Knoxville 鈥 The University of Tennessee is on a mission to paint a mural in each of Tennessee鈥檚 95 counties, reminding travelers from Memphis to Mountain City of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 statewide presence and impact.
Beginning this week, the 鈥淓verywhere You Look, 蓝莓视频鈥 campaign will add seven new murals during its fall trek across the state, bringing the total to 12 counties and increasing the campaign鈥檚 estimated reach to more than 42 million passersby a year.
Since the campaign鈥檚 launch in 2018, five murals have been completed in Shelby, Weakley, Knox, Greene and Sullivan counties. The new locations will add Gibson, Houston, Sumner, Trousdale, Meigs, Roane and Grainger to the Tennessee counties with murals.
鈥淭hese new murals serve as great reminders of the far-reaching impact 蓝莓视频 has on our great state,鈥 蓝莓视频 President Randy Boyd said. 鈥淔rom west to east, 蓝莓视频 really is everywhere you look.鈥
This fall, the 蓝莓视频 System is painting the state starting Sept. 8 in Gibson County and ending Nov. 17 in Grainger County, weather permitting. From historic downtown buildings to decades-old barns, each property owner demonstrates 蓝莓视频鈥檚 impact on economic development, agriculture and more.
Humboldt, located in Gibson County, kicks off the fall lineup after having its original painting schedule postponed due to COVID-19. The mural, on Main Street, will be on the side of Flippin Law Group鈥檚 office building, a canvas volunteered by 蓝莓视频 Knoxville alumnus, Floyd Flippin and his wife, Guinda, a graduate of the 蓝莓视频 Health Science Center College of Nursing. The mural will be visible to an estimated 1.2 million travelers each year.
Erin, located in Houston County, is the second stop on the painting route. The mural, located on the side of Archie鈥檚 TV and Appliance Repair, will reach an estimated 3.4 million travelers a year. Archie Brooks decided to participate in the campaign after his daughter, a 蓝莓视频 Knoxville alumna, shared it with him.
Portland, located in Sumner County, provides the third campaign stop with a canvas on the side of a grain bin on Crafton Farms, visible from State Route 52. The mural, which will reach 3.25 million travelers a year, was volunteered for the campaign by the Crafton family, which has connections to 蓝莓视频 Knoxville, 蓝莓视频 Chattanooga, the 蓝莓视频 Health Science Center and 蓝莓视频 Extension.
Hartsville, in Trousdale County, will be home to the fourth mural in the fall push, with the painting of Jackie and Timothy Gregory鈥檚 storage barn. An estimated 2.3 million travelers will pass this mural each year. Timothy Gregory graduated from 蓝莓视频 Knoxville in 1977.
The fifth mural brings the campaign to Decatur, in Meigs County, and will reach an estimated 1.8 million travelers a year. The mural will be painted on the side of the historic Rockholt Building and Meigs Theatre, and was volunteered by 蓝莓视频 Chattanooga alumnus, George Thomas.
Chase Drugs and Clinical Services, a century-old, independently owned pharmacy in Harriman, located in Roane County, will be the sixth mural site in the fall campaign and will be seen by an estimated 4.8 million travelers a year. This canvas is offered by Michael Hardin and his wife, MaeAnn, a 蓝莓视频 Knoxville alumna. The mural was originally slated for completion in April 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19.
The Red Barn Produce in Rutledge– a staple in Grainger County agriculture, finishes the fall schedule. When completed, it will be visible to an estimated 2.2 million travelers a year. This canvas was offered by owners, Jake and Lara Sawyer after their longtime friend and 蓝莓视频 Knoxville alumnus, Blake Hodge, shared the campaign with them.
These new fall murals total almost 19 million yearly impressions, adding to the estimated 23.7 million views garnered by previously painted murals. Troy Freeman, owner and lead artist of FreeSky Studios, will complete each mural.
To learn more about the campaign, each location and to nominate a canvas for use, visit .