On August 7, 2024, a Category 2 tornado roared through Tate School’s campus. One of the casualties of this event was our historic cedar tree, one of the oldest in Knoxville, was felled in the storm. Not one for dwelling on devastation, Joe Tate, one of the founders of Tate’s School and self-taught artist himself, reached out to wood sculptor, Jeff Banning. Jeff lives in Louisville, TN and his true passion is creating art with a chainsaw. He prides himself in releasing what lies within the wood and bringing an image to life.
“I am really pleased with this sculpture because it reflects the patriotic values inherent in the culture of Tate’s School,” said Joe Tate, New Development Director for Tate’s School.
The sculpture features the iconic image of an Eagle, the United States Flag, and a family of owls nesting in the tree. The owls are a nod to the owls that make their home on Tate’s 54-acre campus and represent the acquisition of knowledge.
It took Jeff about three days to complete this project. “ We can’t wait for the students to see it when they return to campus this fall,” said LouL Tate founder and matriarch of Tate’s School. Tate’s School is a private school for preschool – middle school students founded on Christian beliefs located in West Knoxville, off Cedar Bluff Rd.
