www.ucdailynews.com
by: Ward Norris
Last week, Cookeville Artist, Ron Sweeney, began his mural which will be on display at a new Austin, Texas nightclub. The Austin honky tonk will be a southern sister to the renowned “Legends” on Broad in Nashville and one of the most prominant pieces of art in the new place will be a 13 foot on-stage version of Willie Nelson’s famous guitar.
Sweeney began by drawing and cutting out the templatte for Nelson’s worn out guitar. He has since shipped that templatte off to the fabricators down in Texas, and it is in the process of being constructed.
When the guitar is complete, it will be shipped back to Tennessee where Ron will give the guitar its true colors.
But while all of that is going on the rest of mural must continue to be painted. The first person, of course, on the mural is Willie himself.
Perhaps Ron wanted him there so that he (Willie) could keep an eye on things as the rest of the ‘legends of country music’ are added.
According to Ron, who’s visited the new, under-construction Austin location, Willie will be under the curve of the grand bar where, after a very long run down the wall, it makes a 90′ curve, terminating into the wall. The juncture point of the bar and wall will be directly under Willie’s smiling gaze.
Given the size of the building and the expected crowds, Ron anticipates that people will rendezvous under this painting and use it as a locator for finding each other, “Hey! Meet me over by Willie.”
Some other well known visiting dignitaries from Nashville happened to visit the studio where Ron is painting this mural and got the first class tour of Ron’s art work (as well as some of the vintage vehicles located therein).
Ron is rapidly moving towards his February 28 due date when the 30′ canvas must go to Austin.
Will Ron be able to do it? Will Willie be satisfied? What country music legend will go up next on the canvas?
We’ll follow Ron though the creation and have an update next week.