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In Memoriam of John Ashworth

In Memoriam of John Ashworth
November 2nd, 1946 – September 5th, 2021
Chair of Visual Arts and Filmmaking

Many of you knew John Ashworth as the Chair of Visual Arts and Filmmaking program at the TN Governor’s School for the Arts for the last many years. John’s true calling was teaching in every aspect of life.

After graduating from Fisk University in 1968 as an art major, John began his career influencing and inspiring students by taking a job at Cameron High School. He later moved to McMurray Middle School and eventually landed at Overton High School. He taught art and commercial art classes with a healthy dose of humor, innovation, and motivation.

While helping many of his students realize that they could apply and attend the top art colleges in the country, John found himself on a new path beginning a position with the School of the Visual Arts in New York City. He eventually became the Director of Portfolio Development and traveled around the country offering words of encouragement as well as practical advice to students.

In 1987, John joined the newly created Tennessee Governor’s School for the arts as a drawing instructor. This allowed him to impact students not only in the Metro Nashville area, but students from across the state. Eventually, the chair of the Visual Arts program stepped down and John became the official chair. Just like during his portfolio development days, John made sure that all students across the state could feel empowered to apply for the program. Often at adjudications he would find the quietest shyest student and sit with them and find their worth, even when they didn’t see it.

John recognized a side of art not being offered as part of the Visual Art curriculum, and in the early 2000s he started the first Filmmaking program. John worked hard each summer to support the film students often driving them all over the city so they could get their film in the can.

You could always count on John to be tinkering and creating an invention to do something practically such as creating art portfolios for students to carry their art. He could be seen walking down the hallways, listening to the classrooms, often with a little chuckle or sometimes with his brows caving in as he thought deeply about what was being created. Countless students in both the Visual Art and Filmmaking programs would not have made it into their art schools and art professions without the inspiration of John. He had a way of making you feel like you could do anything. We hope his memory will inspire everyone to help others reach their full potential and to always think outside the box. Rest in peace John.