We’re thrilled to report that a years-long project to install a public sculpture has come o fruition!
RAA board members and volunteers in front of the HeArt of Tennessee sculpture at the Discovery Center.
Many artist and patrons were present at the ribbon cutting and dedication for the HeArt of Tennessee sculpture in its permanent location at the Discovery Center. Drop by and walk the circular path surrounding it to take in the full view! Thank you, Discovery Center for making room for this creative and collaborative work of art for our community.
The sculpture’s genesis began with the HeArt of Tennessee project, an effort coordinated by Murfreesboro’s inaugural Cultural Arts Laureates in 2017-2018. Painter Laureate Ginny Togrye’s individual Laureate project included enlisting 24 local artists to paint 24 large aluminum hearts. The HeArts were featured in an exhibit during the Boro Art Crawl and then displayed in local business windows around the square.
Later, it was decided the hearts needed a home as part of a sculpture installation. The Rutherford Arts Alliance became involved, and local sculptor and MTSU professor Michael Baggerly was hired to design the centerpiece sculpture with the guidance of Ginny Togrye and Sharon Kolli.
Blacksmith Joe Brown, who designed the aluminum hearts for the original project, also designed a fence that would surround the sculpture with the heart insets.
More recently, the RAA partnered with the Discovery Center Museum, where the sculpture has been installed on the left front lawn of the popular family destination.
This project has been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission, Rutherford Arts Alliance, Togrye Community Trust, Loughry Trust, Rotary Club, Exchange Club, SEC, Lowen & Associates, Vanderbilt Heart, Middle TN Electric Sharing Change, the family of Dr. Gina Cannon Foster, MTSU, Lee Anne (Allen) Carmack, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Patel, Timco Construction and many other sponsorships from business and community leaders.
The RAA wants to recognize the vision, perseverance, and volunteerism of Ginny Togrye in shepherding this project through all its stages and enhancing the public art in Murfreesboro.
First posted July 2025
Updated November 2025 and March 2026
Images courtesy RAA volunteers and MTSU
