A mural from a Nashville artist will soon be displayed at Longhurst Park in Guthrie.
The Guthrie Main Street program is funding the creation of the mural to honor the history of blues music and how the area played a vital role in the Chitlin’ Circuit.
The circuit brought many African-American musicians to western Kentucky, as they were not allowed to play in many venues from the 1930s-1960s. Artists who made stops in the region included Ike and Tina Turner, Count Basie, Chubby Checker, James Brown, Little Richard, and Cab Calloway.
During a live broadcast celebrating WEKT’s new 92.1 FM signal, Executive Director Tracy Robinson said the piece will be a focus of downtown arts.
Robinson said the mural is being designed and painted by Kim Radford.
Radford is known for her artist murals in Nashville – including Taylor Swift’s Grimey’s 2022 Record Store Day piece and some featuring Dolly Parton, The Black Keys, and Joni Mitchell.
Robinson hopes the mural will be completed in time for Guthrie’s inaugural Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15th.
