| In the mid-90s, Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art broadened its commitment to contemporary art. At the time, only a few galleries and alternative spaces in Nashville offered venues for contemporary artists to exhibit. Artists-run spaces frequently came and went, and commercial galleries such as Zeitgeist and TAG were in their infancy. Against this backdrop, Cheekwood launched their contemporary art programs. These programs include the Temporary Contemporary series, Installation Galleries, temporary traveling exhibitions and the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail. |  |
Cheekwood and Nashville’s Contemporary Art Scene – Adam T. McCoy
In the mid-90s, Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art broadened its commitment to contemporary art. At the time, only a few galleries and alternative spaces in Nashville offered venues for contemporary artists to exhibit. Artists-run spaces frequently came and went, and commercial galleries such as Zeitgeist and TAG were in their infancy. Against this backdrop, Cheekwood launched their contemporary art programs. These programs include the Temporary Contemporary series, Installation Galleries, temporary traveling exhibitions and the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail.
Cheekwood established the Temporary Contemporary series in 1996 with the mission to exhibit innovative, thought-provoking and influential emerging and mid-career artists. From the outset, this series galvanized the Nashville art scene. At the time, it provided the only venue for artists and patrons in much of Tennessee, Southern Kentucky and Northern Mississippi to see work by influential living artists. Exhibitions included work by Roe Ethridge, Kojo Griffin, Kendall Buster, Kerry James Marshall and Radcliffe Bailey. In addition, locally and regionally prominent artists such as Greg Pond, Adrienne Outlaw, Carol Mode and Lain York exhibited in the series. By 2000, attendance at openings swelled to between 300 and 400 people. For artists, this series offered another opportunity: unlike solo exhibitions in many commercial galleries, Cheekwood encourages artists to experiment rather than focus on a project’s marketability. In 2007, the series continues to adhere to its founding principle. Upcoming artists include Dan Steinhilber and Iona Rozeal Brown.
In 1998, Cheekwood renovated a stable complex located adjacent to the historical house. This created a new set of exhibition spaces called the Installation Galleries. Formerly horse stalls, these spaces now serve as new media galleries with a focus on video art. Started with support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, this program is one of the first and most prominent video exhibition programs in the southeastern United States. Past shows have included works by established video artists like Gary Hill, Bill Viola, William Kentridge, Pipilotti Rist as well as emerging artists Kristin Lucas, John Pilson and Harell Fletcher. This exhibition series has served as a valuable teaching tool; classes from regional universities as well as many area high schools frequently visit these galleries. Beginning in 2007, Cheekwood will present a yearly emerging video artists exhibition.
Although the woodland landscape and lush gardens figure prominently into Cheekwood, the art and gardens, for many years, seemed to exist in separate but equal spheres. This changed in the late 90s when Cheekwood established the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail. Beginning near the contemporary galleries, the trail snakes through the forest and offers a synthesis of art and nature. Currently, 15 works line the approximately half-mile walk. The trail includes works by George Rickey, Ian Hamilton Finley, Siah Amajani, Jenny Holzer, Mel Chin and James Turrell.
Besides the perennial contemporary programs, Cheekwood also frequently hosts traveling exhibitions of contemporary art. Recently, Cheekwood hosted “Material Terrain: A Sculptural Exploration of Landscape and Place,” organized by International Artists and Arts, and “100 Artists See God,” curated by John Baldessari and Meg Cranston. In addition, Cheekwood has organized exhibitions from the permanent collection such as “Bats, Dogs, Trophies and More Dieter Roth Prints, Drawings and Books.”
Since Cheekwood first launched its contemporary art programs, Nashville’s art scene has changed dramatically. More galleries and alternative art spaces have opened in the heart of downtown, and the preexisting galleries have grown and moved to prominent new locations. Another important addition to Nashville was the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Since the Frist opened in 2000, it has presented important traveling exhibitions. Watkins College of Art and Design has also influenced numerous artists. Students and professors have organized into guerrilla artists groups like Off the Wall, NYM and Secret Show. Lastly, the Fugitive Curatorial Projects (formerly the Fugitive Art Center) bring experimental artists from across the United States to Nashville to create projects. In spring 2007, they plan to host a video and new media art festival. In just over a decade, the Nashville art scene has grown from a smattering of isolated contemporary events to a dynamic schedule of exhibitions.
