David Heustess is an artist and arts educator in Nashville TN and he enjoys making work from clay, fibers and off loom bead weaving.  David began his art career in musical theater which led him to pursue a career in modern dance. From 1982 - 1988 he performed with Dance Central with choreographers Mary Ann Mee and Kathryn Horn in Charlotte, NC. Working with Mee and Horn allowed David to learn the classics of the masters, especially the work of Charles Weidman and Doris Humphreys, while creating new roles under the direction of Mee and Horne. One of the highlights during this time was being a part of the first fully staged revival of Charles Weidman’s “Bach Christmas Oratorio”.
From 1988 - 1992, David danced with The Tennessee Dance Theater under the direction of Donna Rizzo and Andrew Krichels in Nashville TN. This experience allowed him to continue performing the roles of Humphrey/Weidman, to expand his repertoire in other modern dance masterworks and creating original roles for the company.

Shortly after moving to Nashville, David began to take pottery classes and in 1992 took a “leap of faith” by enrolling in the BFA program at Tennessee Technological University’s Appalachian Center for Crafts. After completing his degree in 1995 with studio concentrations in clay and fiber arts, David returned to Nashville and began teaching at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum, The Nashville Institute for the Arts, Sarratt Art Studios at Vanderbilt University and other community arts-based programs.  In 2003 David became Assistant Director for Visual Arts at Vanderbilt University where he directs the art classes and gallery for The Office of the Dean of Students. Fall 2021 marks David’s 25th year of working for the university. His passion for teaching and making art work has allowed him the opportunity to share a variety of mediums with students from all parts of the Nashville community.

David has exhibited his work through local and regional exhibit including: Nashville International Airport’s “Flying Solo” series, ArtFields 2015, artclectic - an annual art event at Nashville University School, and The American Artisan Festival.

Follow David on Instagram at Follow The Spiral Studios.