The Jewish Observer
News from Middle Tennessee's Jewish Community | Thursday, June 11, 2026
The Jewish Observer

October in the Galleries: Featuring Works by Juli Lannelli, Colette Wise, Hal Wright and the Under One Roof Nashville Community Collaborative Art Exhibit

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Summer Hydrangeas, by Collette Wise
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Cherry Sundae, by Juli Lannelli
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Fruit Stand Memory, by Hal Wright

The Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the work of Juli Lannelli. Iannelli is a Nashville-based abstract artist whose work emerges from intuition and emotion. Working in mixed media, she responds instinctively to bold colors, accidental shapes, and gestural lines that arise through her spontaneous process. Her paintings draw on both conscious and subconscious memory, evoking nostalgia, joy, and the playful freedom of childhood. Vibrant colors, expressive marks, and layered textures invite viewers into an unexpected and personal world. Trained as an art therapist, Lannelli worked for several years in Kansas City, Missouri, before relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. She has since returned to her own studio practice with renewed focus, embracing exploration, experimentation, and discovery as she continues to refine her artistic voice. 

 

The JLMG2 Gallery will feature the work of Nashville based, Canadian born painter Colette Wise. Art, in its many forms, has always been central to her life. In addition to being a painter, Wise is a singer, songwriter, avid photographer, and gardener. 

In 2005, her life took a complete turn when she founded the non-profit Free for Life International, helping to rescue over 1000 young women from sex slavery around the world.   

 

In 2017, Wise began to lose her eyesight from a genetic disease. However, she drew strength from her love of art and began painting again, arranging images to create an intriguing visual poem. Her loss of sight has drawn her closer to Tonalism, as she sees in more muted values. Others have commented on her style, saying it has a dreamy old-world feel to it. Colette's work inspires others with and without disabilities to find courage and hope to create. This is her second exhibit at the J Galleries. 

 

The Sig Held Gallery will feature the art of Hal Wright. The Big Idea behind Wright’s paintings is simple, yet powerful: we come alive through contrast. It’s those unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary moments that break through the monotony of daily life and make us feel truly present. Just as life becomes richer when it's filled with variety—new experiences, changing scenery, fresh perspectives—art, too, has the power to awaken us when it brings together striking differences. In my work, you’ll find bold contrasts in shape, size, color, and texture—elements that clash, harmonize, and spark curiosity. Each piece invites you to explore, to compare, and to weave your own unique story from the dynamic tension and interplay within. This is art that doesn’t just hang on the wall—it stirs the soul.  

For much of his life, Wright enjoyed a fulfilling career in market research helping companies tune into what their customers truly wanted. He found joy in making things better, whether it was a product, a service, or an experience. He loved the constant learning and variety, diving into the worlds of different industries and people.  

In his 60s, Hal Wright swapped data and surveys for brushes and paint. Now in his 70s, Wright is still going strong, exploring a wide range of subjects, styles, and techniques. His creative journey has been anything but linear, and the paintings in this website offer a glimpse into that evolving exploration.  

The Senior Lounge will feature the work of Pamela Dove. 

 

The House gallery will feature the Under One Roof collaborative exhibit.In its ninth year, Under One Roof, brings together local Nashville organizations to create artwork around a chosen theme to be exhibited in our sukkah during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. 

The “roof” will be the JCC’s community sukkah – a temporary structure constructed during the happy, week-long, festive Jewish fall harvest of Sukkot. The sukkah reminds us of the fragility and temporary nature of life and helps us focus on what is most important. This year we have more than 30 participating organizations which included, Friends Life Community, Oz Arts, Nashville Dophins, and West End Synagogue.  

 

The theme for this year’s Under One Roof is Kavod. Kavod is a Hebrew word that means 

honor and respect. It is a word of great strength and important in the Hebrew language. Kavod helps us to understand the importance of respect and good citizenship. Kavod is a term with both social and moral implications, and stems from the root word for weight. It can mean glory, honor, respect, distinction, and importance. 

KAVOD: RESPECT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE 

 

The Exhibition Datesare October 3 - 31st.  

 

The Artist reception will be held on October 8th from 6-8 pm and the opening reception for the Community wide art exhibit, Under One Roof from 7:30 - 9 pm featuring music by DJ Joseph Harris and a pop-up jewelry sale by Cindy David and Henna by Seemi. 

 

The exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or go to www.nashvillejcc.org.   

 

 

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