I Am Your Protector: Monuments Project in Nashville

On April 23, 2022, join Millions of Conversations, I Am Your Protector (IAYP), and the Nashville Faith and Culture Center (FCC) at Centennial Park’s Earth Day celebration in Nashville, Tennessee as we examine the meaning of a monument by reclaiming the pedestal.

Monuments and public spaces are a reflection of our society and our values, of what we want to remember, celebrate, emulate and exemplify. This Earth Day, we’re publicly exhibiting six “protector monuments” in Nashville, a day-long event that will include an opportunity to become or nominate a protector yourself.

These monuments, which depict everyday heroes in American life, reclaim the public space for all of us—including people of color, minorities, refugees, immigrants and women—and stand on pedestals to celebrate and elevate them as individuals we can collectively look up to. The sculptures are being created by the artist and sculptor Joseph Reginella, dubbed by the New York Times as “the Banksy of monuments” and Alvin Pettit whose work has been exhibited at the Guggenheim. 

Earlier this year, this traveling exhibit made its first stop in New York City, the home of one of the six protectors depicted. Read more about this previous event at untappedcities.com/2021/09/30/protector-monuments-new-york/&

We hope to see you in Nashville this Earth Day!