We Count: First-Time Voters - Frist Art Museum

On August 18, 1920, the Tennessee state legislature voted to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees and protects women’s right to vote. As the 36th state to approve the amendment, Tennessee completed the three-quarters majority needed to make it the law of the land. One hundred years later, this country holds elections with significantly fewer legal restrictions on who is allowed to vote. In attempting to count every person currently living in the United States, including individuals experiencing homelessness, the 2020 U.S. census collected data that will determine the allocation of resources and funding, the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts, and the number of seats representing each state in the U.S. House of Representatives.

We Count: First-Time Voters honored the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment and the importance of civic engagement by highlighting the history of voting in the United States and the first voting experiences of a diverse group of Nashvillians. Five local artists created visual representations of these voting experiences in a variety of mediums.

All artworks appear courtesy of the artists, who retain the copyright to their work. All artwork photography: John Schweikert. Artist headshots: Aisha S. Kaikai (@ishpicturesque)

Click each artist’s name to visit their section of the exhibition.

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Activities and resources

We encourage you to make sure your voice is heard. To view guidelines and requirements for online voter registration in Tennessee, click this ballot box.

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Exhibition gallery

An intricately embroidered portrait comprised of thousands of stitches. It is accompanied by a poem relating to the title of the work, My Existence is Political.

Beizar Aradini, My Existence is Political, 2019. Embroidery thread on fabric, 80 1/2 x 31 1/2 in. Poem by Drenusha Kolshi. Translation by Mimoza Kolshi. Courtesy of the artist. © Beizar Aradini. Photo: John Schweikert

This is a work on fabric. Against a soft green background is a circle in which hands, both black and white, are putting check marks on slips of paper into a box.

M Kelley. Vote (Peace and Participation), 2019. Relief print, thread, and fabric, 48 1/2 x 30 in. Courtesy of the artist. © M Kelley. Photo: John Schweikert

M Kelley. Burn (Action and Incitement), 2019. Relief print, thread, and fabric, 50 3/8 x 30 in. Courtesy of the artist. © M Kelley. Photo: John Schweikert

The visual image of this work, here on a black background, depicts a box that looks like a jail. In it is a paper with a checkmark. A hand appears to be keeping the box anchored to a surface.

M Kelley. Lock (Provocation and Confinement), 2019. Relief print, thread, and fabric, 50 x 30 in. Courtesy of the artist. © M Kelley. Photo: John Schweikert

M Kelley. Unlock (Vision and Struggle), 2019. Relief print, thread, and fabric, 51 x 29 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist. © M Kelley. Photo: John Schweikert

There are five works in this image. They are various impressions of the artist's conversations with first-time voters. One is a sign leading to a naturalization ceremony,They are impressionistic rather than representational. The colors are shades of blue.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jerry Bedor Phillips. they gathered on the streets after the results • we all stood up and said where we came from • our conversation began with tea • she marched in protest then stood in hope • so there I was, in between two countries, on a ferry, from We Count: Four Voices, 2019. Colored pencil on paper, each sheet 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Jerry Bedor Phillips. Photo: John Schweikert

This image is of five more works of the artist's impressions of his conversations with voters. The include depictions of books, shadow figures, a building with flags flying, and hands in the process of braiding or weaving.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jerry Bedor Phillips. as she spoke, different strands of her story became a strong braided band in my mind • they sang of light • existing in a bubble • confronting the fifty-eight • they walked arm-in-arm to hear him speak, their hopes weaving together with each step, from We Count: Four Voices, 2019. Colored pencil on paper, each sheet 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Jerry Bedor Phillips. Photo: John Schweikert

These five works depict images of a hand petting a kitten, kids on bicycles, a close up of a bike wheel bent out of shape, an upside down bike lane sign and a view of what appears to be a park

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jerry Bedor Phillips. thank goodness it was just a wheel • chance encounter on the greenway • make eye contact before crossing • discovering the forgotten/reclaiming the found • watching neighborhoods change, from We Count: Four Voices, 2019. Colored pencil on paper, each sheet 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Jerry Bedor Phillips. Photo: John Schweikert

These works depict a variety of experiences. Seen in this grouping of five works cranes crane, posters - one that says Listen to the World, a chain link fence, a wall of graffitti. All reflect Jerry's impressions of his discussions.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jerry Bedor Phillips. live better • is the sky foretelling our future • listen • capturing a changing city • phantom elegy, from We Count: Four Voices, 2019. Colored pencil on paper, each sheet 15 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Jerry Bedor Phillips. Photo: John Schweikert

Soldiers from past wars are surrounded by yellow and red roses, symbols of the suffrage movement. The words men bear arms, women bear armies are painted above and below the figures of the soldiers.

Thaxton Waters II. Women Bear Armies but Still . . . , 2019. Acrylic on wood, with artificial flowers, 48 x 120 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Thaxton Waters II. Photo: John Schweikert

Beverly Glaze is seen in this painting as a young girl. Sweater over a white turtleneck. She has struck a proud, slightly defiant, pose, hands on hips looking up. She is standing on a HUGE yellow legal pad. It appears as if it is a rug.

Donna Woodley. Meet Beverly Glaze, 2020. Oil on canvas, 67 x 57 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Donna Woodley. Photo: John Schweikert

A mature Beverly Glaze, now all grown up, is standing on the same large legal pad. It appears as if it is a rug. She stands, hands at her sides and is looking up with a smile on her face.

Donna Woodley. Meet Beverly Glaze-Johnson, 2020. Oil on canvas, 67 x 57 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Donna Woodley. Photo: John Schweikert

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Click each artist’s name to visit their section of the exhibition.

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Resources

Talk of the Town: First-Time Voters Art Exhibition NewsChannel5

Talk of the Town: First-Time Voters Art Exhibition

NewsChannel5