CHEEKWOOD ANNOUNCES TWO NEW GALLERIES HIGHLIGHTING MUSEUM’S PERMANENT COLLECTION OPENING THIS MONTH

Feb. 4, 2021 - NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is thrilled to announce the opening of the Graphic Arts Gallery on Feb. 6 and the Permanent Collection Galleries on Feb. 20, both of which will showcase pieces from the institution’s art collections. As one of the top actively collecting museums in Tennessee, Cheekwood has been eager to dedicate space to showcase its impressive holdings. These new galleries will allow visitors the exciting opportunity to enjoy the depth of Cheekwood’s collections, from newly acquired pieces to works of art that have yet to be displayed since the institution’s inception, some of which can only be shown for a short time before being stored away for preservation again for multiple years due to their fragility and light sensitivity.  

The Graphic Arts Gallery, opening this Saturday, Feb. 6, will specifically feature Cheekwood’s collection of works on paper, including prints, photographs, lithographs, watercolors, pastels and sketches. As works on paper are more vulnerable after periods of exposure, these permanent pieces will be displayed in three rotating exhibitions per year. 

“This new space will provide the unprecedented opportunity for us to share the depth of work from our Print, Drawing and Photography collections with our visitors from Nashville and beyond,” says James W. Tottis, Cheekwood Vice President of Museum Affairs. “It is truly exciting to be in a position to mount three exhibitions annually, each exploring different themes, periods and movements from those collections.” 

The Graphic Arts Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Women to Watch: Celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage, open Feb. 6 through May 2, will feature works by Clare Leighton, Lee Krasner, Barbara Morgan, Ruth Chaney, Laura Grosch, Liliane Lijn, Helen Frankenthaler and Beverly Pepper, many of which have never been displayed since Cheekwood’s inception. The exhibit will highlight the strength of the points of view of the female artist, seeing where those voices resonate and their impact on the canon of art history. Much like the suffragists, the artists in this exhibit fought to have their voices be heard, which were often overshadowed by their famous male counterparts.  

On Saturday, Feb. 20, the newly installed galleries housing the Cheekwood permanent collections of paintings, sculpture glass, silver and ceramics open to the public. Throughout these seven galleries, the relationships between artists working various mediums will be explored. The grand effect of the comprised galleries serves to highlight many of the most significant works and celebrate recently discovered treasures from the museum’s collections that best illuminate the creative spirit prevalent in American Art from the Centennial in 1875 through the mid-20th century. As a collecting institution, works on view will change as new pieces enter the collections and new relationships are explored. Yet, iconic works will always remain, allowing visitors the opportunity to return again and again to enjoy their favorite works. 

Admission must be purchased in advance online. For tickets and more information about Cheekwood’s exhibitions, visit cheekwood.org.  

About Cheekwood  

Cheekwood is considered one of the finest American Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the extraordinary 1930s estate, with its Georgian mansion and 55 acres of cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum with historic rooms and art galleries, showcasing works from its 7,000 permanent collection as well as traveling exhibitions. The property includes 12 distinct gardens and a mile-long woodland trail featuring modern and contemporary outdoor sculpture. Cheekwood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and is a USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden. In 2020, the grounds were awarded a Level II National Arboretum Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. Cheekwood is located just 8 miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. Daily hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For further information, call 615-356-8000 or visit cheekwood.org.  

###