As a kick-off to the 2022 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans today unveiled its second mural in downtown Nashville called "Celebrate Tennessee," designed and painted by Nashville muralist Eric "MOBE" Bass. This mural comes as a follow-up to the "Tennessee Tough" mural painted in 2020. The design aims to celebrate Nashville and the entire state of Tennessee.
"Celebrate Tennessee" is located on the southern facing side of the Margaritaville Hotel, located at 425 Rep. John Lewis Way South. The mural spans the full wall of the building, measuring 198 feet by 55 feet, totaling just under 11,000 square-feet. This almost triples the size of the "Tennessee Tough" mural. Components of the design include:
- A football player designed to appear as if he is walking to Nissan Stadium through downtown Nashville with elements from across the state at his back, supporting him along his journey
- Statewide symbols and representations like a guitar, mockingbird, iris and Tri-Star follow behind the player
- The elements aim to represent community, music and nature, all key to the essence of the state
"This mural is a beautiful follow-up to the original 'Tennessee Tough' painting. It is meant to be a celebration of all the elements that make Nashville and the entire state of Tennessee such a special place to live, work and play," said Titans Sr. Vice President, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer Gil Beverly. "MOBE is an incredibly talented artist who perfectly captured the place we all call home. We hope this new addition will be a Nashville-staple to be enjoyed by our community."
Bass' artwork is displayed in private residences and more public locations throughout the world. In Nashville, some of his most well-known murals include "Spaceman" in Midtown, the Nashville mylar balloons in Five Points and various murals inside The Valentine on Broadway.
"As someone who has called Nashville home for many years, painting this second mural is one of the proudest moments of my career," said MOBE "Art can truly be found anywhere, and these murals have been a labor of love dedicated to bringing the community together and reminding us of all the reasons we love this state."
The mural is on display now and will live indefinitely through the 2022-2023 Titans season.
"This art epitomizes who we are not only as state, but as a fan base – we are tough, resilient and we always have each other's back," said Titans Creative Director Surf Melendez. "The representation of the entire state intends to demonstrate we are always stronger as a team, held together by the fabric of our heritage."
Fans are encouraged to participate in a social media sweepstakes launching the mural. Fans who take a photo in front of the mural between Wednesday, April 26 – Friday, April 29 and tag the Titans (@Titans) will be entered for a chance to win signed merchandise, 2 VIP tickets to DraftFest on Saturday, April 30, including food, drinks and a private lounge area. DraftFest takes place at Nissan Stadium from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and free tickets can be claimed online at www.tennesseetitans.com/DraftFest
