On a trip to Boston earlier this year to attend the Main Street National convention, Sarah Callender, executive director of Main Street Murfreesboro discovered an unexpected opportunity. There, she became familiar with a foundation known as The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc.

The Atelier was incorporated to promote the appreciation of, and education about, sculpture and public art, primarily through the creation, maintenance, sales and public placement of J. Seward Johnson Jr.’s artwork.

After learning about the foundation and the steps required to bring some of Johnson’s sculptures to Murfreesboro, Main Street Murfreesboro applied for and received a $5,000 grant from The Tennessee Arts Commission and matching funds from Redstone Federal Credit Union to bring five temporary sculptures into the historic downtown area for three months, making scenes that allow visitors to observe, reflect and create.

Seward Johnson, born in 1930 in New Jersey, lived in London, Bermuda and Paris over the course of his life. Having no formal training beyond a series of classes in Cambridge, Massachusetts, his first cast work of sculpture won an award in a steel art competition that included 7,000 entries. Now famous worldwide for his life-size bronze figurative sculptures, Seward Johnson’s works are exhibited internationally and are included in numerous private collections, museums and public art collections. Johnson’s body of work consists of three distinct series: the Celebrating the Familiar man-on-the-street works; a collection called Icons Revisited, based upon images in the collective unconscious; and the Beyond the Frame series inspired by impressionist paintings.

Currently, those in Murfreesboro can view five Seward Johnson sculptures at Oaklands Mansion, the Discovery Center, the Linebaugh Public Library, the Center for the Arts and near the Rutherford County Courthouse.

“Bringing art downtown is important to me and the Main Street program. I want our historic downtown to be a place-making location that attracts individuals, local and tourists, to walk around and enjoy the beauty of our historic downtown and attractions as well as support small businesses located here,” Callender tells the Pulse. “The locations were chosen based on the amount of tourism and local community events that were held at those areas.”

Passersby are encouraged to observe, reflect and create with prompts at the works of art.

Creating, 1981, The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc., Photo by Ken Yao

Creating is located at Oaklands Mansion. This sculpture is sketching the mansion and encourages people to find their creativity outdoors.

Monet, Our Visiting Artist is located on the Square near Shacklett’s Photography on the corner of Church and East Main streets. Johnson created this sculpture as an homage to the Claude Monet painting Terrace at Sainte-Adresse. It was originally titled Copyright Violation. The bronze figure has since been shown “painting” other inspired scenes in an “art imitating art imitating life” scenario. Here on the Murfreesboro Public Square, Monet captures a scene of the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse and vibrant downtown area.

No Hands, 1987 The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc., Photo by Ken Ek

No Hands, located at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, is focused on children, friendships and playing. Seward Johnson believed in celebrating the little things, from enriching one’s friendships to playing with one’s food.

Seward Johnson, Sidewalk Concert, photo by Bracken Mayo

Sidewalk Concert is located at The Center for the Arts. This sculpture depicts a man playing a violin and a love of performing for the public. Fun fact: the face on the money in the case is the face of the artist.

Seward Johnson, Weekend Painter, 1994 The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc.,
Photo by David W. Steele

Weekend Painter is located at the Linebaugh Public Library.

Another fun fact: All Seward Johnson sculptures start as an 18-inch plasticine maquette with metal armature. The figure is then enlarged to full, life-size scale.

“I want my work to disappear into the landscape and then take a viewer by surprise. After he gets over the shock of being fooled, it becomes an emotional discovery,” Seward Johnson once said regarding his statues. “Then he owns the sculpture. People often revisit their favorites. They become like friends.”