Edmondson Park
The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission engaged two internationally-known artists, Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley, to create site-specific public art works for the newly revitalized Edmondson Park (overseen by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency). This project honors William Edmondson, a native of Davidson County and a self-taught sculptor. Edmondson was the first African American artist to have a solo exhibition at the New York Museum of Modern Art (1937). Like Edmondson, Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley are self-taught artists. The Metro Arts Teacher Cadre worked together to create two (middle school and high school) standards-aligned, interdisciplinary curriculum units that focus on the new art installation in the revitalized Edmondson Park in Nashville. The lesson plans are shared to benefit Nashville-area teachers and others throughout the Tennessee and the surrounding region.