It’s All Handmade

When ST asked me to photograph Dollywood’s signage, I recalled the first time I saw Dolly Parton perform. During the late 1960s, I moved to Nashville, hoping to find my future. But after spending countless hours at local lounges, rubbing shoulders with some of country music’s most-talented songwriters, I discovered I didn’t have enough know-how to write a commercial song.

To ease my disappointment, I visited a nearby city park to relish the weekly performances of new country-music talents like Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Connie Smith, to name a few. Nearly 35 years later, I still think the sound of Dolly’s music is so simple, yet unique and incomparable. The same can be said about the signage that helps define her Pigeon Forge, TN-based theme park.

Mostly handcrafted, the park’s signage adds to the American traditionalism that’s openly honored throughout Dollywood. The primary function of the signs and attractions — which are inspired by Dolly’s creative influence and rise to fame — is to preserve her Smoky Mountain heritage. Dolly uses her theme park as a canvas on which to create the story of her life, which begins and ends with God and family.

During my travels throughout the years, I’ve photographed many people, places and things. But the most memorable subjects have been those distinguished by modest, atypical beauty. The Dollwood signs featured here fall into this category. Many thanks to ST and Dollywood for allowing me to capture the beauty of Dolly’s "Tennessee Mountain Home."