It’s An Art of Flair: Public Art in Georgia’s Cities

BY ASHLEY BAILEY

Cities are often known to be places and spaces where people live, work, play, and visit.

Every city has its own special touch of charm, excitement, and history – making it an identity that sets them apart. Throughout the years, public art has provided cities the opportunity to bring together public spaces and artists with a creative vision into the civic decision-making process.

Several cities throughout the state have embraced art in many unique ways from public installations, murals, fine art, street art and more.

Here’s a glimpse of how cities across the state are embracing art in their cities:

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

Rainbow Forest, is a public art installation located in Athens that features a grid of 36 rainbow-colored concrete columns located along the North Oconee River Greenway trail.

Chamblee

Chamblee’s mural at the city’s Rideshare Park is located on the corner of Peachtree Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Way.

Canton

Canton’s mural “It’s a Vibe,” was created by Georgia artist Lauren Stumberg, and is located on the city’s downtown parking deck which was designed with a non-brick, paintable wall for a future mural. The mural was completed in early April and dedicated on April 13, 2023.

Artist Statement:

“My work honors the human experience through abstracted portraiture and symbolism, and my paintings are imbued with patterns that translate into the hieroglyphics of one’s journey; they are feminine, painterly and expressive of connective energy. My work is known to be vibrant and dynamic, with the main objective to put a smile on someone’s face and brighten their day. It is inspiring that the city of Canton called for a piece of work that nurtures community-building. Welcoming diverse communities celebrates the inclusivity of public spaces and cultivates the discovery of common ground that we share for the future.”

Donalsonville

Donalsonville has several fire hydrants throughout their city designed in various artistic motifs, as well as murals and other artistic displays.

Douglasville

Creative art has a space in the city’s downtown including a fence in their plaza and created a fence art gallery, including a fire hydrant painted like a Dalmatian.

Duluth

Duluth has several examples of the way in which the city utilizes unusual arts including three major projects:

Gently Down Stream – Storm Drain Mural by Daisy Anne Dickson

Gently Down Stream is the second joint project for the Duluth Public

Art Commission (DPAC) and the Stormwater Division to bring awareness to the issues of illicit discharge, stormwater management and stream protection to the community.

Ripple Effect – Storm Drain Mural by Amanda Henke

This work of art was the first joint project between DPAC and the city’s Stormwater Division to bring awareness to the issues of illicit discharge, stormwater management and stream protection to the community.

Meet Me on Main – Mural by Brenda Ehly

What was once a boring set of blacked-out windows has been transformed into a colorful peek into old-time Duluth. The original photo that inspired the design was taken in the 1950s on Main Street.

Lyons

The Lions Club of Lyons, GA has 6 new collection boxes used for collecting old eyeglasses and hearing aids. The eyeglasses and hearing aids collected by the Lyons Club are sent to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse, a nonprofit organization. The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation operates one of the largest eyeglass recycling centers in the United States providing impact domestically and internationally. Students at Toombs County High School built and painted the recycling boxes.

Suwanee

Last fall, the city of Suwanee sent out a call for old trophies and other outdated relics of past glory. Expecting a few hundred, the city received a few thousand; they were delivered by the truckload to artist Phil Proctor to create a giant, awe-inspiring giant trophy out of many: the Ultimate Participation Trophy. The new public art piece was unveiled in Town Center Park on April 29 during the Suwanee Arts Festival.

“I asked my kids if they want their old trophies, and the answer was a hard no,” said Suwanee Assistant City Manager and empty nester, Denise Brinson. “As a parent, it’s hard to just throw them away. This project gives those mementos a meaningful purpose and second life.”

Funding for this project was provided by a grant from Gwinnett Creativity Fund, which works to provide support for arts and cultural initiatives within Gwinnett County. The Gwinnett Creativity Fund is supported by Gwinnett County and managed and administered by Explore Gwinnett.

Columbus

Columbus Civic Center

“The Center of it All”: Columbus, Georgia artist Trudy Tran depicted Columbus Civic Center’s motto “The Center of it All,” with illustrations of the youth participating in hockey, ice skating, basketball, graduation and singing. Trudy’s artwork is located in the administration office.

Bricks & Mortar Program: Real estate projects including City Halls, Police/Fire Stations and Public Parks, Theaters and Greenspaces

Direct Lease Program: Eligible essential equipment including police and fire vehicles, heavy equipment, computer servers and other asset classes.

Program benefits include:

• Flexible finance terms

• Attractive interest rates and competitive terms

• No upfront fees or prepayment penalties*

• Real estate project compliance with Section 36-60-13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated

Contact: Philip Potter ppotter@gacities.com to learn more *terms determined during RFP process, other restrictions may apply