The Old Sevier Community Group awarded its public art grant to Knoxville artist Bill Cook Jr. in February 2026. The group selected Cook’s proposal for Southern Beacon as its second neighborhood sculpture installation.
Homeowner Barry Crowder commissioned the sculpture for his property on Elizabeth Avenue. The Old Sevier Community Group also provided matching funds to support the installation.
Titled Southern Beacon, the sculpture features a green marble disc on a tapered white Turkish marble pedestal. One side has a hand-textured radiant pattern. In contrast, Cook highly polished the other side to showcase the natural character of the stone.
Cook designed Southern Beacon as a visual guide to the neighborhood. As a result, the sculpture invites visitors to explore South Knoxville and its growing collection of public art.
Cook grew up in the foothills of East Tennessee and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee in 1995. Today, he is a member of SoKno Sculpt. The organization works with community partners to expand public art in South Knoxville.
Southern Beacon became the second neighborhood sculpture supported through the SoKno Sculpt initiative. The first sculpture, The Revelator, was unveiled in June 2025 at the home of Christian Lange on Sam Houston Street.
