Nashville: Cheekwoods gardens open for free Monday

The Tennessean: Cheekwoods gardens open for free Monday
Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art opens its gates free to the public Monday.
www.cheekwood.
HCA/Tristar is sponsoring Summertime at Cheekwood.

On Monday, visitors can enjoy exhibitions and events that include:
The "Trains! Tennessee in G" outdoor exhibition takes visitors across Tennessee with model trains, miniature representations of the state’s historic landmarks, and colorful gardens. The buildings have been intricately handcrafted using natural materials, including twigs, bark, leaves, acorns and pebbles. The landscape is made up of more than 2,500 tiny trees, shrubs, groundcovers and flowering plants in 250 varieties.

Between 10 a.m. and noon, families can stop by Cheekwood’s studio in the Frist Learning Center and create their own ‘’Trains inspired’ art project.
Inside, 43 key paintings and sculptures by 31 of the most celebrated artists who came to maturity in the 1950s are on display in the exhibit, Modern Masters from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The show examines the complex and varied nature of American abstract art in the mid-20th century.

Also on exhibit are selections from Cheekwood's collection of William Edmondson. Born to former slaves on a plantation south of Nashville in 1874 , Edmondson taught himself to carve tombstones and became one of the most celebrated African-American sculptors of the 20th century.

This is also one of the last chances to view the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation Collection of Fabergé; Among the world’s most significant compilations of Fabergé pieces, the collection includes more than 50 rare pieces highlighted by three Russian Imperial Easter eggs. The exhibition closes June 5.


Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum on the historic Cheek estate. It is at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. For further information call 615-356-8000 or visit www.cheekwood.