A ribbon cutting celebration for the Augusta Sculpture Trail is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, April 21 at the Eighth Street Street Riverwalk Bulkhead.
Guest speakers include Brandon Garrett, Mayor Pro Tem; Maurice McDowell, Director of Augusta Parks and Recreation; Dennis Skelley, Georgia Rehabilitation Institute; Stacy Pulliam, Commissioner 2nd District; Bennish Brown, Destination Augusta; Margaret Woodard, Downtown Development Authority; and Greater Augusta Arts Council Board Member Leon Maben will Emcee, according to a news release.
The four local authors, Karin Gillespie, Olivia Gaines, Brian Panowich and Evelyn Berry, whose books are a part of the Book Bench Sculpture will be in attendance. Entertainers from Arcane Arts will perform.
A new group of sculptures were installed in January as part of the Sculpture Trail. The Augusta Sculpture Trail is a walkable and promotable art trail to attract local and regional visitors to the Downtown Augusta area, supporting Augusta’s economic and cultural prosperity. The public works of art are placed at intervals that make for a fun and easy outdoor walking trail.
Ten new sculptures were selected from submissions and the pieces will remain a part of the sculpture trail for two years, the news release said. Four of the sculptures from the initial sculpture trail have been donated to the Augusta’s public art collection and are included as a permanent addition to the trail. Also included on the trail is a new sculpture donated by the family of Roger Finch, a sculptor who died in 2020.
The new Augusta Sculpture Trail digital walking tour by Otocast is available for self-guided tours. It can be accessed from any mobile device. This tool will help visitors learn specifics about each work of art while they explore the Augusta Sculpture Trail, and includes audio of each artist, talking about their works of art, the news release said.
Find out more about the sculpture trail on www.AugustaSculptureTrail.com.
