Meet the NNAC Team

Founder
Elisheba Israel Mrozik is a fine artist and International award-winning Tattooist. In 2011, Elisheba became the first licensed black tattoo artist in Middle Tennessee and opened One Drop Ink Tattoo Parlour and Gallery. Now, the 2020 Nashville Emerging Leader Award winner is shifting her focus to providing fine art with community purpose in the form of large scale public art and community engagement. Elisheba’s purpose is to leave a sustainable and substantial impact organization to those creatives in need in a place she loves.

Angela McDowell is the founder of I Love Paperwork, LLC, a literary service provider for grant writing, academic research and papers, and assistance on forms and applications. A Fisk University alum, Angela is deeply involved in the creative community, serving as Secretary for the North Nashville Arts Coalition and as an Artistic Evaluator for the Minnesota State Arts Board. She is a gifted writer and self-described and self-authorized veteran 37208 performing artist and culture bearer.Emerging Leader Award winner is shifting her focus to providing fine art with community purpose in the form of large scale public art and community engagement. Elisheba’s purpose is to leave a sustainable and substantial impact organization to those creatives in need in a place she loves.

Drew Lamb has a heart for the community around him and the path it took to get where he is. After graduating from Belmont in 2014, Drew worked for the signature bank of Nashville Avenue Bank as a Concierge Banker, building relationships in the bank and the surrounding community. When Avenue Bank sold, he followed some fellow Avenue alumni to Vanderbilt to pursue his Master’s in Accountancy and ultimately become a CPA and starting his accounting firm KLLW focused non small businesses and non profit accounting.

Matthew is the founder and lead vocal for MD and Cobalt Blue, a band often recognized for their support of Reggae Music and Caribbean Culture in our city. He is a pillar of the music community and invested in the thriving culture of North Nashville. Matthew was honored for his musical endeavors and contributions to our communities and society by the Tennessee Rhythm and Blues Society in conjunction with the Mayor's Office. He was voted Professor of the Year at Fisk University, after working his way up from an adjunct instructor to a full time lecturer assigned to Religious Studies/ Philosophy and earned his Masters in Theological Studies from Vanderbillt University.

Katie Delmez has been a curator at the Frist Art Museum since 2001. She has organized numerous exhibitions including LeXander Bryant: Forget Me Nots; Terry Adkins: Our Sons and Daughters Ever on the Altar (with Jamaal Sheats, Director and Curator, Fisk University Galleries); Murals of North Nashville Now; We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957–1968; Nick Cave: Feat.; The Prison Industrial System: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick.
She was also the curator of a major retrospective on photographer Carrie Mae Weems that traveled to four venues, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Ms. Delmez has been the editor of several accompanying books and overseen the presentation of more than 35 touring exhibitions at the Frist. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Boston University.

After earning her degrees at Washington University in St. Louis (B.F.A. Painting) and University of Tennessee, Knoxville (M.F.A.Painting), Lakesha completed her education studies at Lipscomb University (M.Ed Instructional Practice). Lakesha has worked in the North Nashville community in both Metro Nashville Public Schools as a secondary art teacher. Following her time in MNPS, she served as Assistant Professor and Art Education Coordinator in Tennessee State University’s Art & Design Department. Currently, Lakesha is the Gallery Coordinator at Fisk University. She has a strong commitment to mentorship, youth empowerment and has had the privilege of leading art workshops and giving talks to all ages. Her work can be found at www.lakeshasmoore.com

Joseph Bazelais is a small business & relationship coach with a focus on social enterprises and nurturing healthy relationships. In the years of 2014 – 2019 he became rooted as a change agent in North and South Nashville, particularly throughout District 19.
His skills include cultural programming, mediation, facilitation and community engagement. Joseph is a co founder of several rising initiatives including Ether Collective, The Water Bear Co-op Land Trust, The Jefferson Street Art Crawl (now the NNAC) and Kwanzaa Nashville.
His mission is to cultivate leaders in holistic communities and teach habits that support sustainable relationships.

ArJae “Sensei” Thompson is an aesthete, multi-disciplinary creator and culture keeper, esoactivist and Fiskite hailing from Orlando, Florida.
Check out this feature on PBS' Arts Break- ArJae Thompson: The Liberation of Art !
"Norf Nashville-based multidisciplinary artist ArJae Thompson discusses how they use murals, paintings, and animation to inspire and celebrate their community. ArJae is particularly interested in motivating and depicting those who have fought for the rights, freedom and liberation of others."

Robert Jones is an artist, musician, and entrepreneur. In 2018 He founded his arts and picture framing business Overton Arts, with an emphasis on community support and engagement. He also works as the building manager at the 100 Taylor Arts Collective.

Gerika Ross is a Renaissance woman --from screenprinting to teaching tye dye classes, assisting in murals and planning/executing NNAC events. She always keeps her cool and stays involved in her community as an artist , mother and facilitator while finding time to dance and give be best hugs in the city.

Cait is an artist and advocate for inclusive access to art and especially loves mediums in public art spaces pushing thought-provoking themes and creativity to the masses. Miss Mello always keeps time carved out for community murals and serving as an Artist in Residency for the Metro Public School system and was named Nashville’s 2023 Creative Arts Innovator by Creative Girls Rock.
She is committed to collaborative, community-lead energy into all aspects of her professional and artistic life, as you can see in her portfolio of work at www.mellocreative.com