July 16–September 13, 2020
FristArtMuseum.org/TeensTake
Annabelle Parrish. Soaked, 2019. Oil and acrylic on wood, 24 x 24 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Annabelle Parrish 
Bella P. Thought, 2020. Acrylic, paper, and glue on canvas board, 12 x 12 in.
Courtesy of the artist. © Bella P.
Eleanor Taylor. The Survivor, 2020. Ink and acrylic on newsprint, 6 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist.
© Eleanor Taylor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 6, 2020)—The Frist Art Museum presents Teens Take the Frist!, an online exhibition of artworks by local teen artists. Prompted by the vision of inspiring people through art to look at their world in new ways, the exhibition will go live at FristArtMuseum.org/TeensTake on July 16, 2020.
This second edition of Teens Take the Frist! features approximately fifty artworks in a variety of mediums, created by emerging artists from Cheatham, Davidson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties. This exhibition, along with other Frist initiatives like Teen ARTlab and the Teen Arts Action Group, is intended to give individuals ages 13–19 a safe space to express themselves and participate in activities with art professionals. “With many schools shifting to online learning because of COVID-19 restrictions, art has become more important than ever as an avenue of communication and connection,” says Frist Art Museum assistant director for community engagement and exhibition curator Shaun Giles. “The works in this exhibition provide a glimpse into the artists’ personal observations and what is important to them.”
Several of the works in the exhibition were made while in quarantine, including The Survivor by Eleanor Taylor. In her artist’s statement, she writes, “The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the world into turmoil and uncertainty, affecting the lives of billions of people across the globe. And yet, hope remains. This piece shows an image of an old woman smiling over a COVID-19 newspaper article. It is a reminder to smile even during dark times.”
Other works, such as Annabelle Parrish’s Soaked, address universal, social, and personal subjects. In her statement, Parrish writes, “The title Soaked refers to the enveloping of the model with heavy textiles and surrounding her in a waterlike atmosphere, symbolizing how intense pressure can cause one to feel as if they were wearing drenched, heavy clothing.”
The Frist Art Museum extends special thanks to our artists and adult mentors for their guidance and enthusiasm in creating nurturing spaces for our youth to grow: Lesa Dowdy, Victoria Gedvillas, Hatch Show Print, Chelsea Kaiah, Michael Lapinski, Elisheba Israel Mrozik, Niq Tognoni, Christi Underdown-DuBois, and YEAH! Rocks.
Detailed information about the Frist’s reopening, as well as subsequent changes in procedures or restrictions, is available at FristArtMuseum.org/reopening.
Exhibition Credit
Organized by the Frist Art Museum
Supporter Acknowledgment
Our teen programs receive funding from the Robert K. and Anne H. Zelle Fund for the Fine and Performing Arts of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Connect with us @FristArtMuseum #TheFrist #FristTeens #MuseumAtHome
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Buddy Kite: 615.744.3351, bkite@FristArtMuseum.org
Ellen Jones Pryor: 615.243.1311, epryor@FristArtMuseum.org
About the Frist Art Museum
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Frist Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tenn., the Frist Art Museum offers the finest visual art from local, regional, national, and international sources in exhibitions that inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. Information on accessibility can be found at FristArtMuseum.org/accessibility. Gallery admission is free for visitors 18 and younger and for members, and $15 for adults. For current hours and additional information, visit FristArtMuseum.org or call 615.244.3340.
