CHEEKWOOD ANNOUNCES STEVE TOBIN: SOUTHERN ROOTS
Major outdoor and indoor exhibition debuting Feb. 20 at Cheekwood
and downtown Nashville’s Riverfront Park
NASHVILLE, TN. – Acclaimed sculptor and artist Steve Tobin will debut Southern Roots, a solo exhibition of monumental sculptures at Cheekwood opening Feb. 20. The exhibition will also feature a special satellite installation of a Tobin sculpture in downtown Nashville’s Riverview Gardens at Riverfront Park, as part of Cheekwood’s partnership with Metro Parks.
“We are thrilled to host Steve Tobin: Southern Roots as Cheekwood continues to act on its commitment to bring outdoor contemporary sculpture to Nashville,” said Jane O. MacLeod, president and CEO of Cheekwood. “The opportunity to display his work at both Cheekwood and Riverfront Park enables us to reach even larger audiences in sharing the beauty of world-class sculpture within a garden setting.”
Southern Roots will feature monumental outdoor works from Tobin’s Steelroots sculpture series, an evolution of his signature bronze Walking Roots series. The outdoor portion of the exhibition will encompass five areas of Cheekwood’s West Gardens, providing picturesque settings for the sculptures throughout the changing seasons.
In addition to his grand outdoor sculptures of steel and bronze, Tobin creates and sculpts with a variety of natural materials, such as wood, glass, and ceramic, to create dramatic works of art. The Museum of Art indoor exhibition experience will provide visitors the opportunity to view sculptures and installations created from Tobin’s dynamic assortment of materials, all located in the third floor gallery spaces. Tobin’s newest series, using wood from fallen trees in Costa Rica, has never before been exhibited and will be a highlight of the indoor exhibition.
Southern Roots opens to the public Saturday, Feb. 20. with a special lecture by the artist, Steve Tobin, at 2 p.m. Remarks will also be made by Jane MacLeod and the exhibition curator, Brian Downey, Cheekwood exhibitions manager and assistant curator.
Prior to the opening, visitors at this year’s Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville, held Feb. 12 – 14 at Music City Center, will get a first look at a Tobin Roots sculpture, which will eventually make its way to Riverview Gardens. On Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Tobin will lecture on his sculptures at Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film as part of their Visiting Artists Series.
Special programming is also scheduled throughout the spring and summer, including a Tobin-themed weekend during Cheekwood in Bloom, and as part of Cheekwood’s inaugural First Thursdays Evening Series. This new series will provide visitors the opportunity to experience Southern Roots at night with programming for the entire family. To celebrate the exhibition, Cheekwood is also collaborating with contemporary dance collective New Dialect to present a site-specific workshop in the spring and a performance inspired by Tobin’s work in the fall.
The Southern Roots outdoor portion of the exhibition will be on view at Cheekwood and Riverview Gardens until Sept. 4. The indoor portion of the exhibition will be on view until May 29. The exhibition is presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners. For more information, visit www.cheekwood.org.
About Cheekwood
Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate. Its mission is to preserve Cheekwood as an historical landmark where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit. Cheekwood presents world-class art exhibitions, showcases breathtaking gardens, and offers education programs and seasonal festivals to school children and families as well as to the citizens of Nashville and its visitors. Each year, Cheekwood welcomes over 250,000 annual visitors, making it one of the city’s top cultural attractions, with approximately 12,000 member households. Cheekwood is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive, 8 miles southwest of downtown Nashville. Daily hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For further information, call 615-356-8000 or visit cheekwood.org.