Bronze Johnny Cash Statue Anchors New Music Pavilion in North Little Rock Ahead of Friday Opening
Before dawn on a Tuesday morning, a crane hoisted an 8-foot-tall bronze statue of Johnny Cash onto a pedestal at a newly constructed pavilion in North Little Rock, setting the final stage for the venue’s grand opening. Sculptor Kevin Kresse watched as the sculpture—an exact replica of the one representing Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol—was bolted into place just as the sun began to rise over Argenta Plaza.
talkbusiness.net reported that the milestone marks the completion of a key part of the $3 million atg Pavilion project, which broke ground May 11. The structure will eventually house 21 sculptures honoring 20 legendary musicians and music industry executive Al Bell. Their collective work spans rock, blues, gospel, country, soul, and classical genres, cementing a tribute to artists who shaped American music from humble roots across the state.
Following the installation of the Cash statue, workers brought out six wrapped bronze busts also crafted by Kresse. Those initial figures depict Glen Campbell, Al Green, Levon Helm, Louis Jordan, Florence Price, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Etched on the back of each piece is the musician’s name, birth and death years, and an outline of Arkansas featuring a star marking their hometown.
Design Evolution and Funding Behind the Argenta Plaza Project
The approximately $3 million endeavor is the result of a collaborative partnership involving North Little Rock Tourism, the nonprofit Argenta Arts Foundation, Kresse, and private supporters. North Little Rock Tourism financed the construction of the pavilion, while private donations have covered the cost of the bronze works. Principal backers include Scott and Ruth Landers, owners of Applied Technology Group, with the pavilion taking its name from their company.
“I see it as a real gem in the crown in the arts district,” campaign chair John Gaudin said regarding the neighborhood he has lived and worked in for years. “From an economic and tourism development perspective, that was a big deal for me to get involved in it.”
Kresse traces the lineage of the project back to 2018, when he unveiled a bust of Helm in Marvell. That experience sparked a broader mission alongside musician Greg Spradlin and radio host Stephen Koch to ensure influential Arkansas artists receive recognition in their home communities. Duplicate castings of the initial busts have already been produced for hometown installations, with Pine Bluff and Brinkley anticipated to receive theirs as early as spring 2027.
The pavilion itself underwent significant architectural changes during the design phase. Kresse initially envisioned a simple barn-like structure reflecting the modest origins of the honorees. As blueprints evolved, the building transformed into a church- or temple-like pavilion that elevates the sculptures above ground level.
“To me, it’s almost a perfect metaphor for their lives, starting off very simply, humbly, in so many of these small towns in Arkansas, and went out and influenced the world,” Kresse told talkbusiness.net.
Statue Pedestal Contains Birth Year Error Ahead of Opening
Despite the smooth early-morning installation, workers uncovered a factual error on the pedestal beneath the Johnny Cash statue. Capitol, the base features lyrics from “Man in Black” alongside a quotation, but it mistakenly lists Cash’s birth year as 1935 instead of his actual birth year, 1932. Organizers confirmed that the error will not be corrected in time for the grand opening.
The public debut of the atg Pavilion at Argenta Plaza is scheduled for Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., coinciding with the reopening of the nearby Argenta Music Complex. The celebration will feature live music, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and interactive exhibits, opening the door to what organizers hope will become a lasting cultural and economic catalyst for the region.
