Explore the University of Tennessee System.
Connect with us.
© 2022 The University of Tennessee System, All Rights Reserved.
The 34th mural in the campaign has quite the presence from its downtown Madisonville perch. For the community, the painting is a welcome brush stroke in the bigger picture.
“These murals help small towns like us feel like we’re part of something larger,” said Alexis Watson, owner of the mural’s home at 328 Tellico St. “It’s a small piece to help our own community really feel like it’s important to UT and can share in its excitement.”
The mural’s canvas, a two-story brick building that encounters 1,989 passersby each day, has been owned by Watson’s family since she was just 10 years old. They had always talked of putting a mural on it, according to Watson, but the talks never came to fruition until she and her husband heard of UT’s campaign through a family member.
“The mural is a huge statement piece for the town,” said Watson. “And that will hopefully bring new and exciting things to our community.”
The 20-foot-wide mural completed in December 2022 isn’t just exciting from a community-wide perspective: it’s also a part of Watson’s personal bigger picture. In January 2023, her lash studio and boutique, Honeycomb, opened shop in the building.
“It just felt natural to have the campaign be a part of the new adventure with the building and my business,” said Watson. “It all went together perfectly.”
328 Tellico St S, Madisonville, TN 37354
Painting a 40-foot mural on a metal grain bin in 90-degree heat calls for a special type of artist.
Curtis Glover
Curtis Glover
Artist
Explore the University of Tennessee System.
Connect with us.
© 2022 The University of Tennessee System, All Rights Reserved.