Garth Brooks at The Ryman Auditorium Print

It was religious inspiration that took this building from a dream to reality. Specifically, it was the inspiration of a charismatic evangelist named Sam Jones, when on May 10, 1885, Tom Ryman, a Nashville riverboat captain heard Jones speak at a tent revival. Jones’s words transformed Ryman’s life. Ryman became a man who looked to a higher God for his calling rather than looking to money. Ryman and Jones dreamed of creating a tabernacle as the religious gathering place for the city. Nashvillians joined Ryman and Jones and donated both time and money to complete the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the name of the new building when it opened to the community in 1892. Now a National Historic Landmark, after Captain Ryman passed the name of the building was changed to the Ryman Auditorium. For over 100 years the Ryman has been home to numerous music showcases. Now known as The Mother Church, I elected to paint this perspective, (note the church pew seating,) featuring Garth Brooks on stage.