“Pilgrimage” seems an appropriate word to describe both Brother Mel's annual trek to Nashville and his artistic path: a long journey or search of exalted purpose or moral significance. Brother Mel, who has been a Marianist monk since 1948 — was the first brother in his order to choose art as a vocation, and his five decades of production are a testament to his creativity as well as that of his long-time champion Anne Brown of the Arts Company Gallery. Brown’s recently published
Brother Mel: A Lifetime of Making Art chronicles Mel's story, and Davis-Kidd will host the duo for a signing event on Friday night, while the Arts Company will hold a birthday reception and gallery show on Saturday night. Keep your eyes peeled for a cake decorated with 82 candles.
— Joe Nolan