Borderless Arts Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State University are teaming up once again, this time with a project that threads together Tennessee history, civic identity and hands‑on experiential learning. The collaboration brings MTSU faculty, students and Borderless Arts members into a shared creative space, all centered on the question: Who is Tennessee?

MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - The idea grew from conversations about the state’s influence on American history. While Tennessee proudly claims three U.S. presidents — Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson — organizers wanted to look beyond political figures. They kept circling back to one defining theme: volunteers.

Lori Kissinger, MTSU communication studies master instructor and director of Borderless Arts Tennessee, said the nickname “Volunteer State” became the project’s anchor. Tennessee first earned that title during the War of 1812, when an overwhelming number of militiamen stepped forward to fight under Gen. Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. That legacy of service, she said, still shapes the state’s identity.

From that idea came “MtTennesseeMore,” a playful nod to Mount Rushmore. Instead of four presidential faces carved in stone, the project imagines Tennessee’s three presidents alongside a symbolic fourth figure — representing generations of volunteers whose contributions often go unnamed but remain essential to the state’s story.

Students in Kissinger’s public speaking and nonprofit communication courses earned EXL credit by participating, bringing together two groups that rarely overlap. Kissinger partnered with Lauren Emery Rudd, a professor in the Textiles, Merchandising and Design Program, to guide students and Borderless Arts members as they created handcrafted fabric artworks last fall.

For junior graphic design major Kylie Otis, the project was a chance to connect with others through creativity. Nutrition and food science major Kahari Cephus said he joined because the volunteer theme resonated with him. “I like helping people out,” he said.

The artwork made its public debut in January 2026 at The Hermitage during the annual Battle of New Orleans commemoration. One piece was displayed near Jackson’s tomb as speakers reflected on leadership and service. Another set of works exploring what it means to be American will be exhibited April 1–May 16, 2026 at First State National Historical Park in New Castle, Delaware.

The project returns to MTSU on March 21, 2026 with a new “friendship piece” destined for Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, one of MTSU’s study‑abroad partners. The woven design blends Scottish tartan elements with red, white and blue accents — a shared celebration aligning with the Scottish university’s 150th anniversary, the United States’ upcoming 250th and Borderless Arts Tennessee’s 25th.

Kissinger said the Tennessee‑focused pieces help students explore identity close to home, while the international component widens the lens. “It extends that identity outward,” she said, “reinforcing global partnerships and shared history.”

To learn more about Borderless Arts Tennessee, visit https://borderlessartstn.org/.