For the unlucky few who don’t know them, I’m pleased to introduce Jen Luna and Emma Levitz.

As artists and friends, the pair has led Art Round TN (the organization that oversees Art Prowl – a massive annual walking gallery showcasing creators and their works in local businesses) through COVID, and despite the challenges associated with it, massive growth. 

“I started as director in early 2020 before we knew Art Prowl would be virtual that year,” Jen explained. “COVID forced us to adapt and if it weren’t for Emma, we wouldn’t have been able to pull it off. She helped with the website and was a board member at the time. Once we got through that event, I thought, ‘We need to hire Emma to do these things for us.’ At the time, I was just Art Prowl Director not Director of Art Round TN, so after we hired her, I moved up to Director of Art Round TN. Then in 2023, we transitioned to co-directors.” Jen continued, “Our membership growth is something I’m really proud of. We have a lot of new members, younger members, and we needed that. Following COVID, a lot of people, with good reason, were hesitant to attend in-person events, but for younger people, it was an opportunity to jump back in. I feel like it gave people the confidence to become members who hadn’t before. We wanted people to realize that you don’t have to be an artist to join Art Round TN. You can be an art appreciator and join as well. Most members are artists so they can take advantage of the opportunities that we provide, but we have art lovers who are members and don’t make art and we’re so glad they’re here ”

On the increased membership under Luna’s leadership, Emma stated, “For context, before Jen joined, we averaged about 40-50 members for years. Within two years of her being hired, we jumped up to 100 members and now we’re at 150. Since COVID, we’ve grown tremendously and it started when Jen joined.“

In March of 2024, Jen stepped down as director (though she’s recently rejoined the board for Art Round), turning over the reins to Emma. When asked about this transition, Levitz celebrated the friendship and framework she built with Luna from 2020-2024. 

“Working with Jen has always been so natural. It feels so complimentary. Our friendship came from this job, so that’s something I’m truly thankful for. When she stepped down, it was a little daunting at first, but because we had done so much work together during our growth period, this last year has felt like we’ve just continued rolling and pushing forward in a streamlined way, making this position easier to take on as a solo person,” Emma reflected. 

As director, Emma sees Art Round as an ever-evolving service for the makers of the Upper Cumberland and beyond.

“In the past, we mostly just organized art fairs – events where the artist could come sell their works. But we noticed after doing that for a while that the artists wanted more knowledge on the business side of things, not just art fairs. So, in 2023 we developed the Art and Business Symposium,” Emma said. “I’ve talked to so many younger artists who love making art and know they have an idea creatively about the kind of work they want to create but have no clue how to do their first event, talk to clients, or sell something online. Having the symposium at the beginning of each year has allowed us to provide a more well-rounded opportunity for the artists who are members of Art Round TN.” 

Beyond being leaders in the creative space, Jen and Emma are both respected artists. During our interview, I asked each to share their primary artistic focus and what’s next for each as creators. 

Emma stated, “I’m a stone carver and I primarily work in marble and limestone. For a long time, I’ve operated under my business, Little Mountain Stone Works making functional stonework and home decor items. Over the last year, I became burned out from making functional pieces and felt like I wanted to be more creative in my studio. I’m excited to step away from Little Mountain Stoneworks to focus on my sculptural pieces. I want to get back into making art for the sake of art and not in production mode, trying to hustle and sell. It’s a different mindset.” 

Jen added, “I’m a textile designer and printmaker. I started my business, Maple Moon Designs to do mostly textile designs and functional work like towels, home decor, etc, and I’m still doing that. In the past couple of years, I’ve gotten more into printmaking with wood carvings. As Emma said, it’s art for the sake of art. It was not my intention, it just sort of happened. There was a lot happening in my personal life and carving felt more fulfilling than sewing at that time for whatever reason. I’m kind of doing both now. The functional work makes more money, but the carvings are more fulfilling for sure.” 

To conclude our interview, Emma shared some advice she had for those considering art as a vocation or hobby.

“Sometimes when you think about being an artist as a career, you either have a picture of someone deep in the struggle, the struggling, starving artist, or you have a picture of the successful gallery artist who has shown all over the world. The reality is that most artists exist in the space between those two extremes. There are so many ways that you can fit art into your life and your career that aren’t necessarily one of those two images.” Emma added, “I hear all the time ‘I could never do that,’ but you can do it, you just have to put the time in and do it. Find how it fits into your life and enjoy it.”

Jen Luna and Emma Levitz are delights. They are energetic, kind, and insanely skilled. 

Every room the pair enters becomes warmer, happier, and more creative.

Getting to celebrate the work they’ve done (largely in the shadows) through Art Round TN, using this magazine as a platform, makes me incredibly proud to be editor. 

Written by Andrew Buckner, photos by Matt Matheson, makeup by Jamhile Eckert, Hair by Emily Bochette