Clarksville, TN – Clarksville unveiled its 21st public art piece this month. Twelve of the pieces – at least – are in a proximity that’s easily walkable within the city’s downtown core.
Murals, sculptures, fountains, and flames are among the art pieces you’ll see showcased along city streets, urban trails, buildings and throughout the campus of Austin Peay State University, which is adjacent to downtown. Many of the works were designed or created by Clarksville artists.
The recently unveiled piece is a mural entitled, “Clarksville’s Starry Night.” The 60×40-foot painting of the Clarksville skyline rendered in the style of Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” is on the full side of a building at 420 Madison Street, facing a large parking lot.
More mural and sculptural projects are in various phases of production.
Individual stories about the pieces, most of which were written by students in an Austin Peay Urban Planning class, are on the Visit Clarksville website at www.visitclarksvilletn.com/planyourstay/public-art
“Public Art is a prime example of a community that is living, breathing and thriving,” says Ryan Bowie, executive director of downtown Clarksville’s Roxy Regional Theatre, and chair of the Downtown Clarksville Association. “Our various pieces of public art have always been, and will continue to be, the icing on the cake for downtown residents and visitors alike, providing ample opportunities for photos, history and education about the rich culture that Clarksville, Tennessee has to offer.”
Here’s a list with brief descriptions of the pieces:
Clarksville Starry Night
A 60×40-foot mural of the Clarksville skyline rendered in the style of Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.”
420 Madison Street, Artist Olasubomi Aka-Bashorun
The Clarksville Protector
Bronze sculpture dedicated to all who serve in the Clarksville Police Department
135 Commerce Street, Artists Roger & Neil Brodin
The Day After
Bronze statue of a seated man reading a January 23rd, 1999 edition of The Leaf-Chronicle, the day after an F-4 tornado destroyed much of downtown, including the courthouse and Leaf Chronicle buildings.
Commerce Street and South Second Street, Artist Scott Wise
First Federal Outdoor Garden
Various pieces in the courtyard entry at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
200 South Second Street, Artists Olen Bryant, Tom Rice and Mike Andrews.
Lenora ‘Nora’ Witzel and Nettie
Life-size bronze statue of local pioneer female photographer, and her dog
Millennium Plaza at Third Street, Artist Andrea Lugar
The Millennium Fountain
16-foot bronze fountain installed with reconstruction of the area after a 1999 tornado
Millennium Plaza, Artist John Medwedeff
Children’s Fountain
20’ x 15’ marble and bronze fountain with 18 bronze statues of children
115 Strawberry Alley
Frank Sutton
Life-size bronze sculpture of the Clarksville native who portrayed “Sgt. Carter” on the CBS sitcom, “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” Unveiled in 2017.
107 Franklin Street, Artist Scott Wise
Forged in the Fire
Steel warped in a fire of 1978, refined and painted by Montgomery Central High School students
Upland Trail at Spring Street, MCHS Students with Artist Mike Andrews
Bursting with Pride
10,000 square-foot mural featuring 15 Clarksville buildings
110 Franklin, Artist Ricky Deel
John Montgomery
Bronze statue of Clarksville’s first settler
City Hall at Strawberry Alley, Artist Scott Wise
Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire
30-foot tall steel pillar dedicated to all military personnel
Public Square at Main Street, Artist Dr. Gregg Schlanger
On the Austin Peay State University Campus (601 College Street)
The Synthesis
Polished marble statue by located in front of the Felix G. Woodward Library
Artist Rev. Howard Brown
The Gateway
Concrete and steel sculpture at the College Street Entry Gates
Artist Dr. Jim Diehr
A Sentinel
10-foot bronze monolithic sculpture near the Morgan University Center
Artist Olen Bryant
Governor Austin Peay
A life-size bust of the Tennessee Governor and college’s namesake
Morgan University Center, Artist Scott Wise
Outside the Urban Core:
Wilma Rudolph
Life-size bronze statue of three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph Event Center, 1190 TN Hwy 48, Artist Rev. Howard Brown
Remembrance
A bronze sculpture by Scott Wise commemorating Clarksville firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty.
831 Franklin Street, Artist Scott Wise
Family
Limestone pedestaled bird sculptures inside the foyer of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library.
350 Pageant Lane, Artist Tom Rice
Reverence
One and a half-life size sculpture dedicated to all veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces.
330 Pageant Lane (facing Madison Street), Artist Scott Wise
Doughboy
Marble sculpture dedicated in 1929 to honor WWI Veterans
250 Arrowwood Lane (Brigadier General Wendell H. Gilbert Tennessee State Veterans’ Home), Artist Ernest Viquesney
About Visit Clarksville
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Tourism Commission was established by the State of Tennessee in 1979 to positively influences tourism in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area by promoting tourist attractions, hosting conventions, group tours and engaging in large-scale marketing efforts. In 2015, the organization adopted the Visit Clarksville brand. Visit Clarksville is governed by nine board of director members and is funded by a portion of the local hotel-motel tax.
