Art is born from within, nurtured and made real so that it can be experienced, for an instant or longer, perhaps created with a purpose or on the spur of the moment, taking us back in time or making us think of the future, but always striving to make a lasting impression.
Hospitality also comes from the heart, and is coached to support the gift of giving, through a generous spirit to create memorable moments for the giver and receiver. The art of hospitality is being able to replicate perfectly, over time, developing a sustainable community centered on common values: appreciation, beauty and collaboration, the ABCs.
Appreciation for the arts plays a central role in the community of Murfreesboro, which has been, and continues to be, a city open to the old and the new. Traditions are important to uphold and celebrate, as we do by visiting the Heritage Center or the Carpe Cafe and delighting in The Boro Art Crawl or a performance at the Center for the Arts.
New art forms are welcomed at MTSU, at exhibits around town, listening to bands at Jazz Fest and supporting our youngest performers at the Discovery Center.
Residents of Murfreesboro, many of whom (myself included) are recent transplants, appreciate discovering the heart of the city and its surroundings, taking part in the wonderful activities, visiting the battlegrounds and walking the well-tended parks such as Barfield and Old Fort. We share these riches with our visitors by hosting a Farmers Market downtown, The Greenway Arts Festival and special events at Oaklands Mansion, but also by just greeting them when out and about, talking to them on the street about our heritage and local culture.
Our pride shows in the new art forms and community projects that are not solely financially motivated; these touch the hearts of tourists, making their time in Murfreesboro one they will remember and speak about to friends and neighbors back home.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and there is much to admire and experience in our city. Music, exhibitions and crafts are just some of what Murfreesboro natives bring to life. Celebrating with food is something of a must-do: coffee and cakes at Simply Pure Sweets, home-cooked fare at Alley on Main, comfort food at Jeff’s Family Restaurant or other offerings from an array of locally-owned dining options. One way of defining what we do is “hospitality” — the privilege of delighting others by sharing what we have, what we can do and what we know how to do well.
Collaboration, the last of the ABCs, is how we work together to bring art into the life of our community and “serve” it to others. Hospitality, at its core, wants to delight the consumer, not necessarily with a tangible product, but with an experiential memory—the same as art; impossible to hold on to but forever alive in one’s heart.
