Carpenter Art Garden and Local Collaborators Transform Binghampton Lot in Memphis into The Tillman Sculpture Park, an Artistic Urban Greenspace

Tillman Sculpture Garden Phase 1
Tillman Sculpture Park begins to take shape with curving retaining walls, new soil, sod, mulch, and plantings.

Memphis, TN – Carpenter Art Garden, and a team of local artists and residents, ɫèapp architects, landscape designer Greg Touliatos, and Montgomery Martin contractors, are working together to revitalize urban greenspace in Memphis’ Binghampton neighborhood as the vibrant, new Tillman Sculpture Park. The greenspace will be located at the corner of Princeton and Tillman. It is just one block away from Sam Cooper Blvd. and next to the Collage Dance Center. The park will transform a neglected lot–previously obtained by Carpenter Art Garden. It will be a creative and family-friendly space to bring a sense of artistic pride to the neighborhood.

“When complete in the spring of 2024, the park will come alive with winding paths, colorful blooms, unique handmade art sculptures, and an intricate mosaic art tile wall,” says Jazmin Miller, Executive Director of the Carpenter Art Garden, “all crafted by a committed volunteer team of local artists, students, designers, contractors, landscaping volunteers, and Binghampton residents.”

About the new Tillman Sculpture Park

The Tillman Sculpture Park is envisioned as a community-driven public art project: a space, a statement, and an environmental symbol of neighborhood growth.

The project directly resonates with the Carpenter Art Garden’s mission of growing young creatives through art education, intervention, and therapy programs, while creating an inhabitable space that negates blight, while birthing creativity and culture.

Design and Construction Collaborators

ɫèapp architects, Greg Touliatos Landscape Design, and Montgomery Martin Contractors have joined forces to complete the Tillman Sculpture Garden project, providing design and construction services and materials. Montgomery Martin has been integral in several Carpenter Art Garden projects including the Mosaic Park and its ‘Welcome to Binghampton’ sign.

ɫèapp Principal Danny Valle, AIA, has played a key role in leading HBG’s design and landscaping volunteers for the Tillman park project through the firm’s Kirk Bobo Creating Impact Initiative (KBCI). HBG’s KBCI program stems from the ongoing philanthropic advocacy of firm co-founder Kirk Bobo, a proponent of channeling HBG’s specialized skills for the betterment of Memphis.

“ɫèapp believes in building a better and stronger Memphis by creating uplifting and inspiring places and spaces,” says Valle. “The Tillman Sculpture Garden project is one example of how beautification projects sponsored by our KBCI program can strengthen neighborhoods and create a more vibrant, livable city.”

Tillman Sculpture Garden Phase 1
ɫèapp December 1 work day volunteer team

The first step in creating the Tillman Sculpture Park was designing a sustainable site plan and landscape design by ɫèapp and Greg Touliatos that could be easily constructed on a small budget with mostly volunteer labor. Montgomery Martin prepared the overgrown site and constructed the concrete path and retaining wall designs. On December 1, a group of 30 volunteers from all organizations came out to implement the landscape design by laying mulch, soil, and sod, and planting bushes around the curving sidewalks before the winter season begins.

“The art and the color will emerge in the spring during the project’s next phase,” says Miller, “adding an even greater metaphorical sense of reawakening, of the site and this meaningful project.” 

Art Installations by The Mosaic Arts Apprenticeship Program

Art sculptures, to be placed on cement podiums throughout the park, are being created through the Mosaic Arts Apprenticeship Program at Carpenter Art Garden. under the tutelage of professional artist Suzy Hendricks and professional artist and University of Memphis sculpture professor, Kelsey Harrison. The Mosaic Arts Apprenticeship Program offers Binghampton neighborhood middle and high school students apprenticeship opportunities in mosaic design and construction. Students learn the profession, explore specific ways to approach design, and then begin creating their works of art. In addition to learning a creative skill, students also explore the business aspects of a creative career. The objective is to bolster college and career readiness regardless of their chosen field. Additionally, Binghampton teens and residents will be assisting in making art tiles that will be installed over the curving retaining walls. Art collaborators will also include Art Garden youth and University of Memphis art students.

Project Funding

The project brings together community stakeholders across institutions, sectors, and neighborhoods in a significant collaboration. This project is made possible by the following funders: the Kresge Foundation, ɫèapp (in kind), Greg Touliatos (in-kind), Montgomery Martin (in kind), Urban Arts Commission, Moms Demand Action, Everytown, The Little Garden Club of Memphis, and Tennessee Art Commission.

The Binghampton Historical Site

Binghampton’s geographical history began as a small town outside of the city of Memphis. Immersed in farmland and railroads, Binghampton resided south of the Pope Cotton Plantation. According to the 1900 U.S. Census, the neighborhood reflects early inhabitants of various backgrounds. More specifically, a Black collective of citizens who worked predominantly on farms and railroads.

We believe that from the complexities of history, a blossom of arts and culture emerged and continues to manifest on the landscapes of Binghampton and throughout the city. Through the birth of Tillman Sculpture Park, Carpenter Art Garden hopes to uncover more of Binghampton’s geographical and anthropological history as we pay homage to joy, wonder, and our creative identity as a neighborhood.

Future Project Phases

The Tillman Sculpture Park project will be phased over four cycles. Future generations of Carpenter Art Garden mosaic students will add to the “Art Garden” for community participation over time.

“We believe it is important for more groups of students to have access to such an incredible real-world collaborative public art project,” adds Miller. “In this way, we are creating a laboratory to home-grow site-specific public artists who are trained in cross-disciplinary collaboration and community-based work. We will also be able to draw on alumni from each group to take leadership roles in future building rounds on the site.”   

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