Augusta’s newest public art attraction will be coming to downtown next week.
Ten sculptures will be erected as part of the Augusta Sculpture Trail; most of them will be installed the week of Jan. 18 to 22, according to Pax Bobrow, Greater Augusta Arts Council’s project manager. The council is Augusta-Richmond County’s public art agency and has been overseeing the project.
“This is part of Augusta’s public art master plan,” said Brenda Durant, the council’s executive director.
Durant said other cities have implemented similar concepts of bringing in preexisting artwork and leasing it. Durant and several city officials visited Suwanee, Ga., more than two years ago to see that city’s SculpTour to see if that type of project would be feasible for Augusta.
In September, the council issued a call to artists for preexisting pieces, and the response was overwhelming as more than 120 artists submitted their ideas for consideration, she said. Selected artists live in several states including Georgia, Florida, New York, New Mexico, Texas and North Carolina.
The other piece of the Maestro/Forever Young sculpture by Larry Schueckler. 
Invasive by Jenn Garrett 
Unstoppable by Gus and Lina Ocamposilva
The 10 sculptures will be placed on Broad Street, at the Augusta Common and on Eighth Street at Riverwalk.
Gus and Lina Ocamposilva’s “Unstoppable” will be at 11th and Broad Streets, and Harry McDaniel’s “Impractical Hardware” will be at 10th and Broad Streets. “Invasive” by Jenn Garrett, “Sun Lion” by D’jean Jawrunner, “Duet” by Gregory Johnson and “Popsicles” by Craig Gray will be at the Augusta Common. “Orion” by David Sheldon and “Maestro/Forever Young” by Larry Schueckler will be at Eighth and Broad Streets.
“What a Wonderful World” by Leonard Ursachi and “Stepped Tower” by Larry Millard will be at Eighth Street and Riverwalk.
Durant said people can augment the walking tour by downloading the Otocast app and scanning a QR code to learn more about a sculpture as well as its creators. If they don’t want to download the app, they can use a web-based tour from Emory University by scanning a different QR code.
While the project has taken a few years to move from concept to reality, Durant said the timing couldn’t be better.
“This is the perfect pandemic activity,” she said as the outdoor exhibit naturally allows for social distancing and other safety measures.
The city will lease the sculptures for $3,000 each with the artists receiving $1,500 at installation and $1,500 when the sculptures are taken down. There’s a possibility one of them may be purchased and become a permanent addition to downtown’s landscape. Funding is through one of the previous SPLOST packages.
Bobrow said people can come downtown to watch and take photographs while the pieces are being installed. Most of the artists will be in town to oversee the process.
The unveiling and celebration will be Feb. 6, and the Arts Council has special monthly events planned for the two years the trail is open.
To learn more, visit www.augustasculpturetrail.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
