A unique sculpture commemorating Juneteenth will soon grace the grounds of Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center located in the northeast corner of Centennial Park. The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation along with the Metro Arts Commission recently approved the acquisition of the sculpture Pathway to a Higher Note, which was created by local glass and mosaic artist, Betty Turney-Turner, and hundreds of community participants.
As part of its Art of Healing Exposition, the Vanderbilt Curb Center for Art, Enterprise & Public Policy commissioned Betty and her team of artists to create a sculpture recognizing the arts and creativity as healing as part of the 2021 Black on Buchanan Juneteenth Celebration.
Pathway to a Higher Note depicts a young boy and girl standing atop a base made from the quilt block designs used to send messages to anyone traveling along the Underground Railroad. Each child proudly wears clothing featuring Adinkra symbols to acknowledge their African heritage. They stand with their arms pointed toward the heavens, forming a heart with the North Star, a symbol of true north and freedom, at its center. In their outstretched hands, the children hold musical notes symbolizing the importance of music to healing, celebration, and faith within Black culture.
Juneteenth attendees selected a tile and wrote the name of an ancestor on its back before affixing the piece to the sculptural form. This experience allowed participants to pay loving tribute to those who came before and use their collective journeys as inspiration for a pathway leading to a brighter future for all.
Details for the sculpture’s installation and unveiling ceremony will be announced at a future date as plans solidify. Metro Parks Visual Arts staff expects the unveiling of the sculpture at Centennial Art Center during the Fall of this year.
Maintenance funding for the sculpture has been generously provided by Creative Parks Nashville and the Centennial Park Conservancy.
Related Images
Pathway to a Higher Note mosaic sculpture by Betty Turney-Turner
Artist Betty Turney-Turner with her sculpture Pathway to a Higher Note
Close up showing the mosaic heart with the North Star, a symbol of freedom