Music on Walls names Shepard Fairey as the winner of the 2018 Best Music on Walls Mural for his Sacramento Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison mural.
Earlier this month Music on Walls announced the winner of the 2018 Best Music on Walls Mural – and the winner was Shepard Fairey for his 15-story Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison Mural. Fairey and his crew created the mural in August 2018 during the annual Sacramento Wide Open Walls mural festival.
See related blog post: Wide Open Walls 2018 – Sacramento
Music On Walls
What is Music on Walls? According to the Music on Walls website, the organization is looking for the music inspiration behind the artwork and aims to promote both visual artists and music. Music on Walls was founded in 2014.
SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)
Shepard Fairey-Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison Mural
Who is Shepard Fairey? (Frank) Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, illustrator and founder of OBEY Clothing.
The Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison mural is the largest mural Fairey has created in California. The art is based on a photo taken by Jim Marshall, the Grammy Award-winning photojournalist who pioneered music photography.
The mural was created by Fairey as a tribute for the 50th Anniversary of Johnny Cash’s Live at Folsom Prison album. He also hoped the mural would promote a conversation about the need for incarceration reform.
To celebrate the 2018 Best Music on Walls Mural the organization interviewed Fairey about his vision of Johnny Cash’s legacy.
Fairey explained that he delved into Cash’s social commentary and his sympathy for underdogs, like the incarcerated, when he made the poster for the movie “Walk the Line”. As he had become more and more concerned with criminal justice issues, he saw the 50th Anniversary of Johnny Cash Live at Folsom Prison as an opportunity to both “celebrate a musical hero and bring attention to incarceration reform”.
See the complete interview to find out how Fairey sees the music of Johnny Cash inspiring change in our world 15 years after his death, his five favorite Johnny Cash songs, what music inspired mural he plans to create in 2019, and more. Shepard Fairey-Johnny Cash 2018 Best Mural Interview
Comments on the 2018 Best Music on Walls Mural?
A well-deserved honor for Shepard Fairey in my opinion. Do you consider the Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison mural a Sacramento “attraction” or “landmark”?
Subscribe to SacramentoRevealed.com to receive the weekly newsletter direct to your inbox! Comments are welcome.
The SWS walks by on our “Mural Walk” which we just did on Tuesday. I think it’s too early to classify it as a landmark, but it is an amazing attraction right now. Curious how the elements will affect the bright orange.
Thanks for the comment. Only time will tell!