Cheekwood is a year-round destination with exhibitions, festivals and public programs spanning the indoors and outdoors, so when the dreary Nashville winter weather sets in, guests can enjoy a visit to the historic mansion.
Orchids in the Mansion opens Jan. 29 for the fourth year with whimsical displays of orchids and tropical foliage. Cheekwood is also excited to announce that Orchids will be accompanied by new art exhibitions and a special installation in the mansion during the first months of 2022, as well as four adult workshops, adding to the breathtaking and educational experiences at the botanical garden, arboretum, and museum this winter.
Orchids in the Mansion (Jan. 29 – Feb. 27)
Orchids in the Mansion, Cheekwood’s annual celebration of tropical horticulture, will offer a truly immersive experience this year as guests stroll through a sinuating path in the Loggia framed by a series of large, curved planters with cascading foliage, placing orchids at eye level. Predominantly white Moth orchids are presented with complimentary tropical plants, including several larger palms that punctuate the space. Stylized floral arrangements featuring orchids will adorn the period rooms of the historic Cheekwood Mansion.
Additionally, two workshops will be available during the run of Orchids in the Mansion. Orchid Care 101 will be held virtually on Feb. 5 from 10 – 11 a.m., during which Cheekwood’s VP of Gardens & Facilities will share foundational information on growing orchids and year-round orchid care. Orchid Portraits with Rolinda Stotts will take place Feb. 26 from 1 – 4 p.m. in the Frist Learning Center. During this interactive workshop, Rolinda will guide participants to see orchids with new eyes through an observation activity before creating an orchid portrait. No art experience required.
A Valentine’s Day Wedding Legacy (Jan. 29 – Feb. 27)
Cheekwood will celebrate the 80th wedding anniversary of Huldah Cheek and Walter Sharp with an installation of Huldah’s wedding gown in the drawing room of the mansion where they married on February 14, 1942. The legacy of Huldah and Walter is that of great love and lasting generosity: In 1957, the couple offered for Cheekwood to become a public garden and fine arts center, making the estate, its extraordinary gardens, and buildings, accessible to the public and establishing a new cultural destination in Nashville.
Modern Calligraphy: Reimagining the Handwritten Letter, a two-hour workshop inspired by handwritten letters from the Cheek family during which participants will learn calligraphy basics from local artist Lindsey Huff, will accompany the installation on Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. in the Frist Learning Center.
Spanning the Atlantic: The Arts and Crafts Movement (Feb. 5 – April 10)
The Arts & Crafts movement was an international trend in the decorative arts that first developed in the British Isles during the 19th century before its influence made its way across the Atlantic to America. The movement stood for traditional craftsmanship, often incorporating medieval, romantic, or folk styles of decoration. Leading examples of works by Charles F. A. Voysey, William Morris, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to name a few, will be included in this two-part exhibition with the American portion on display in the spring of 2023.
The Wildly Weird World of Werner Wildner (Feb. 8 – April 10)
Werner Wildner’s work consists of surrealist images and fantastical meditations that reflect humankind’s desires, vices, and virtues, as well as the 15th century style of Hieronymus Bosch. The artist, who spent considerable time in Nashville, exhibited his first regional solo show at Cheekwood in 1962. Cheekwood is thrilled to offer a look into the wildly weird world of Wildner once again in the mansion’s Graphic Arts Gallery with this unique and thought-provoking exhibition.
Buds, Bark, and Branches! A Wintry Tree ID Tour (Feb. 12)
Take a winter walk and join Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager Shanna Jones on a journey through Cheekwood’s arboretum. Learn how to identify the different tree species through various visual cues that are especially visible in the colder months. The one-hour workshop will meet at the Color Garden entrance on Feb. 12 at 10 a.m.
Admission must be purchased in advance online. For tickets and more information about Cheekwood’s exhibitions and workshops, visit cheekwood.org.
