Artists Registry
Nashville TN United States
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Artist's Statement
Statement of Work
This is something I have been struggling with for years. As part of a 9th step amends in my recovery process, I offer the following story.
Back in 2001, I was living in Seattle. And like most Americans immediately after 9/11, I felt helpless and wanted to do something. I came up with this idea to create "An American Quilt," where people could put whatever they wanted on an 8"x8" piece of cloth, mail it to me, and I would have them all sewn together in a giant quilt, and displayed somewhere special as a memorial to those who died so needlessly that day.
On September 12, 2001, I sent out an email to my closest friends. They sent it to their friends, who sent it to their friends, and suddenly I was getting 8x8 cloth squares from all across the country. Entire elementary schools were making quilt squares as class projects. I even got squares from children and other compassionate souls from many parts the world. Each one was a tiny piece of art… heartwarming, hopeful, poignant, inspiring… beautiful. The outpouring of response was amazing, but it was also overwhelming, especially to the person I was then.
My friend Andrew's beautiful wife Julie helped me sew together a few of the squares, but since they kept coming, we held off completing the quilt. Weeks later, I moved away. Then I began a long journey away from God, and back to God. This process took me across the country, to New York City, then back “home” to Nashville. All the while I carried the box of quilt squares with me, hoping someday I could put the pieces together.
Having been sober for over 8 years now, I have made many amends, but this one is hard for me. I look at these squares and think of each person who made each one… how they put their heart and soul into each paint stroke, each button sewn, each hand stitched thread, all the while thinking that someone (me) would take it and do with it as promised.
To these people, some of whom are reading this right now, I offer my deepest regrets and sincerest apologies. While others may have forgotten about the American Quilt, it has been on my mind and heart for over 13 years now.
If there's one thing I've learned in recovery, it's never too late to do the right thing. I can ask for help, and I can fulfill my original promise. So I have asked for assistance with creating the quilt (There are over 300 squares in the American Quilt, which means that the quilt will be at least 100 feet by 100 feet), and I am pleased to announce it in now beginning construction in Nashville, TN, with the hopes it will become part of the 9/11 Museum’s Permanent Collection. I am forever grateful to the people who are helping me, as well as the people all over the world who can finally see this project come together.
Thank you for viewing this work in progress! Updates will follow. :)
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With over 20 years experience in entertainment, publishing, hospitality and music, Chuck Hargett began his career in Dallas, Texas as a copywriter/producer for Team & Associates Advertising. He then forayed into music, as Art and Creative Director for Word Entertainment, a division of ABC at the time. At Word, he art directed and/or designed over 200 photo shoots, CD and DVD packages for various artists like Sixpence None the Richer and Amy Grant, as well as thousands of marketing materials in all shapes and sizes.
He left ABC in 1999 to start Hargett Agency, based first in Seattle and eventually Los Angeles. In 2002, he landed a Creative Director position at Daily Variety magazine, where he ran a marketing department of 8 people and helped develop the award-winning trendsetters campaign, an in-house advertising series featuring Hollywood celebrities such as Adrien Brody, Julie Andrews, Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Stan Winston, Donald Trump, Michael Stipe and others.
In 2004, he left his position to concentrate on Hargett Agency, where he not only continued to work with Variety, but also developed branding strategy for other entertainment clients, including Universal Pictures and Paramount Television. In 2005, he was recruited by Variety’s parent company Reed Business Information, to help rebrand five of their retail publications in New York City, where Hargett Agency continued to grow and thrive across the publishing, entertainment, hospitality and music arenas.
In 2008, Hargett fulfilled a lifelong dream of launching his own company, in memory and honor of his mother. Chucklet & Honey (www.chuckletandhoney.com), an online bake-to-mail-order cookie company, was born of this mission, and continues to bring cookies and other baked goods to people all across the United States.
Currently, Chuck Hargett resides in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to design and creative direction, Hargett is currently pursuing a masters in Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lipscomb University.