At their March 17 meeting, the Metro Nashville Arts Commission (“Metro Arts”) approved a citizen panel’s selections of artist finalists to create site-specific public artworks at the forthcoming Donelson branch of the Nashville Public Library (NPL). After scoring more than 100 eligible artist submissions, narrowing the field to semifinalists for each project, and conducting in-depth interviews, the citizen selection panel of Donelson-area residents and stakeholders selected artist team Wowhaus to create an artwork for the building’s exterior plaza, while Nashville interdisciplinary artist Amber Lelli will create a suspended artwork inside the new branch library.
The artist team of Wowhaus, a collaboration between Scott Constable and Ene Osteraas-Constable, embraces a systems-based, community engaged approach, finding inspiration in the cultural, historical and ecological factors that shape a sense of place.
"We are honored to be selected for this exciting commission and look forward to creating engaging artwork that becomes a beloved community hub and landmark for the Donelson Library," said the Wowhaus team.
Metro Arts’ call for a suspended, interior artwork was reserved exclusively for artists in Nashville-Davidson County and surrounding counties. Local interdisciplinary artist Amber Lelli grew up watching Donelson grow and change along with Nashville. For Lelli’s family, the library represents the transformative power of literacy.
“It’s an honor to be selected for this opportunity! As a longtime Middle Tennessee resident, I have many fond memories in Donelson,” said Lelli. “To be able to invest my skills back into this city and library means so much to me. The power of books is inspiring and can be witnessed in my family’s history, from my grandmother who never got past first grade, to my mother, who, through a love of books, worked to become an editorial director. And now to me, who in three generations gets this opportunity to create a sculpture highlighting this great community and the power of this location. I am looking forward to partnering with local businesses and residents to capture the spirit of Donelson.”
Both artworks at the Donelson library are funded through Metro Nashville’s Percent for Public Art Fund, established in 2000 under Mayor Bill Purcell. This fund allocates one percent of funding for designated projects in the Metro Capital Improvements Budget toward the commission of artworks in the Metro Public Art Collection.
“I’m very proud of the citizen panel’s selection of artists that will make our new Donelson Branch Library an even more welcoming, vibrant and engaging town center,” said Donelson Councilmember Jeff Syracuse. “The panel’s time and efforts on behalf of the Donelson community are deeply appreciated, and I look forward to following the creative process and celebrating the installation of these pieces.”
Residents can view examples of the selected artists’ past work, follow the projects’ progress and learn about opportunities to engage with the artists at Metro Arts’ website, social media channels and email newsletter.
About Metro Arts
Metro Arts is the Nashville Office of Arts + Culture. Our mission is to drive a vibrant and equitable community through the arts. Metro Arts strives to ensure that all Nashvillians have access to a creative life, and we work toward this goal through community investments, artist and organizational training, public art and creative placemaking, and direct programs involving residents in all forms of arts and culture. Metro Arts receives operational support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, and additional information is available online at MetroArtsNashville.com.
About Nashville Public Library
Nashville Public Library maintains a collection of 2 million items, including books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, eBooks, and streaming TV, movies, and music. NPL also offers more than 800 public-use computers, free art exhibits, educational programs, events for all ages, online reference assistance, research databases, interlibrary loan and special collections. The Metro Archives, housed at the Main Library, includes 5 million historical documents. Equal access is provided by the Talking Library audio reading service for the print disabled and Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. For more information, call 615-862-5800 or visit library.nashville.org.
Related Images
Above, clockwise from left: Ene Osteraas-Constable and Scott Constable of Wowhaus; Spinradl in Cincinnati; Makkeweks in Oakland, CA; The Golden Spiral in Ewing, NJ. View more at thewowhaus.com.
Above, clockwise from top left: Amber Lelli; Dancing Sound Wave (with artist partners Whitney Proper and Sadie Monroe) at Nashville International Airport; Exploration in Form; Crystal Glaciers installation at Acme Feed and Seed, Nashville.