just a coincidence.
The Willie Monument is the third statue put up by Capital Area Statues Inc., a group of prominent Texas writers, film producers and musicians. One of the others honors three Texas writers and is located at Barton Springs. and the other honors the woman who fired a cannon to prevent the removal of the state archives from Austin. Capital Area Statues was formed to add more statues in Austin's public places and raises money for them by selling scale models of the work.
Lawrence Wright, one of the group's founders, said April 20 was chosen because Nelson was scheduled to perform at a tribute to Johnny Cash in Austin that night, not because of the counterculture significance.
"We didn't know anything about it; it seems everyone else knew the story on this," Wright said, laughing, adding that he doesn't think Nelson was doing it intentionally either. But he said the group decided to embrace the city's unofficial motto of "Keep Austin Weird" and take the additional step of arranging for the unveiling to take place at 4:20 p.m. to add to the symbolism.
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Watch an Interview With Willie Discussing Bio-Fuel
