CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – If you’ve driven downtown lately, you’ve probably noticed the new artwork on the banners flying from the lampposts.
The Two Rivers Company chose the work of artist Billy Renkl, who has been teaching illustration, drawing, and first-year design for the past 27 years at Austin Peay State University.
According to Renkl, “About a year ago the Two Rivers Company held a contest for banner designs to be hung around downtown, and they specified the themes for the three different areas. I entered because I believe in the good work of the Two Rivers Company. I’m eager to see the city and the county put resources into an area that is the heart of Clarksville for me, the area with the most history and personality and charm. I wanted to support their good work if I could.”
The Two Rivers Company is a non‐profit organization focused on enhancing Clarksville’s downtown and riverfront areas. The Two Rivers Company employs a holistic approach to address all facets of the downtown and riverfront, including organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion.
It serves as a catalyst by partnering with other entities and the private sector to attract investment to this area. This organization’s long‐term goal is to make downtown and the riverfront premier locations in Clarksville to live, work and play.
Renkl added, “The images all relate to downtown in some way: strawberries refer to Strawberry Alley, of course; the eagle references the one on top of the courthouse and Customs House Museum; the rosettes reference the architectural details around the arch on a building on Public Square – the former City Hall. I was delighted when my proposal was selected, and worked with Brenda Kelley and her committee to round out the set of designs and prepare them for printing. I did the illustrations with scratchboard, a 19th-century illustration technique that mimics wood engraving. I felt like that was a good fit for the context – the historic buildings and the design of the lampposts – and I tried to pick a color palette that would be easily integrated.”
The new banners are currently on Strawberry Alley, Legion and Second Streets.