This week, I decided to take a walk and look at the painted traffic signal control boxes around downtown Augusta. They are part of a community beautification initiative that also serves to support local artists. In 2015, 19 artists were contracted for the project.
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If you’re curious about the locations of all of the boxes and the artists behind the art, a virtual tour and a map is available at www.augustaarts.com/art-in-Augusta/public-art.
Lightning Bolts by Jacob Vaz
12th St. at Broad St — Vaz’s box on the corner of 12th St. and Broad has vivid yellow 3D lightning bolts on each side.
Orange Hearts by Leonard Zimmerman
11th St. at Broad St. — Zimmerman (aka Porkchop) dedicated his box to lost loved ones, pulling from his personal experiences. It displays the themes of grief and healing through single robots holding broken hearts and pairs enjoying each other’s company.
Downtown Landmarks by Jason Craig
10th St. at Broad St. — Craig wanted to include iconic historical landmarks and figures on the box he was responsible for on 10th St. and Broad. It shows geometric renderings of the Miller Theater, Sacred Heart, James Brown and James Oglethorpe.
James Brown by Robbie Bellamy
9th St. at Broad St. — Bellamy painted the James Brown-themed box on the corner of Ninth St. and Broad St. She decided to paint James Brown because of his historical significance in Augusta.
Jessye Norman’s School for the Arts by Sarah Pacetti
Pacetti, the painter of the box on Reynolds and Ninth St., became a teacher at Jessye Norman’s School for the Arts because she was inspired by its mission to inspire Augusta’s youth to pursue artistic endeavours.
Dogwood Tree and Tech-savvy Birds by Ashley Gray
Wrightsboro Rd. at Mill St. — Gray stepped outside of her comfort zone of ceramics and chose to paint birds using various forms of technology while perched on a dogwood tree on the box located on the corner of Wrightsboro Rd. and Mill St.
St. Julian Cox, III is a photojournalist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at saintjulianc@gmail.com.
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