Windows II - Walter H. Stevens
The Parthenon and Centennial Park Conservancy are proud to present Central South Revisited 1966-1983 in the West Gallery of the Parthenon from Friday, December 10, 2021 through Sunday, March 20, 2022. The exhibition features award winning artwork from the Parthenon’s permanent collection, telling the story of a regional art competition held annually at the Parthenon during the latter part of the 20th century.
“In early 1966, the Parthenon partnered with an artist group known as the Tennessee Art League to establish the Central South Art Competition,” said Mark Medley, Parthenon Curator. “It became a premiere southern art competition, featuring an opening gala and juried exhibition held each spring at the Parthenon for over three decades. Artists of the ‘Central South,’ an area defined as Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Virginia, were invited to submit work for consideration. Art experts traveled to Nashville from across the country to make their selections from sometimes over 600 entries.”
“Central South’s best-of-show prize from 1966 to 1976 was the ‘Parthenon Purchase Award.’ This included a $1,000 purse and the distinction of having the work added to the Parthenon’s permanent holdings. Central South Revisited features Purchase Award winners dating back to 1966 and tells the stories behind the art and the artists. With some pieces out of the vault for the first time in decades, it is a celebration of Nashville’s history, art, and culture.”
Parthenon exhibitions are generously supported in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission, Memorial Foundation, Advance Financial Foundation, and Sandra Schatten Foundation. The content of the Parthenon exhibitions do not necessarily represent the views of our partners.
The Tennessee Art League will be hosting a Central South Revisited Reception on Friday, March, 18th, 2022 from 6 - 8 PM in the Parthenon’s West Gallery. RSVP