NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A new outdoor pavilion is honoring Arkansas music legends, including gospel pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, singer Al Green, and Johnny Cash, with bronze sculptures. The ATG Pavilion at Argenta Plaza has opened to the public, and visitors can simply show up with no ticket or appointment, North Little Rock Tourism told KATV.
An 8-foot bronze of Cash anchors the pavilion. It is an exact replica of the statue representing Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall, created by Arkansas sculptor Kevin Kresse. Busts of Tharpe, Green, Glen Campbell, Levon Helm, Louis Jordan, and Florence Price are also in place. The project is planned to grow to 21 sculptures.
Tharpe, from Cotton Plant, came up in gospel and is considered by organizers to be the "godmother of rock and roll," with a heavy influence on Elvis and others. Green is from Forrest City, and Campbell is from Delight. Organizers say the lineup spans genres from gospel to rock, soul, country, classical, and blues.
Each sculpture has a QR code with an artist profile and a link to the Arkansas Music Foundation website.
More is coming. North Little Rock is marking the 50th anniversary of The Last Waltz on Nov. 25 with a VIP event, followed by a free community screening on Nov. 28. A Levon Helm exhibit at the Acanza Gallery in Argenta is scheduled to run from the third Friday in November through April.
For Christian music fans, the pavilion puts gospel roots front and center in the story of American music, in the home state of one of its most influential voices.
