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Department of Agriculture, and TennCare, are coordinating efforts to ensure continued access to food and essential services across all 95 counties. The administration has activated FeedTN.org to connect Tennesseans with assistance and volunteer opportunities.

DEVELOPMENT-ish

Via Now Next Live Nation Unveils The Truth, A New Wedgewood-Houston Music Venue In Nashville (More Info)

East Bank site now offering surface parking lot (Post)
GM to lay off 700 in Spring Hill (Post)

✹ INTO THE WILD AT MAXWELL GALLERY

Nashville Art & Fashion You Should Know · Read Online

From Emma Evatt

Grant Garmezy’s “Into the Wild” exhibit at Maxwell Gallery stands out against the current art offerings in Nashville for its demonstration of rare and impressive technical skill, and its inspiring beauty forged through a balanced dance with the elements.

Maxwell Gallery is a family affair started by Julianna Maxwell, daughter of the founder of the acclaimed Sculpture in the Park sculpture shows, her husband Joe Maxwell, and her son Wyatt Maxwell, who runs the Glasshaüs workshop attached to the gallery.

Located on 438 Craighead Street, at the very South edge of the Wedgwood Houston district in Nashville, Glasshaüs is the first glass-blowing facility in the Nashville area. In the entrance sits an inviting cafe bar, with glass art on display for purchase. Glasshaüs offers classes, demonstrations, and commissioned custom work, including lighting and installations designed by owner Julianna Maxwell and crafted by Glasshaüs resident artist Paul Nelson.

The current Maxwell Gallery exhibit showcases the stunning realism of Grant Garmezy’s “Into the Wild.” Grant grew up in the Nashville area and now resides in Virginia, where he shares a studio with his wife, Erin Garmezy. He specializes in hot sculpting, a glass shaping technique that is entirely freeform, eschewing the use of any molds in order to prioritize instinct. As a result, each piece of artwork on display is an entirely singular form that can never be replicated. With all of the specialized equipment in the workshop, Grant said his favorite tool for hot sculpting is a piece of wet, folded newspaper.

Erin, also a glass artist, specializes in torchwork, a technique she uses to create incredibly delicate florals and botanicals. You can see her work placed throughout the exhibit, most notably, draped on the horns of the titular piece “Into the Wild,” which has already been purchased.

I had the privilege of watching Grant hot sculpt a beautiful koi fish out of glass at his demonstration on the evening of October 24th, and his wife Erin kindly shared two of her delicate glass flowers with my children who were watching her torchwork. The Garmezy’s artist page describes their work as exploring nature and myth by creating intricate, lifelike, sculptures. Their “Into the Wild” exhibit is a thing of beauty and it comes to you highly recommended.