Eight artists have been selected to contribute original work to a new public art project in downtown Owensboro that aims to celebrate the city’s identity as the self-proclaimed Bluegrass Music Capital of the World.
The selected pieces will be featured on a rotating mural display outside 214 Frederica Street, directly across from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. The project, spearheaded by the Owensboro Bluegrass Initiative the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Young Professionals (CYP), will launch with six of the eight chosen works installed in the initial phase.
The mural will feature eight panels in total, with six pieces displayed initially and two rotating in at a later date. Instead of being painted directly onto the wall, the artwork will be printed on removable panels — similar to movie posters at a theater — which allows for easy updates and future rotation.
“We had about 39 submissions to choose from, and we didn’t know who the artists were during the selection process, which made it even more exciting,” said Jared Revlett, a member of CYP. “It was really neat to see all the different artwork that came in from across the country.”
Artists selected for the project include:
• Adalynn Opal Leach (Hartford, KY) – Golden Harmony: The Pillar of Bluegrass
• Brittany Samsil (Owensboro, KY) – Bluegrass Legends
• Paula Gieseke (Cerulean, KY) – Billy Strings
• Emrys Cunningham (Richmond, KY) – Blue Moon Monroe
• Rex Robinson (Evansville, IN) – River of Music Party
• Amy Burgan (Owensboro, KY) – Bridging Traditions
• Andrea Butler (Seattle, WA) – Rooted in Tradition
• Bethany Prevette (North Wilkesboro, NC) – Ode to Owensboro
Robinson painted the former mural, which paid homage to the town’s barbecue and the prominence of the Ohio River.
Wall preparation and fabrication work is currently underway, with panel installation and lighting set to begin between May 3-14. The mural’s grand reveal is slated for May 17.
The Bluegrass Mural Committee was formed to highlight the city’s musical heritage while incorporating public art into the downtown landscape. The project was first announced last fall, with organizers saying they hoped to create a rotating display to celebrate bluegrass music and the local community.
