Metro Nashville Arts Commission (Metro Arts) has announced the selection of six artists for the upcoming public art project, Watermarks, a multi-site installation commemorating the neighborhood impact and citizen response of the historic 2010 floods.
Earlier today, the Arts Commission granted final approval to the following list of artists:
- Michael Allison (Joelton, Tenn.)
- Lee and Betty Benson (Jackson, Tenn.)
- Derek Coté (Nashville)
- Christopher Fennell (Birmingham, Ala.)
- Buddy Jackson (Nashville)
- Craig Nutt (Kingston Springs, Tenn.)
The Watermarks selection process began in 2011 with a regional (250-mile radius) call for artist qualifications (RFQ), followed by a review of submissions by a citizen selection panel and approval by the Public Art Committee prior to final approval by the Arts Commission. Installation for the six pieces is expected in the summer of 2013.
"This public art installation is a fitting way t o commemorate how the Nashville community generously responded to the countless needs of friends, neighbors and even strangers during the 2010 floods," Mayor Karl Dean said. "Our collective stories of the flood will be available for generations to come through the interpretations of these artists."
Metro Arts announced a series of community meetings in February where the Watermarks project artists will meet with neighborhood residents where the art will be installed. The locations and the respective artists for the public art are Antioch Community Center (Allison), Harpeth Knoll Park (Nutt), Hartman Park (Jackson), Shelby Bottoms (Fennell), Two Rivers Park (Cote) and West Park (Bensons).
The community meetings schedule is:
Hartman Park: 6 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6, Hartman Community Center, 2801 Tucker Road;
West Park: 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, West Park Community Center, 6105 Morrow Road;
Harpeth Knoll Park: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13, Bellevue Recreation Center, 656 Colice Jeanne Road;
Antioch Community Center: 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16, Antioch Community Center, 5023 Blue Hole Road;
Shelby Bottoms: 6 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27, Shelby South Recreation Center, South 20th Street at Shelby Avenue;
Two Rivers Park: 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28, Donelson Library, 2315 Lebanon Road.
The series of meetings are intended for community members to share their stories and experiences during the May 2010 floods to inform the artists, who will create their designs/artworks.
"The Watermarks project presents a wonderful opportunity to expand our Public Art collection, initiate opportunities for emerging local artists and celebrate the actions of our neighborhoo ds and residents during the flood through art," said Jennifer Cole, executive director of Metro Arts.
About the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission
The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission is a commission of the Metropolitan Nashville Government, established to provide leadership that stimulates and advances the arts to enrich the human experience for the community. Additional information about the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission is available online at www.artsnashville.org.
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