UA Little Rock alumnus Kevin Kresse featured in PBS documentary
March 17-23, 2025
A new Arkansas PBS documentary, “Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash,” will highlight the creation and installation of two new statues representing Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. The film, premiering March 20 at 7 p.m., features UA Little Rock alumnus and renowned sculptor Kevin Kresse, who was selected to create the statue of music legend Johnny Cash.
The documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Nathan Willis, follows the journey of both statues, from concept to completion, and explores the enduring legacies of civil rights activist and journalist Daisy Bates and country music icon Johnny Cash. It also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the artists, including Kresse and sculptor Benjamin Victor, as they brought these historic figures to life in bronze.
“‘Unveiled’ explores the profound impact of Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash on the history of our great state and the nation,” Arkansas PBS Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger said. “From their humble beginnings to their lasting influence, their statues stand as a tribute to the pivotal roles they played in shaping American culture and society.”
For Kresse, the premiere of the documentary is a chance for Arkansans to see the dedication and collaboration that went into making the statues a reality.
“These statues belong to the people of Arkansas, so I’m glad they’ll get a peek behind the curtain on everything it took to bring them to fruition,” Kresse said. “A lot of people put time and effort into helping create these pieces—from the search committee, the steering committee, the Secretary of State’s office, UA Little Rock, the foundry, and even the families of Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash. It was a true collective effort.” UA Little Rock played a special role in the creative process, hosting Kresse and Victor at the Windgate Center of Art + Design, where they worked on their sculptures for a week. The public was invited to witness the artists at work, interact with them, and experience firsthand the meticulous effort involved in crafting the statues.
“Having Kevin Kresse and Benjamin Victor work on these statues at the Windgate Center of Art + Design gave people a chance to see the artistic process up close,” said Joli Livaudais, interim director of the School of Art and Design. “Watching the sculptures take shape in real time made the history behind them feel more tangible and personal. The UA Little Rock School of Art and Design was proud to host the artists. It gave our students the opportunity to engage with this important moment in Arkansas history.”
Kresse expressed excitement about seeing the film’s final cut, praising Willis for his storytelling abilities.
“I saw several short clips of the documentary during the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival this past fall,” Kresse said. “Nathan Willis is an extremely talented and sensitive storyteller, and I was extremely impressed with what I’ve seen so far. I’m also interested in seeing how he weaves together a single film about these two separate Arkansas icons.”
Creating the Johnny Cash statue was a career highlight for Kresse, who acknowledged the challenge of sculpting such an iconic figure.
“I feel very fortunate that all the reactions I’ve seen or heard about the Johnny Cash piece have been extremely positive,” he said. “Sculpting someone whose likeness and personality are so well known is a precarious position to be in. I put a lot of time and effort into it and felt proud of the final result, but you never know how people will react. It’s been very gratifying to receive such positive feedback.”
The Johnny Cash statue, cast at The Crucible in Oklahoma, depicts the musician in a contemplative stance, gripping his guitar strap and a Bible.
It was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 24, 2024.
In addition to the film’s premiere, Kresse shared that he is currently working with the Cash estate on a series of reproductions of the statue.
“This will be the first time I’ve done reproductions,” Kresse said. “I’m working on a small resin version of the statue as well as different bronze versions, including smaller full-figure statues and a bust taken from the original sculpture.”
A free, advance screening of “Unveiled” will be held in March, with additional details available at myarpbs.org/events Arkansas PBS will also release a series of digital shorts on Facebook and Instagram leading up to the March 20 premiere, which can be shown on Arkansas PBS, at myarpbs.org/live, and in the PBS Appp.
Photo cutline:
UA Little Rock alumnus Kevin Kresse works on his sculpture of Johnny Cash.
Photo credit:
Photo courtesy of Arkansas PBS
