The unveiling of three new murals elevates Clarksville's total number of public art pieces to 30. With most of the art in the downtown area, it's easy to design a walking tour with the Visit Clarksville App and see them on foot. We also suggest taking a drive to see others like the new Fort Campbell Railroad Bridge mural and the Wilma Rudolph and Pat Head Summitt statues in Liberty Park. Even if you don't consider yourself an art enthusiast, there's much to appreciate about these three new murals. Of course, we'd love to see all of your selfies and photos. Please snap away and tag us on Instagram or Twitter with #visitclarksvilletn.
APSU Wall Mural
318 College Street
Find the APSU Wall Mural on the parking lot wall between the Austin Peay State University Bookstore and the Jenkins Building (on College Street). The content of the mural illustrates various characteristics of the APSU campus, such as the APSU School of Nursing, the Aviation Science Program, the University’s large military-affiliated student population, fans and community supporters, and the F&M Bank Arena. It has four different areas for interactive photos and was completed by local artist Olasubomi Aka-Bashorun with assistance from Karley Davis, an APSU student majoring in studio art. Aka-Bashorun has created other murals in the city, including the “Clarksville Starry Night” mural at 420 Madison Street, the “God Bless Clarksville” mural on Strawberry Alley, and the “Hi-Five Clarksville” mural which also faces Strawberry Alley.
“It is our hope that the mural will be a photo destination for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members,” APSU Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the APSU Foundation Kris Phillips said. “We want to thank the APSU Foundation Creative Arts Committee for its vision, leadership, and commitment to promoting the quality of the arts in the APSU community and the City of Clarksville through this project.”
“The mural located between the APSU Bookstore and the Jenkins building will serve as a fun connection between our campus and the surrounding community,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “It is a vibrant addition to the area around College Street, a space that enhances our overall campus atmosphere.”
Fort Campbell Railroad Bridge Mural
2645 Fort Campbell Blvd.
See iconic Clarksville images as you drive north toward the Fort Campbell Army Post, and likewise, images that represent Fort Campbell as you head into Clarksville. This two-sided mural can be found on the railroad bridge near Gate 2 above Fort Campbell Boulevard.
Through a process of public submissions to the Montgomery County Public Art Ad Hoc Committee, chosen artist Paul Jones drew and painted the original artwork by hand and had it turned into a vector file that was printed as a vinyl wrap. Jones, originally from Upstate New York, came to Clarksville to visit friends in April 2014, and fell in love with the community. He made the permanent move by July of that year.
“Painting is something I love to do when I’m not working at Trane or hanging out with family. My goal with this project was to tie in the most symbolic images from the community like the brickwork from the Historic Courthouse, Wilma Rudolph, and the Cumberland River. I’m honored to contribute to the community and Fort Campbell through my artwork," Jones said.
More Murals & Public Art
These additions bring the total of public art pieces in Clarksville to 30. Explore more murals, statues, and sculptures of all varieties on our Public Art Trail. Or, download the VisitClarksvilleTN app, select the pieces you'd like to see, and let the GPS guide your walking or driving tour.
