Ami Hanna-Huff visited #TheTNPlaylist to read her poem, “Aretha, Tina, and Bessie Smith.”
Aretha, Tina, and Bessie Smith
I became tethered to Tennessee the moment
Hazel Irene became conceived
in the Chattanooga choo choo.
Bessie Smith hailed
from those same mountains, and I
imagine her words in congruent
with my great-granny’s, the hills capture
them through close watchful eyes;
they whisper. When
I went and stood up on
some high old lonesome hill,
I saw giant men dash
among the trees,
I prayed to them.
Attached and formed
at the roots.
A matriarchal methodology,
sinful under
the patriarch’s gaze, and
Tina prayed for her out.
A voice
with power is all I ever wish
for on that North Star. People still gossip
of Turner’s exodus off those quiet
Haywood County streets. Twenty-five
speed limits, church on Sundays,
bible belted with silver studs.
Well, Satan got mad,
and he knows I'm glad.
Queen of Soul incarnated
from Mary’s sacred heart.
Memphis, a prophecy
for Black excellence,
a dream of home
across waters.
Museum in Snow on January 15, 2024
The Tennessee State Museum will be closed Tuesday, January 16 due to weather. ❄️ Keep safe and warm, and stay tuned for further updates. Thank you to our friends and neighbors at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park for braving the snow to get this lovely video!
Building a Bright Future Opens June 16, 2023
"Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee" opens this Friday, June 16 at the Tennessee State Museum. This Nashville Public Television spot provides a preview of some of the schools and communities included in the exhibition.
Learn more: https://tnmuseum.org/building-a-bright-future
Southeastern Indian Beaded Coat on Special Display
Now on special temporary display is a Southeastern Indian beaded coat from our collection. Made of deer hide with fringe along the collar and bottom, its style is a blend of European influence — with the cut of the coat being European-style — and traditional Cherokee details in the beadwork. This original coat, which will be on display until the end of December, replaces the replica typically on view. See it now in the Trail of Tears display in the "Forging a Nation" exhibition. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
The cutaway log cabin in our Forging a Nation exhibition (1760 to 1860) provides a glimpse into the lives of early Tennessee settlers. In this video, Jennifer Watts explains how a spider pot was used by those on the frontier to help regulate cooking temperatures before the invention of electricity. Come see more artifacts from the era with free admission at the Tennessee State Museum.
Sylvia Hyman's "The Great Eggscape"
It may not be the Easter Bunny, but we did spot some sneaky eggs making a break for it in the "Art After 1900" exhibition with Sylvia Hyman's piece, "The Great Eggscape." 🐣 #EasterBunnyHunt
While the Museum is open today on Good Friday, we will be closed this Sunday, April 17 for Easter. Plan your visit: https://tnmuseum.org/plan-your-visit
"The Tortoise and the Hare" by Russ Jacobsohn
This rabbit was so fast, we almost didn't spot him! 🐰 It must be because Russ Jacobsohn's carved rocking horse sculpture illustrates the Aesop's fable race between "The Tortoise and the Hare." Maybe this is the Easter Bunny we've been looking for. . .? #EasterBunnyHunt
Could William Edmondson's "Rabbit" Sculpture be the Easter Bunny? 🐰
We are on a hunt for the Easter Bunny 🐰 in our galleries! Do you think this "Rabbit" sculpture by William Edmondson could be him? The rabbit does appear to be wearing a bow tie. . . Let's see what other bunnies we can find at the Museum before Easter. #EasterBunnyHunt
The Queen of Rock and Roll Tina Turner was born in Nutbush, Tennessee in 1939. Museum educator Mamie Hassell explains her history and showcases Tina Turner's performance dress on display in our Tennessee Transforms exhibition. Be sure to join us for our final weekend of Women's History Month Tours tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., where we highlight women of all backgrounds that have helped shape the state of Tennessee.
Richard Poynor Chair Part of the Black Craftspeople of Tennessee Tour
Formerly enslaved craftsman Richard Poynor was one of Williamson County’s most prolific and distinctive chair makers. Museum Educator Stephanie Davis explains how he used this talent to purchase his freedom and possibly that of his wife Millie. See one of his chairs on display and learn more with one of our Black Craftspeople of Tennessee Tour, where we will highlight some of Tennessee’s finest craft artists, including William Edmondson and Lewis C. Buckner. These free tours are happening every Saturday in February starting at 11:00 a.m.
Best of Tennessee Craft Exhibition Closes Soon
Final week! Don’t miss the Best of Tennessee Craft 2021 Biennial exhibition. This weekend will be your final chance to see this selection of work by top craft artists from across Tennessee. Admission is free, so make plans to visit! #BestofTNCraft