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Artist
Clete Shields, born 1970
Sitter
Willie Nelson, born 30 Apr 1933
Date
2011
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
43.2 × 17.8 × 21cm (17 × 7 × 8 1/4")
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Elizabeth Avellan, Marcia Ball, Amon Burton, Stephen Harrigan, Vincent Salas, Bill Wittliff, and Lawrence Wright
This maquette of songwriter, performer, and founder of the Farm Aid movement Willie Nelson is related to an eight-foot public sculpture that stands in front of the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Philadelphia-based sculptor Clete Shields was commissioned by Capital Area Statues, Inc. (CAST), a group of prominent Texas writers, film producers, and musicians, who honor Texas culture through public art commissions around the state. Shields wanted to make an image of Nelson that captured the musician’s “humor and humility.” Nelson wholeheartedly approved, announcing at the dedication that Shields “did a pretty darn good job.”
Esta maqueta de Willie Nelson, compositor, intérprete y fundador del movimiento Farm Aid, guarda relación con una escultura pública de ocho pies ubicada frente al Teatro Moody en Austin, Texas. Clete Shields, escultor con sede en Filadelfia, recibió el encargo de parte de Capital Area Statues, Inc. (CAST), un grupo de escritores, productores de cine y músicos prominentes de Texas que honran la cultura tejana mediante comisiones de arte público en todo el estado. Shields deseaba crear una imagen de Nelson que captara “el humor y la humildad” del músico. Nelson la aprobó con entusiasmo, y anunció en la ceremonia de dedicación que Shields “hizo un trabajo muy bueno, caray”.
This maquette of songwriter, performer, and founder of the Farm Aid movement Willie Nelson is related to an eight-foot public sculpture that stands in front of the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Philadelphia-based sculptor Clete Shields was commissioned by Capital Area Statues, Inc. (CAST), a group of prominent Texas writers, film producers, and musicians, who honor Texas culture through public art commissions around the state. Shields wanted to make an image of Nelson that captured the musician’s “humor and humility.” Nelson wholeheartedly approved, announcing at the dedication that Shields “did a pretty darn good job.”
Esta maqueta de Willie Nelson, compositor, intérprete y fundador del movimiento Farm Aid, guarda relación con una escultura pública de ocho pies ubicada frente al Teatro Moody en Austin, Texas. Clete Shields, escultor con sede en Filadelfia, recibió el encargo de parte de Capital Area Statues, Inc. (CAST), un grupo de escritores, productores de cine y músicos prominentes de Texas que honran la cultura tejana mediante comisiones de arte público en todo el estado. Shields deseaba crear una imagen de Nelson que captara “el humor y la humildad” del músico. Nelson la aprobó con entusiasmo, y anunció en la ceremonia de dedicación que Shields “hizo un trabajo muy bueno, caray”.
Provenance
William Wittliff [b. 1940], Elizabeth Avellan [b. 1960], Marcia Ball [b. 1949], Amon Burton, Stephen Harrigan, Vincent Salas, and Lawrence Wright [b. 1947]; gift to NPG 2012
