The Once and Future Global Event

Bella Luce, site of Rodin Exhibition including works of Sebastian Picker and Gustavo Torres

The legendary King Arthur called his knights to the Round Table, a symbol of unity and equality, to harness Might for Right to problem- solve for peace. At the end of T. H. White’s The Once and Future King, Arthur envisions a round table even greater than the hub of Camelot: “a table without boundaries between the nations who would sit to feast there.” He decides “the hope of making it would lie in culture."

History will be made September 9th when twenty –three of Auguste Rodin’s posthumous original bronze sculptures are sold at a private gala event--not in New York City or Paris-- but in Franklin, Tennessee. Proceeds will benefit the future, children of New Hope Academy, a college preparatory school in Williamson County that serves economically, racially and culturally diverse families, with more than half the students attending through private donations.

The philosophy of New Hope Academy is that positive change "begins with understanding and that understanding takes place in genuine relationships. Separately, we remain impoverished and underprivileged—the poor and affluent alike. Together, we become empowered and enlightened." New Hope, a Christian school, believes "in building the bridges of brotherhood in our community and in our nation. We step forward to be counted as those who will dismantle the economic, cultural and racial walls that keep all people from excelling as citizens of this nation and as children of the King."

The Rodin works and those of other artists will be on exhibition to the public September 10-13 from 11am-6pm daily at Bella Luce, the private estate home built by Jimmy and Rhonda Franks. Cost of admission is $15 which includes a tour of the 30- acre Tuscan villa. Sebastian Picker of Chile and Gustavo Torres of Mexico are part of the global lineup of twenty-three acclaimed artists that includes Frederick Hart, Matt Lamb, Benny Andrews, Bruce Peebles, Jane Braddock, John Davis and Charly Palmer.

Sebastian Picker, a native of Santiago, fled Chile during the reign of terror of dictator Pinochet. He uses his canvas and paper to explore and parody “power, pomposity, and the folly of corrupt leadership in government, church, and business.” Belle Luce is an appropriate setting for the works of Picker because of the influence of Paulo DiGirolomo from whom he studied cartooning in Rome. Picker has exhibited his work in galleries and museums throughout Europe and the Americas in countries such as France, Germany, Spain, Venezuela, Colombia, the United States and Canada. Picker now resides in Guadalajara, Mexico, birthplace of Gustavo Torres.

Influenced by the nuns of Guadalajara and Alberto Giacometti, Torres’ style seeks a ''spiritual balance'' as he “strives to elevate the human spirit by using primitive and natural forms reminiscent of Mayan and Spanish cultures.” Torres believes that ''art without spirituality is nothing.'' He sculpts award-winning bronze pieces from a centuries-old lost-wax casting technique. His works are displayed in the permanent collections of the Museum of Latin American Artists in California, where he resides, and in the Vanderbilt University Divinity School.

“We are very excited to be able to offer our community the opportunity to view such important and acclaimed artwork by these recognized creative talents, in such a spectacular setting as Bella Luce.” says John Davis of Dragon Fine Arts, a fine art consulting firm, who, in association with Twenty 21 Collections/Gallery Rodin, is producing the exhibition. “We believe that this is one of the most important and impressive exhibits of work by such major artists ever to be brought together for our local audience.”

“When we saw Bella Luce we knew it was a home run. The artistry Jimmy brings to Bella Luce is the perfect compliment to this Rodin exhibit. Bella is magical and a perfect home for an exhibit of this magnitude. We are so happy to be able to have such a luxurious space in which to show these great works and to be benefiting the children of New Hope Academy. Helping these children is going to be a wonderful result of all of our efforts.”

Great works from the past and present, like The Thinker, modeled after Dante, against a backdrop reminiscent of Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, place of rebirth. The result? A quality education in a diverse community giving new hope to children… our future.

For more information, contact John Davis at 615-593-0123 or www.dragonfinearts.com. Belle Luce is located at 414 Lake Valley Drive, Franklin, TN 37069.