It has sat vacant for years, the abandoned grain and silo structure in the Nations is a shell of it's former self. However, soon it will breathe new life into this west Nashville neighborhood thanks to a world-renowned artist.
Australian artist Guido Van Helten is a master of his art. The former graffiti artist has been commissioned to work on massive projects across the world.
"I was painting walls and slowly they got larger and people say, 'what about this.' It'd be a three story building and from that you go higher and bigger," Van Helten said.
His muse is the town he's in, his favorite canvas happens to be buildings like the one he will begin work on soon.
"I like silos because they are sort of these existing monuments," he said.
Inspiration comes from the people he meets, who wind up as a part of his art. "You're just turning it into a monument for the people which I like, that's part of my passion," said Van Helten.
"I mean its very realistic, the detail is insane," Nate Bagby said.
Across the street from the abandoned silo, The Centennial has commissioned their own piece of art. Bagby is the co owner there and says they look forward to seeing what Van Helten comes up with. "I actually have to say I think I'm pretty excited to have no clue," Bagby said.
He'll spend roughly ten days painting. What will he paint? It's a question only Van Helten will have the answer to. "It always develops the way it should because I come here with no pre-conceived ideas. That way any influence I get from now until I start painting is going to help influence the design," Van Helten said.
