The non-descript exterior of the south Augusta warehouse gives no clues to the world of art that lies beyond its doors.
Inside Da Vinci Studio are the creations of Polish-born sculptor Przemyslaw Kordys, whose latest design – an 8-foot-tall pair of herons – will find its home at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park.
After studying sculpture at Poland’s Academy of Fine Art, Kordys immigrated to the United States in 2002.
“For two years, I didn’t speak any English,” said Kordys, who lived in the Atlanta area before moving to the CSRA during the pandemic.
Before following his passion for sculpture, Kordys laid tile. Now his works are found across the United States and in multiple countries.
Kordys’ more recent works include a 2022 life-sized statue of Dean Jones, Chesnee High School baseball coach and works for hotels and corporate office spaces. He creates free-standing pieces as well as wall art.
“We keep a low profile,” said Kordys, who moved to the Augusta area during the pandemic. “We do design, production and installation of the artwork.”
Adding to Augusta’s artistic landscape is the latest entry to his resume.
He answered a call for sculptures last year and won with his proposal of the 8-foot-tall heron sculpture which fits well at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. His heron sculpture is the third one at the south Augusta nature center.
The other sculptures are of the life cycle of a dragonfly – the insect is Is part of Phinizy’s logo – and an alligator known as “Chompy.”
Backing the project is the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute which “leads through funding and collaborations with organizations which provide innovative and creative improvements for people with physical disabilities,” according to its website.
“Part of giving back to the community is through the funding of public art sculptures and murals,” said Dennis Skelley, GRI’s president and CEO.
The city of Augusta has a public art master plan, and Skelley said initiatives such as this fit in with that. Another public art project through GRI reflects Augusta’s nickname of the Garden City and features flowers.
A longtime goal of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, of which Skelley has served on the board, is to make Augusta an arts destination and draw visitors who are looking for art experiences.
Over the past several years through projects such as the Sculpture Trail, the Art the Box program and multiple mural projects, that has taken shape.
Public art isn’t contained in one part of the area. Downtown is a vibrant hub for public art, but it extends into other areas of Richmond County, according to Pax Bobrow, a former arts council staff member who focused heavily on the public art piece.
“We’ve made incredible progress,” she said. “The proof that it’s working is that people are actively going about making public art happen without getting the arts council involved.”
The herons should be in place before Christmas, and Kordys is working on a fish sculpture that will be installed at Phinizy Swamp. He hopes to include area middle and high school students in finishing part of the design.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here
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