Events and Exhibitions:
Through January 4, 2009 – William Edmondson: The Hand and the Spirit
This outstanding exhibition features selections from Cheekwood's collection, the largest public collection of William Edmondson's work. Born to former slaves on a plantation south of Nashville, Edmondson (1874-1951) taught himself to carve tombstones and became one of the most celebrated African-American sculptors of the 20th Century.
Ongoing – The Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation Collection of Faberge
Among the world’s most significant compilation of Fabergé pieces, the Collection includes 57 rare pieces highlighted by three Russian Imperial Easter eggs, and a number of important functional items, fantasy items and floral works.
April 19 – Sept. 28 – Artists’ Books
In the late nineteenth century, publishers began to employ artists as illustrators. These books were often printed on fine paper and considered luxury items. Over the course of the twentieth century, artists expanded the idea of an “artist’s book” to new levels. This exhibition will include books by artists such as Kara Walker, Stanley William Hayter, Jasper Johns, Richard Diebenkorn, Robert Motherwell, and John Baldessari.
Song Archive Project
April 19 - September 28
German artist Yvonne Buchheim will present a video installation of documentary video of Nashvillians singing old world folk songs handed down through families for generations. Using music, this project will suggest one way culture is received and remembered.
June 28 – September 21 – A Century on Paper
Since Cheekwood was founded, the museum has amassed an excellent collection of twentieth-century works on paper. The exhibition surveys the result of many wonderful gift purchases for the permanent collection. While works by many of the most recognized twentieth-century masters are included, it also provides excellent examples of prints, drawings, and watercolors by either lesser-known or regionally recognized artists. Works range from American Realists such as Reginald March and Isabel Bishop to early Modernist like John Marin and Stuart Davis to Edward Ruscha and David Hockney.
May 24 – September 7 – Happily Ever After
Remember your favorite classic fairy tale? So many of our most beloved tales take place in the meadows, near the ponds, under big trees, in castles, and “homes” in the woods… places just like the gardens at Cheekwood! A mixture of fairy tales, the installation will consist of artfully designed storybook settings, nestled in Cheekwood’s natural landscape.
