May 28, 2025
Film highlights sculptors, subjects of statues recently placed in U.S. Capitol
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Arkansas PBS will present an encore of “Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash” – an original documentary from Arkansas PBS and award-winning filmmaker Nathan Willis exploring the creation and installation of Arkansas’s newest statues and enduring legacies of two of the state’s most iconic figures. The encore episode will air Monday, June 2, at 7 p.m. and stream at myarpbs.org/live.
The Arkansas Legislature chose subjects for the new statues. In 2019, the Arkansas General Assembly agreed to replace the state’s first two Statuary Hall sculptures of Uriah Milton Rose and James Paul Clarke with statues of civil rights activist Bates and world-renowned singer/songwriter Cash. The parameters for the design and creation of the statues had to meet the meticulous standards of the office of the Architect of the Capitol.
“Unveiled” documents the selection, creation and installation process of these new works for National Statuary Hall; illuminates the lives of Bates and Cash as worthy subjects for this honor; and reflects the creative process of the artists commissioned to create these sculptures. The film features steering committee interviews with the artist finalists, behind-the-scenes footage of the artists at work, and the installation at the U.S. Capitol.
Major funding for “Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash” was provided by the Foundation for Arkansas Heritage and History. Additional funding was provided by the Moving Image Trust Fund. The Foundation for Arkansas Heritage and History (FAHH) supports the Division of Arkansas Heritage (DAH), a division of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, as well as heritage and history projects in general that identify Arkansas’s heritage and enhance the quality of life of Arkansans by the discovery, preservation and presentation of the state’s cultural, historic and natural resources.
About Arkansas PBS
Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans by creating, sharing, celebrating and driving conversation around Arkansas stories and classic, trusted PBS programs through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/live, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Lee Mountain), KETS (Forrest City), KETS (Yancy) and KETS (Gaither).
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