WCTE has been delighted to produce several community engagement events surrounding the new film from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, LEONARDO DA VINCI.  This has all been made possible by grant funding from WETA PBS.

The third and final component of this year-long project is an art contest for middle and high school students across the Upper Cumberland.

44 students from 7 schools entered artwork, all themed around Leonardo da Vinci’s life, work, inspirations, and legacy.  “I was very impressed with the work that was entered.  There was a lot of variety in these students’ interpretations of the contest prompt,” said Sarah Savage, coordinator of the Leonardo grant activities.  “Our goal with having an art contest as part of this big project was to engage a younger audience in learning about Leonardo, and encourage creative connection with the life of this great artist and inventor.”

The contest was adjudicated by students from Tennessee Tech’s Art Education program, guided by Dr. Jeremy Blair.  The exhibition is open to the public, and will open January 17.  We hope you will stop by and see this amazing art, from these talented students! 

High School Division Winners

1st Place ($150):  Zoey Clemons, White County High School
2nd Place ($125):  Zakk Angel, Cumberland County High School
3rd Place ($100):  Ashlyn Taylor,, Cumberland County High School

Honorable Mentions ($45 each):
Cheyenne Davis, Cumberland County High School
Jodi Miller, Cumberland County High School
Megyn Mangrum, White County High School
Julia Ramler, Cookeville High School
Isabel Flores Hernandez, Cookeville High School

Middle School Division Winners:

1st place ($150):  Sharon Gong, Algood Middle School
2nd place ($125):  Iris Chen, Prescott South Middle School
3rd place ($100):  Wesley McCurdy, Homeschool

Honorable Mentions ($45 each):
Saanvi Pati, Upperman Middle School
Georgia Harris, Algood Middle School
Piper Goodwin., Algood Middle School
Sophia Ni, Algood Middle School
Itzel A. Delgado, Algood Middle School

Ken Burns Leonardo da Vinci Film is streaming below for a limited time!

LEONARDO da VINCI, a new, two-part, four-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon premiered in November 2024 on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App.

The film, which explores the life and work of the 15^th century polymath Leonardo da Vinci, is Burns’s first non-American subject. It also marks a significant change in the team’s filmmaking style, which includes using split screens with images, video and sound from different periods to further contextualize Leonardo’s art and scientific explorations. LEONARDO da VINCI looks at how the artist influenced and inspired future generations, and it finds in his soaring imagination and profound intellect the foundation for a conversation we are still having today: what is our relationship with nature and what does it mean to be human. 

Corporate funding for LEONARDO DA VINCI was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by The Better Angels Society and by its individual members The Paul and Sandra Montrone Family; Stephen A. Schwarzman; Diane and Hal Brierley; Carol and Ned Spieker; Michael and Sandy Collins; Mario J. Gabelli; The Lynch Foundation; McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Cappy and Janie McGarr; and John and Leslie McQuown. Funding was also provided by Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha Darling; the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; and the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation.

Engaging Event at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center Nov. 2024 

🎨🔬 In November, WCTE hosted a free advance screening of segments from the documentary at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center.  Following the screening, we held a panel discussion with Dr. Carol Ventura, Professor Emerita of Art History and Dr. Bevin Butler, Assistant Professor of Art History, both from Tennessee Tech University.

The WCTE PBS team brings Leonardo da Vinci to life for SOI attendees! 

WCTE PBS welcomed the Leonardo da Vinci activity center at this year’s Stations of Imagination September 7^th in Cookeville. Where our very own Natalie Halfacre dressed as da Vinci while our other student volunteers helped make the experience fun for everyone. 

These events are funded through a $15,000 grant WCTE has been awarded from WETA. 

As students return to the classroom in the fall, we will be holding an art contest for middle and high schools across our region.  Students are hard at work on pieces that explore the art and inspirations of Leonardo da Vinci. We will be awarding cash prizes to five students at both the middle and high school levels, funded by the grant. The art will be on display in WCTE's lobby gallery starting in December. 

In September, we stepped into the world of the brilliant Leonardo da Vinci and unleashed our creativity with fun art and STEM activities designed to inspire minds of all ages. Plus, Stations of Imagination guests had a chance to meet the legendary Leonardo himself! Everyone enjoyed this unique, interactive experience! It was truly a day of discovery, creativity, and fun at the Leonardo Learning Workshop—where art and science came to life!