Hidden Treasures on Display at the State Museum During March
Nashville, Tenn.--- February 13, 2008 --- A special exhibition showcasing Tennessee’s unique art and cultural treasures will be held at the Tennessee State Museum this spring. A joint project with the Tennessee General Assembly Arts Caucus and Tennesseans for the Arts, Treasures from the Vault: Tennessee Artifacts — Legislator’s Choice, opens on March 4 in the changing galleries at the State Museum.
The exhibit will include rare treasures from the museum’s collections selected by the caucus members. Each artifact will be accompanied by the caucus member’s statement discussing the artifact’s merit as part of Tennessee’s heritage.
“It has been an exciting and educational process for the members of the Arts Caucus to work with the Tennessee State Museum and choose artifacts for this exhibit,” Art Caucus chairman Representative Doug Overbey ((R-Maryville) noted. “By involving members of the General Assembly in the planning of the exhibit, the State Museum allowed us a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the incredible collection that is housed at the Museum. It also was a great honor to select what would be on display from our home districts. The exhibit will provide an opportunity for Tennesseans who visit the Museum this spring to see important pieces normally not on public display, and the selections made by the individual Arts Caucus members will provide insight into our varied interests.”
Highlights of the exhibit include the 1977 Pulitzer Prize Special Award Alex Haley received for his novel, Roots. Haley (1921-1992), a celebrated, though sometimes controversial, author was renowned for Roots: The Saga of An American Family. The book achieved great commercial success and became a cultural phenomenon. Representative Steve McManus (R-Cordova) said he selected this object because: “This Pulitzer Prize demonstrates the national prominence achieved by Tennessee author Alex Haley. Literary artists like Haley have enriched the culture of our state and nation. Their works inspire our imaginations and provide insight into the human condition.”
An early 1900s sales sample case from the Blue Ridge Glass Corporation of Kingsport was chosen by Representative Nathan Vaughn (D-Kingsport). “Some may question the artistic value of a plain box, but let me explain its significance,” said Vaughn. “The box is simple in its design and has no ornate decorations to add value. It reflects a blue-collar manufacturing community and the straightforward approach to how business was conducted. Another reason this box is so attractive as an artistic representation of Tennessee and its people is that it is from my hometown, the hard-working manufacturing community of Kingsport, Tennessee.”
Selected objects included in the Treasures from the Vault exhibition represent the museum’s diverse collection of antiquities, art, textiles, important military objects and other genres. Among the items to be presented are a carving titled, The Foundations of Tennessee by folk artist Roy Pace of Greenbrier celebrating Tennessee’s 200th birthday; an 1830s Jackson press made of cherry and tulip poplar woods; and a bench carved by David Crockett, frontier hero and Tennessee politician, for a county courthouse, circa 1817.
“The word ‘Treasures’ is particularly meaningful to the staff here at the State Museum,” Lois Riggins-Ezzell, Executive Director of the Tennessee State Museum said. “We consider ourselves the caretakers of Tennessee’s finest collections of art, furniture, artifacts, crafts, military objects, textiles, flags . . . the list goes on. Unfortunately, due to extremely limited space, we are not able to display more than five percent of our collection at any given time. Thousands of artifacts are tucked away in storage, buried in our vaults. From time to time, we are able to bring these items out of storage and present them to the public. Our forthcoming exhibition has given us a fresh opportunity to do just this.”
Treasures from the Vault: Tennessee Artifacts — Legislator’s Choice opens at the State Museum on March 4 and continues through March 31, 2008. The Tennessee State Museum is located at Fifth and Deaderick Streets in downtown Nashville. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum, which is closed on Mondays, is free to the public.
About the Tennessee General Assembly Arts Caucus
In 2005, House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh (D) Covington and then Lt. Gov. John Wilder (D) Mason assisted with the creation of an Arts Caucus within the Tennessee General Assembly. Both Naifeh and Wilder served as the first two founding members. Today the Arts Caucus boasts a membership of 35 House and Senate members and is led by Representative Doug Overbey (R) Maryville.
“The Arts Caucus helps facilitate valuable policy discussion on the importance of the arts in our state. The arts have an economic impact on our communities, define who we are culturally and should be part of nearly every policy discussion that takes place in the General Assembly. I am proud to serve as the Chair of this group because I believe the Caucus helps all members of the General Assembly stay informed about the many positive aspects of and the enormous impact of the arts on our citizens.” -- Representative Doug Overbey (R) Maryville, Chair of the Tennessee General Assembly Arts Caucus.
For more information please visit: www.tn4arts.org/ad_caucust.htm
For further information
Contact: Mary Unobsky
Mary.Unobsky@state.tn.us