Friends of Franklin Parks and The Chestnut Group Announce “Painting the Parks” Art Show and Sale at the Hayes House
Plein Air Painters Will Unveil Works Created Across Franklin’s Park System on Thursday, November 6
Franklin, TN — Through the seasons of 2024 and 2025, a group of talented painters have been capturing the beauty of Franklin’s public park system in watercolors, acrylics, and oils. On November 6, The Chestnut Group and Friends of Franklin Parks will unveil the collection of works as part of second annual “Painting the Parks, ” a fundraising art show and sale to be held at the historic Hayes House at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm.
The Chestnut Group, a non-profit collective of artists who have been “painting to preserve” in Tennessee for more than two decades, paint the landscapes of middle Tennessee en plein air, or outside in the environment. They then sell their paintings to support efforts to protect and enhance these cherished lands. This year, they partnered with Friends of Franklin Parks to present an art show and sale beginning Thursday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Art Crawl), Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, and Sunday, Nov 9 from 12-4 p.m. The show benefits Friends of Franklin Parks, the Chestnut artists, and a small portion goes to The Chestnut Group organization.
Chestnut members have captured scenes and the seasons at several of Franklin’s most beloved parks, including Harlinsdale Farm, Fort Granger, Eastern Flank, Pinkerton and more in preparation for the show. Visitors can expect to see a variety of landscapes, historic structures, wildlife and engaging natural scenes. Several paint out events, where Chestnut Group members gather in a specific part of the park to paint, and the pieces will allow attendees to see these moments captured through the artists’ eyes and talents.
“Painting the Parks gives our artists an incredible opportunity to capture the wide variety of scenes cared for by the Franklin Parks Department, ” said Judson Newbern, President of Community Outreach for The Chestnut Group. “The changing seasons and lighting at Harlinsdale Farm alone could inspire compositions for years to come.”
The event is free and open to the public, with participating Chestnut artists generously donating a portion of their sales to benefit Friends of Franklin Parks and its mission: to preserve Franklin’s cultural and natural resources, enhance the park and trail experience, and expand its legacy for future generations.
This year’s Art Show & Sale will be co-chaired by artists Lisa Fallon and Katherine Raymond. In an exciting first, the exhibition will also be part of the Franklin Art Crawl on Friday, November 7.
The event is free and open to the public, taking place November 6–9, 2025, at the historic Hayes House, 331 Franklin Road in Franklin. Parking will be available. For details, visit https://www.friendsoffranklinparks.org/paintingtheparks.
About Friends of Franklin Parks
Friends of Franklin Parks exists to cultivate stewardship within our community to preserve our cultural and natural resources, conserve public open spaces, enhance the park and trail experience, and expand its legacy for future generations.
About The Chestnut Group
Founded in 2001 as a non-profit alliance of outdoor painting enthusiasts, The Chestnut Group has raised more than a half-million dollars for preservation partners through the sale of members’ work. The organization welcomes painters of all skill levels and mediums. For more information, go to www.chestnutgroup.org
