Event Quick Facts
Date: Thursday evening, May 7
Time: 6:30 doors; 7:00 pm show
Location: Walnut House, 116 N. Walnut Street in downtown Murfreesboro
Parking: Street parking in the area is free and unlimited on the weekends
Admission: Free; contributions appreciated
Bloom Stage proudly announces its second show of the 2026 season, The Art of Unburdening, a showcase to culminate the recent Rutherford Arts Alliance workshop series of the same name.
Through live music, art, stories, poems, and performance, this show will honor stories of caregiving, especially dementia caregiving, as experienced by local people, including participants and leaders of the workshop series.
The show will feature
music of Kristen Budde,
art by LeeAnn Love,
a story by Lee Ann Hyatt, founder of We Remember You caregiver support organization
dance by Mark Lamb,
poetry by Julie Sunmer,
an improvisational experience led by musicians Liz Johnson and Dave Isaacs,
and a host of caregivers and workshop leaders sharing art, stories, and poems related to their caregiving journeys.
There will also be a short open mic segment. The show is hosted by co-producers Kara J. Kemp and Kory Wells.
The beautiful Walnut House provides an intimate setting for the quarterly Bloom Stage show, creating a space for connection and community. Located at 116 N Walnut Street (off the Square in downtown Murfreesboro), doors at 5:30 pm with libations and light refreshments, and the show starts at 6 pm. The show is free although contributions are appreciated.
About the Art of Unburdening Project and the event organizers
The Rutherford Arts Alliance (RAA), in partnership with We Remember You (WRY), Bloom Stage, and Poetry in the Boro, recently hosted The Art of Unburdening: A Gentle Workshop Series for Caregivers, a six-month series of free, public workshops designed to offer creative and restorative experiences for caregivers in Rutherford County.
Funded in part by an Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, this series invited caregivers, particularly those supporting loved ones living with dementia, to set aside the daily weight of responsibility and reconnect with themselves through the healing power of art. Workshops included printmaking, assemblage boxes, poetry, storytelling, and music making.
Rutherford Arts Alliance
A nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to connecting creatives and community across Rutherford County, RAA promotes the cultural and economic value of the arts while creating opportunities for collaboration, education, and equity.
We Remember You
Founded in 2021, We Remember You provides holistic support to family caregivers of individuals with dementia-causing diseases through education, support groups, private consultations, and community resources.
Bloom Stage
Founded in 2017, the Bloom Stage is a local storytelling and performance series that celebrates the ability of art to honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience.
Poetry in the Boro
A monthly open mic and featured reading series founded in 2016, Poetry in the Boro offers a place for our community’s unique voices and brings inclusive literary arts experiences to the Murfreesboro area.
Banner image: The December 2024 Bloom Stage cast
