28-03-2025
Bluegrass mural will be unveiled May 17
At 9 a.m. on May 17, Owensboro will unveil a 73-foot-wide by 16-foot-high six-panel mural that 'honors the profound traditions and contemporary diversity of bluegrass music.'
It will be on the wall of the building at 214 Frederica St. that faces the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
Steve Johnson, director of the Bluegrass Music Initiative, said the 30-minute program will feature bluegrass music.
He said the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance will be meeting in Owensboro that week and so will the Hall of Fame's board of trustees.
The mural is sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Young Professionals, the Bluegrass Music (Capital) Initiative, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the city and OWB Downtown LLC.
Jared Revlett, chairman of the Chamber Young Professionals, said 39 artists from several states submitted proposals.
Those selected were Adalynn Opal Leach, Hartford, 'Golden Harmony: The Pillar of Bluegrass'; Brittany Samsil, Owensboro, 'Bluegrass Legends'; Paula Gieseke, Cerulean, 'Billy Strings'; Emrys Cunningham, Richmond, 'Blue Moon Monroe'; Rex Robinson, Evansville, 'River of Music Party'; Amy Burgan, Owensboro, 'Bridging Traditions'; Andrea Butler, Seattle, 'Rooted in Tradition' and Bethany Prevette, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, 'Ode to Owensboro.'
The mural will celebrate Owensboro's claim as the 'Bluegrass Music Capital of the World.'
A worldwide call was made for artists to submit plans for one or more of the panels.
But Johnson said none were received from outside the country.
Several bluegrass publications have written about the mural.
Each of the six panels will be six-feet wide and 10-feet tall.
Artists whose work was chosen will receive $1,000.
The installation will begin soon, after the art is upsized and professionally reproduced.
Johnson said he heard from Billy Strings' people, saying that the artist is honored and excited about being part of the project.
Strings, the professional name of 32-year-old William Lee Apostol, is a rising star in bluegrass, winning two Grammys for best bluegrass album and a host of other awards.
