Frist Center Puts Extra Spotlight on Nashville's Cultural Scene

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, a BOHAN Advertising client since 2001, continues to get national and international attention for its diverse exhibitions.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130904/CL74207 )

"CBS Sunday Morning" provided the latest example – a major feature about "Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles," an exhibition of Art Deco automobiles guest curated by Ken Gross that has boosted international visitation.

Publications including The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today have covered "Sensuous Steel," which concludes Sept. 15.

"It has been a tremendous hit. We certainly expected it to be successful. What we didn't expect was the significant attendance attracted to Nashville from around the country and media attention from around the world that boosted our international numbers," said Kathy Demonbreun, marketing director of the Frist Center.

"The artful manner in which we presented this 'rolling sculpture' wove a compelling story that has been key in our marketing," she continued.

Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., praised "Sensuous Steel" for the exposure it has gotten for Nashville.

"The Frist Center continues to shine a light on the creative side of Music City. Once again, it has delivered for Nashville and the arts in a spectacular manner," Spyridon said.

The Frist Center's Art Deco building inspired "Sensuous Steel," which features 20 automobiles and motorcycles from the 1930s and 1940s. Among them are a 1930 Cord, a 1936 Chrysler Imperial and a 1937 Delahaye Roadster.

"Working with the Frist Center was a joy from the time we started in 2001," said David Bohan, BOHAN chairman/CEO. "The Frist Center entertains people, enlightens people and helps people see Nashville in a new light."

The Frist Center has no permanent collection and instead showcases diverse and often unexpected short-term exhibitions.

Recent examples were a major exhibition of Dale Chihuly's glass art; "The Golden Age of Couture," featuring Dior, Balenciaga and Chanel; "German Expressionism from the Detroit Institute of Arts;" and "Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video," which the Frist Center organized and which has toured to the Guggenheim Museum and other institutions.

"We had particular fun with one marketing project that involved wrapping a prominent billboard in 'mummy' bandages and gradually revealing the name and date of an Egyptian exhibition," said BOHAN President Kerry Graham.

The BOHAN/Frist Center relationship is into its second decade, and the two staffs have a solid rapport, according to Demonbreun.

"We work with an integrated team approach. We all talk together about market strategy, budget, creative and implementation. That involvement enables us to work economically and efficiently and to come to consensus quickly," she said.

BOHAN has won numerous Addy Awards for Frist Center material and now is working on "American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell." Dates are Nov. 1 - Feb. 9, 2014. Follow the agency on Facebook here.

SOURCE BOHAN Advertising