Canine Portraits by Art Gowden: Moxie Art Supply
302 W. Vine St., Mon.–Fri. 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Sat. 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Art Gowden’s paintings of people’s four-legged friends will be on exhibit at Moxie throughout August. Contact the store for more information: (615) 849-1131.

Release of Twisted by Miranda Leek: August 2014
Miranda Leek’s book Twisted has been released recently. She both wrote and illustrated the book, which is a story about retired or dismantled amusement park rides that morph into living creatures with characteristics of men and beasts. The book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and Go Hastings.com in both paperback and e-book versions. A recent display at Murfreesboro’s Linebaugh Library recognized the book and Leek’s art.
Leek, a Rockvale resident, is a recent graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla.—the same school that Disney, DreamWorks, Hasbro, Blizzard, Sony and Paramount recruit from. For more information about Miranda Leek or her new book, Twisted, visit mirandasmagic.com.

Passport to Happiness: Todd Art Gallery
MTSU Art Dept., 1301 E. Main St. (615) 898-5653; Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Todd Art Gallery will have Passport to Happiness on exhibit through Aug. 15. Come and see why Scandinavians are the happiest people in the world during the exhibit, which features artwork, photographs and videos created in Norway and Denmark by art education undergraduates studying with Dr. Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt through MTSU Scandinavia Study Abroad during the 2014 summer May term.

Alumni Exhibit: Todd Art Gallery
MTSU Art Dept., 1301 E. Main St. (615) 898-5653; Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Aug. 28–Sept. 11; Reception, Aug. 27, 5–7 p.m. An exhibit curated by 2003 MTSU painting and printmaking graduate Hans Schmitt-Matzen, exhibition designer for the Frist Center for the Arts in Nashville.

NAEA Exhibition: Art Education on a Budget: MTSU Student Art Gallery
MTSU Art Dept. 1301 E. Main St., (615) 898-5653; Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
August 28–September 11; Reception, August 27, 5–7 p.m. Curated by senior art education major Kelsey Rogers and juried by Dr. Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt, this exhibit investigates the costs, sacrifices and dedication required from today’s newly employed art teachers to tomorrow’s art education majors as they approach graduation.

Jeff Bertrand

Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, solo art show by Nashville native Jeff Bertrand
Showcasing at 40AU Art Gallery inside the Arcade, Nashville
Opening Saturday Aug. 2nd for Nashville’s First Saturday Art Crawl
69 Arcade, Nashville, (615) 266-4028
The Life on the Edge of Catastrophe series contains a series of portraits replete with feelings of doomsday and grim feelings, people with their emotions and sadness completely on display. Some of the portraits are of people Bertrand knows personally, and these portraits suggest hope and optimism for the future. Bertrand’s solo exhibit will be hanging in 40AU until Aug 31. For more information on gallery operating hours contact megan@fortyau.com.

Murfreesboro Creative Meet-Up Group at Two-Tone Gallery
113 W. Lytle St.
This month’s Murfreesboro Creative Meet-Up times will be Wednesday, Aug. 6 and Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 5 to 6 p.m. The meetings take place at Two-Tone Art Gallery. Creative types of all kinds can bring a project to work on, socialize with fellow local artists, and maybe even learn some new art techniques. For more information contact Nichole McVeigh: nichole.mcveigh@gmail.com

Mary Jane Benefit Event: TFG World Headquarters
117 E. Vine St.
A benefit for the legalization efforts of “Mary Jane Smoker” will take place on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. Artwork by Doobie Lundquist and Dawn Felicia will be on exhibit along with comedy by Joe Kelley, and live musical performances by Two Sweater Night, The Acorn People, Behold the Slaughter and NuAugustine.

Art from the “Into the Future” exhibit,
by Ryan Frizzell

Into the Future and Robots at Mayday Brewery
521 Old Salem Rd., Thu.–Fri. 4–8 p.m., Sat. 1–8 p.m.
Mayday’s August art exhibitions on display inside of the tasting room will be Into the Future, which will be up until Aug. 21, immediately followed by Robots. Mayday Brewery is an eclectic space and brewery with “outside-the-box” art. If interested in participating in the Robots exhibit, contact dkmagarts@gmail.com.

Fervent Fusion Returns to The East Room
2412 Gallatin Ave., Nashville
Murfreesboro-based artists’ organization Fervent Fusion is venturing to Nashville’s The East Room once again for another great art and music show. Art will be on display by PJ Superior, Mai Harris, The Rhinovirus, Gypsy Marsh, Liz Kelly Zook, Amy Raven, and many more. Musical performances by The French Lips, The Blue Velvets, and ’Boro-based band Minona. Doors at 8 p.m., $5 cover. Ages 18 and up.