Stunning portrait made entirely from clothing is a tribute to her “Coat of Many Colors” song.
Orlando, Fla. (June 8, 2016) – Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg will soon be home to a one-of-a-kind portrait of Tennessee native Dolly Parton.
The portrait is a tribute to the singer’s hit song “Coat of Many Colors.” In it, Parton sings about her mother stitching together rags to make a coat for her when she was a child. For the portrait, Orlando, Florida artist Mateo Blanco used pieces of clothing that belonged to his grandmother to create a stunning likeness of the beloved entertainer. It’s made entirely of pieces of cloth; nothing is painted.
“There are a variety of fabrics in the portrait, some are humble and worn, others are golden, all stitched together to represent both Dolly’s humble beginnings and her success in life,” said Blanco.
“Dolly Parton is one of the kindest human beings I have ever met,” said Ryan DeSear, General Manager, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg. “Her roots to our community are strong and I can think of no one else who gives more back to the area. It celebrates her success as an artist, as well as one of her greatest songs, and it promotes our local quilting heritage. It is the perfect unbelievable piece for Ripley’s Gatlinburg Odditorium.”
This is the 15th Mateo Blanco creation that Ripley’s has acquired. He specializes in stunning portraits made from unusual media, including dog hair, sugar, pasta, chocolate, peanuts, coffee beans and wool. He’s also an opera singer who has performed around the world, and a lifelong fan of Dolly Parton. His work hangs in Ripley’s Odditoriums around the world.
Artist Mateo Blanco and Edward Meyer, Ripley’s VP of Exhibits & Archives
Media Contacts
Edward Meyer
VP, Exhibits & Archives
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
407-345-8010 office
407-492-8256 cell
meyer@ripleys.com
Dee Lundy
Lundy Thomas
865-755-2128
lundy@ripleys.com
