Students Honored for Artwork in Downtown Installation

From Metro Nashville Public Schools

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For more than five weeks this summer, artwork by MNPS students was visible for all to see at the new Fifth + Broadway mixed-use development in downtown Nashville.

Art in Motion, a 5-minute light and sound installation featuring bold and beautiful student work, was projected on the 501 Commerce building multiple times each night from June 25 to July 31, thanks to an ongoing partnership between MNPS and Brookfield Properties, which donated $20,000 to the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Department earlier this year.

On Saturday, the district and Brookfield Properties recognized the students during a lunch provided by The Pharmacy Burger on the 11th floor of 501 Commerce. Brookfield gave each student a $200 gift card to Plaza Art, an announcement that drew cheers from students, parents, and MNPS art teachers.

“It is our great pleasure to recognize the immense talent of Metro Nashville Public Schools students and provide them a platform at Fifth + Broadway,” said Tom Miller, general manager of the development. “As a community member, we recognize a big part of what makes Nashville special is its incredible artists and creatives – and with the talents of these young artists, we see that future is very bright. We look forward to continuing to partner with MNPS and its students to create opportunity.”

Jeff Smith, MNPS’s director of Visual and Performing Arts, said the Brookfield Properties partnership and donation will continue to pay dividends with the hiring of six teaching artists. Each of the artists will teach 30 hours with two different high school art classes “to elevate and further art education in those schools, with an emphasis on social impact.”

“Today we recognize not only our partnership but the fabulous work of these students; their parents, who have invested in them; their teachers, who have invested countless hours beyond what they get paid for; and the many partners to the city who are working to make sure this is not just Music City, this is Music and Arts City,” Smith said.

The students involved in Art in Motion were Saida Bolduc (MLK); Selena A. Camargo (Antioch); Kelly Castlen (McGavock); Alice Castro-Rendon (Goodlettsville Middle); Sandra Garfias (Maplewood); Jade Gordon (East Nashville); Shatorria Harris (Stratford); Bethany Hemphill (Overton); Genesis Ike (East Nashville); Yen Le (Overton); Donovan A. Martin (Antioch); Riley McDowell (Hillsboro); Samantha Palma (Hunters Lane); Genesis J. Cortez Rivera (Cane Ridge); Lynn Vu (Overton); Amelia Wang (MLK), and Kiera White (Rose Park).

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