10/01/2026
Two years of imagination, collaboration, and creativity, now part of the heart of our downtown. 💛
We celebrated the ribbon cutting for Into the Cave, a new work of public art at the Cave City Pocket Park that tells the story of our community through the eyes of its students.
Created in 2026, this 8-foot-tall by 24-foot-wide artwork uses latex and acrylic paint with an epoxy resin overlay. Student lead artist Kaysen Satterwhite developed the final design under the guidance of art educator Hana Smith, with creative contributions from Liriel Pauley and Mrs. Hana’s art students. Approximately 175 students helped bring the piece to life, from applying the base paint to creating its finishing details.
Inspired by photographs from inside the actual Cave, the artwork invites us on a journey through time:
✨ The cave represents our past—the natural history, people, traditions, and stories that shaped Cave City.
✨ The gateway and path represent our present—recognizing how far we’ve come and the journey ahead.
✨ The journey forward represents our future—an invitation for the next generation to imagine what comes next and add their own stories.
Look closely and you’ll find hidden treasures tucked throughout the artwork, along with glitter beneath the resin. These are some of the details the students most enjoyed creating!
This two-year effort grew through the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Arts Integration Partnership, connecting Cave City Middle School and High School students, educators, steering committees, and community members. We’re grateful to Hana Smith, Steering Committee Coordinator Heather Landers, our school leadership, and Dru Davison and the Crystal Bridges team for helping carry the students’ ideas beyond the classroom. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Windgate Foundation provided program and project funding.
The ribbon-cutting brought together Cave City School District students, educators, Crystal Bridges representatives, The Heart of Cave City, Cave City Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and the Carrigan family, owners of the Crystal River Cave & Courts, to celebrate what we can create together.
For The Heart of Cave City, this first phase is an exciting step toward more public art and a downtown filled with opportunities to connect, discover, and spend time together.
Come have lunch at the Pocket Park, explore the details, and see what our young artists have added to Cave City’s story. Our journey continues!
