Jessie Rosenblum is no stranger to Nashville’s creative scene. The former co-owner of Bee Attitudes and current co-owner of Art Beat has had her finger on the pulse of our art scene for years, thanks to a passion she shared with her late husband. The Nashville native played an integral role in USN’s Artclectic for years. Now, she’s shining a light on local artists through her combination art boutique and gift shop, which offers an accessible avenue for collectors and casual shoppers alike. Not to mention, it’s the perfect place to knock out some of your holiday shopping. Meet Art Beat co-owner, Jessie Rosenblum!
Editor’s Note: Interview updated on December 19, 2022
Can you tell us a little bit about your story?
I’m one of the unicorns that grew up in Nashville. I lived in New York and San Francisco after college and then came back to Nashville for graduate school. I was set up with my late husband, Jay, by a close friend. Since we were both Nashville natives, we were here to stay. He passed away in 2015, and while it’s been harder than I could have imagined, raising our two kids (now 17 and 20) and my three dogs, I have also had many moments of joy.
When I was trying to find more of those moments, I made plans to meet up with a prior business partner, Lizzie Stuhlreyer. Together, along with a third partner, Marisa Costanza, we owned a lifestyle brand called Bee Attitudes. We sold t-shirts with [sayings like] “bee happy” or “bee grateful.” Coincidentally, I left that a few months before Jay passed away. I was already kind of in that place of “what am I going to do next?” but now my world was upside down. Jay and I both loved art. We especially loved color, so our house was full of color. And because Jay was a Phish fan, we had many Phish posters that he framed like works of art — they blended in well with the art, so it worked.
One idea that helped me during this time was realizing that even without Jay, this life that we created was still here for me to live and enjoy — part of it being the art. So, when I was trying to figure out how to get into the world again and what to do next, I began volunteering for the art show at my kids’ school, and my involvement became my stepping stone back into the world. It felt like the only way I knew how to get back to life.
What led you to Artbeat?
I’d had the idea for a while. When I saw the work of friends who were artists, such as Christina Cohn or Liz Hodder, I was a big fan. I often tossed around the idea of opening a store with their art and [that] of other local artists.”
When COVID hit, I got so tired of my daily Amazon packages. I started looking to buy more locally, but even on Etsy, it was hard. This brought me back to the idea of a store with local art; it felt so simple to me. When Lizzie and I met, I told her about a unique opportunity to have an art space in the Gulch without a long-term lease at an affordable cost. She was 100% into partnering with me again on a new business., and while she still owns Bee Attitudes, she primarily focuses on Art Beat. We have a great partnership; we’re very, very lucky.
Since Artbeat is all about local art and community, who are some of the artists we should have on our radar?
That is a hard question because Nashville is bursting with artistic talent. I would say James Threalkill. He’s an iconic Nashville artist and was the first artist I called. Ashleigh Suarez is one we are lucky to have in our store because she’s now emerging, and she’s unbelievably talented. There is another young artist, Jernicya Onyekwelu, who walked in one day not long after we opened. She mentioned she was an art student studying at MTSU and showed us a picture of a sculpture she had completed. Now we are selling a few of her pieces. All of the artists whose work we have at Art Beat are so talented. It’s been a community that started small and is definitely growing. We feel a lot of support from them, and to feel so welcomed and encouraged is one of our biggest rewards. It says a lot about the artists in Nashville.
If someone is looking for last-minute holiday gifts, what should they come in for?
We have beautiful jewelry from Carden Avenue, Susan McVicker, and Renee Ford, and beautiful prints you can buy for $50 or less. We also have Thistle Farms candles and candles from Sweet Tea Candle Company, made in Franklin. We have cards handmade by artists, and if you put them in one of our frames, it’s a piece of art. We have soap from Wonderfully Made, a TN small business; they have a great-smelling peppermint soap.
We also have great kitchen towels. The most recent ones we received are made by Friends Life Community, a nonprofit that helps adults with disabilities in the workforce, and they are so cute. We have journals, beautiful tiles by Jim Sherraden, other tabletop art by a variety of artists, ceramic tumblers by Alexie Smith & much more. Christina Cohn’s trinket dishes are bestsellers, and you can get those for under $30. Her Nashville guitar ornaments are $24.
Are there any upcoming events we can look forward to?
We have had a lot of fun partnering with the W Nashville for live music & painting events, and those will continue when spring arrives. For holiday shopping, you can make reservations for shopping after-hours with a group of friends. We provide wine and appetizers. We also have exciting news coming soon about what’s next at Art Beat.
How can we best support local artists?
Follow local artists on social media, sign-up for their newsletters, share their work on your social media, encourage them and show up to see their work whenever possible. And, of course, buy local art! At Art Beat, we have art and gifts from over forty local artists. [Attend] artisan fairs and school art shows — USN, Harding, MBA, and David Lipscomb are a few that have art shows showcasing many local artists. I believe the Tennessee Craft Fair is the longest-running craft fair in this area, and it’s a great place to support Tennessee artisans. The American Artisan Festival is another Nashville favorite, and it’s been run by my friend since the age of three, Samantha Saturn. There are also several galleries and working studios that are all worth visiting. Everyone knows Nashville for its music but might not be as aware of our very vibrant visual arts scene. We want to create a map of all of the art spots throughout Nashville, so there is a better sense of the art all around us.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received, and who was it from?
My father died suddenly from a heart attack when I was 6. My mother had five children and worked full-time as a doctor at Vanderbilt. One day she told me that she parked her car in the lot at Vanderbilt, and as she was walking into work, she saw flowers growing out of the concrete. She said, “Damn it, if they can do it, so can I.” She was one of three women in her medical school class. Now she’s 90, and she continues to be a very strong, smart, and inspirational woman.
Outside of faith, family, and friends, what are three things that you cannot live without?
Coffee, Netflix, and dark chocolate.
Oh, and laughter. And my therapist. It’s a long list.
Check out Art Beat in The Gulch and online here.
Special thanks to Leila Grossman for the photos.
**********
Learn about more dynamic and inspiring women in the South through our FACES archives!
