Tennessee Women’s Suffrage Mural Project

By Shannon Ford, Director of Community Arts Development –

The Tennessee Arts Commission worked in partnership with DMA-events, Inc. (DMA), to install two murals that commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment and the history of women’s right to vote in the United States and Tennessee in Sweetwater and Lawrenceburg. South Arts awarded the Commission $25,000 in National Endowment for the Arts funding for the projects.

Sweetwater

The Sweetwater mural is entitled “This Girl Can” and was installed by Nashville artist Kim Radford in May 2021. The mural is located at 120 W. Morris St. in Sweetwater and spans the entire length of the two-story building. Students at Sweetwater’s Brown Intermediate School selected the final design from three options in a school-wide election.

Before: 120 W. Morris St, Sweetwater, TN

Lawrenceburg

The Lawrenceburg mural entitled “Wave of Lace” was installed by Oak Ridge artist Megan Lingerfelt in April 2022. The mural is located at 119 E. Gaines St. in Lawrenceburg and spans a 50-foot-long wall. The artist was selected by Lawrence County Schools fifth-grade students from four options in a mock election.

Sponsors

The Women’s Suffrage Mural Project is supported by South Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.