Nashville Flood Photo Journal 
Retune Nashville 10/24/2010
 

I remember walking through complexes after the flood and seeing pianos lined up almost like a mass burial grounds. I always believe that instruments have a soul, a life's purpose, a message to contribute to the world, lives to touch.  In a city filled with these souls fueling creativity, passion, and dreams, we not only mourned the loss of homes and possessions, we mourned the dreams that all of these instruments represented. Their lives had been cut short, no proper burial ground in place to immortalize their contribution.
This overwhelming reaction struck the cord with a small group of people and they decided to take action and create a way for the instruments to be able to live on as beautifully meaningful pieces of art.  With a shred of an idea and a heart full of passion, they created an organization called Retune Nashville.  They took the damaged instruments and placed them in the hands of local artists with the idea of selling these pieces to raise money to buy new instruments for the musicians that were effected most.  
Last night was the unveiling of the artwork and I was really blown away.  I was blown away by several things.  First the pieces were amazingly emotional.  You could feel the love that these artists poured into each work of art.  No two pieces alike in looks, message, or spirit.  Like a fingerprint representing their own experience, their own process of moving on while never forgetting.
With the likeness of a memorial service, the sense was to celebrate the instrument's lives, bring loved ones together, and to be reminded what is truly important through great art, wine, and of course music.  It was a beautiful reminder of all that Nashville has gracefully endured, all of the people that have come together, and how the city has not forgotten to keep that unity alive.  
Last night they had several pieces auctioned off but the majority of pieces are actually going to be put online for bidding.  I highly recommend you take a look!  You can go to http://www.retunenashville.moontoast.com/ 
 
 
During the flood people were quite shocked and amazed that there was little to no media attention nationally.  For such a giant disaster to destroy one of our country's most prized cities and for no one to have mentioned it was jarring.  The media played dumb  and claimed that it wasn't sensational enough to feature heavily.
The media is convinced that people aren't engaged by good stories.  Stories of people doing extraordinary things for ordinary people.  Well, I beg to differ.  Months later, I still get emails everyday from people thanking me for my coverage of exactly that.  
I don't pretend to have the best coverage of the flood.  I am one measly photographer who set out on a personal mission to document what I saw.  It turned into a beautiful experience that forever strengthened my bond with the people of this city.  I discovered that I needed to tell their stories and show their grace.
This is my first blog and was thrown together as an attempt to contribute in my own small way.  
The amazing thing is though that people have responded so favorably to this kind of coverage, something that is real, something that is human and vulnerable and lovely.  
Your emails are reminders to me everyday that people do want to hear about the good in people in a real way.  It is a reminder to retain authenticity in everything I do, everything I touch.  It is this authenticity that has touched people through this site and inspire people to do great things.
I might be a journalist by most people's definition but I refuse to succumb to the unethical rituals of negative sensationalism.  I don't think they serve the media, it's audience, and most definitely, not their subjects. It breeds fear and anger into people that are really just wanting a breath of fresh air, something to make them think about their own life and how they can better other's.  
Maybe we can all band together and try to bring more positive stories into the spotlight.  If you have any that you think I should be covering please let me know.  

 
Thank You 08/16/2010
 
I wanted to thank you for all of your great submissions.  I really appreciate all of your support!
Please feel free to email me any stories or pictures of your own.  brandphoto@mac.com
 
 
CMA saw my blog and has asked to use my flood pictures for the 60,000 brochures that they hand out at CMA Fest and for large prints hung up in the green rooms and backstage during the 4 day event.  
If you don't know what CMA Fest is and you like country music then you definitely need to check it out.  It is a 4 day event featuring all of the hot country acts.  The really cool thing about this festival is it is designed for the fans to be able to meet the artists.  Go to www.cmafest.com to check it out.  Tickets are still available.  
I will be covering the CMA Fest and will of course be blogging about it
FYI: CMA has announced that 50 percent of the net proceeds of 2010 CMA Music Festival will be donated to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for flood relief. This is in addition to CMA’s already established annual donation of 50 percent of the net proceeds to Metro Nashville Public Schools for music education through the Keep the Music Playing program. In total, 100 percent of the net proceeds of the event will be given to benefit Nashville’s public school students and Middle Tennessee families in need. 
Another great example of people stepping up and making a difference.  
 
 
Anthony you are great for putting this together.  I LOVE seeing my friends in action!

http://anthonybillups.com/?p=92
 
 
When my neighbors Erin and Adam heard the news that Philip, their favorite Starbucks Barista had lost everything in the flood they decided to take it upon themselves to get him on his feet again.  In a week they organized a fundraiser to buy him a new drum kit, had gotten West Elm to donate furniture, a landlord to donate 3 months free rent in a new apartment, and numerous clothing stores to give him a new wardrobe.  The last things on the list are to get him kitchen gear donated and a membership to the YMCA as a bonus gift.
Then they are going to take on the next one.  They feel passionately about helping the struggling musicians who lost all of the instruments and gear.  It is hard enough to make it as a musician in this town without having to completely start from scratch.
I encourage you to use Erin and Adam as inspiration to do the same thing.  Pick a person and make some calls in their honor.  If you are looking for someone to help there is a fantastic singer/songwriter named J'Nae who lost everything she had ever written and all of her instruments and gear.  She is absolutely devastated!  If you would like to help her out let me know and I will connect you
 
 
My friends Suzanne and Carrie were the only 2 people trying to tear everything out of a damaged home today when the entire Titans team and staff arrived to save the day.  70 of them all pitched in and literally took over the block.  I walked in there and stuff was flying everywhere.  My friends were drenched with sweat and hammering away.  It was truly a site to see.   
There will be pictures shortly.
Go Titans
Go Suzanne and Carrie!!!! 
Comments: 
This man that they show in the pictures is the guy who owns the house next to my father in law.  He didn't have any insurance because it was a rental property that he owned.  I am so thankful that the Titans came and helped him get the shed off of his back porch.  I tried to help as much as I could last weekend, but as you can see behind him, we had a lot of work to do as well.  
 
 
My amazing neighbors are throwing a fundraiser for their favorite Starbucks man tomorrow night who lost everything in the flood.  Everyone loves Philip because he always has such a huge smile on his face and is famous for wearing a tie to work everyday.  He was also a musician and lost all of his instruments.  This is just another great example of how great the people of Nashville are. 
Erin and Adam I think that you are absolutely amazing for doing this.
Event details-
Werthan Lofts- Germantown (near Farmer's Market)
1350 Rosa L. Parks Blvd #205
Thursday May 14th 7pm
in need of gift cards, cash donations, instruments
100% of proceeds going directly to flood victim
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Hey Heather,
                   It's Jim from the flood! We met at River Plantation on Saturday. Hope you'll remember. You talked with me, my girlfriend Shore, and my stepmother Gayle. It was her house that was flooded. We all took pictures of each other? The turntable my dad gave me that's covered in mud? Our pictures are in your video? Ringing any bells? I know it's hard to remember so many people.
 
Anyway, I just was checking out the progress of your photo journal. You're off to a good start. Looks great. Just wanted to write and tell you how touched we all were with your love and concern for our situation. You are such a sweet, warm person. You really touched our hearts. This tragedy has been a blessing in ways you just would never expect. We have met so many incredible people. It's totally amazing what people will do for each other in the face of such hopelessness. It has really been a learning experience for me, and has helped restore my faith in people. I like to believe that people are basically good, and that sometimes the challenges of our daily lives just seem to get in the way of that. When something such as this horrible disaster happens, it really puts everything into perpective. Nothing like a good hard dose of reality to make you realize what really matters.
 
I don't know if you remember talking about this, but I'm a drummer and keyboard player. Used to be in some well known Nashville bands "back in the day" as they say, touring, playing the clubs etc.... These days, I like stay close to home, so that's where I do the majority of my music making. I am involved with a website called Riffworld. Don't know if you've heard of it, but there's this recording software called Riffworks, which allows you to go online and collaborate with other musicians all over the world, or you can just do stuff solo if you want. Riffworld is the site where you post what you've recorded. It's kind of like Facebook for musicians. I wrote and recorded an instrumental ballad called "Healing Song For Nashville" and dedicated it to the flood victims, my stepmother and my brother, who lost the building where his business is located. I'm thinking about making a video and using the song and my own flood pics, and possibly some others if I get permission to use them. I'm sending you a link to my page for the song on Riffworld. From there you can navigate to my homepage if you want to see what else I have done. My username on Riffworld is Musicmayn. You'll see me listed there that way.
 
Well, enough of my babbling. Just wanted to write and say thank you for your kindness and warmth. It is you and so many like you who have made this tragedy bearable for those of us who have to go through it. Much love to you, and best of luck with your career. You're a kind, caring person and I hope that never changes. The world can never have enough people like you Heather. The simplest acts of kindness are the most important. Hope to hear from you sometime.  
 
Your New Friend, Jim Dye
 
P.S. Here's the link to the song and BTW, on your site you called it Riverside Plantation, but it's actually just River Plantation. I don't think it matters much but I thought I'd tell you in case you wanted to change it.
                                                                        http://www.riffworld.com/Members/musicmayn/healingsongfornashville/
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Dear Heather,

I wanted to write you and thank you for coming to Bellevue to River Plantation on Saturday. Jim and I enjoyed meeting and talking to you , and we even made it into your slideshow! (he's the one with the piano-and I'm  the blond in the next shot). I am so glad you have written about this. I read your info, and you have had an amazing life in your short 33 years! Now, you call Nashville home, and it is a wonderful place to be, even in the wake of this devastating flood. Like you, I have never seen such an outpouring of neighborly love as has been shown in this city in the past ten days. i am so proud to call Nashville home. Like you I have travelled all over and still would rather live in Nashville, at least for now.

All the best to you in your life, and may you keep enlightening people all over the world with your amazing photographs. I'll keep checking in for more...

Big Hug, Shore Griffin (and Jim Dye). Person whose house you shot us outside of and in was Gayle Dye, Jim's stepmother.

 

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