Public Art Beautifying the SCA Region
July 15, 2022
Sarah Lyles, Palmetto Pride
Public art, a form of visual art, is at no surprise created to be enjoyed by the general public. However, public art is also a great litter prevention tactic, and it seems to be taking over in the SouthernCarolina Region as we continue to strive towards litter-free communities!
Palmetto Pride, South Carolina’s anti-litter and beautification organization, teaches litter education through their Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) program. The program explains how proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in quality of life, including litter prevention and beautification of communities. Municipalities throughout the world are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention and safety in mind.
Here in the SCA region, we care immensely about keeping our communities clean and beautiful. The various forms of public art in some of our region’s counties play a major role in the improvement of beautification of the areas.
Located on the outside wall of the Stanley Arts Center in Hampton County, the mural entitled “Gullah Dancers” was designed by artist Amiri Farris and painted by community volunteers. Also in Hampton County, a variety of murals can be enjoyed by the public throughout downtown that were painted by campers of Hampton County Arts’ “Paint the Town” mural camp.
Over in Colleton County, sits a 72ft by 22ft silhouette inspired mural located downtown Walterboro just behind the Colleton County Courthouse. Echoing the work of award-winning silhouette artist Clay Rice, the mural was painted by local young artist Luke Mixson. Mixson, a self-taught, free-hand silhouette artist, displayed true features of the SC Lowcountry in his piece including turkeys, deer, birds, and alligators.
As for Bamberg and Allendale Counties, they have been the most recent places to receive forms of public art – also making their art pieces the freshest! Downtown Bamberg at the corner of US Hwy 301 and US Hwy 78, sits a colorful photo showcasing the Edisto River. The mural serves as part of SCA’s #BeBamberg Campaign, and the photo was taken by George Reeves, a member of South Fork Paddlers as he was paddling down the Edisto. The mural is crafted to be able to showcase new perspectives of Bamberg County, by allowing the image to be changed. The neighboring county of Allendale was also recently brightened, by a colorful blue and green bright piece of art. The mural, serving as part of SCA’s All for Allendale County’s Campaign, was painted directly on the Fleetwood Building on US Hwy 301 in Allendale by artist Sophie Docolavich.
Not to be forgotten, an extremely unique piece of public art resides in the heart of Barnwell County. The Barnwell Sundial is thought to be the only free-standing, vertical sundial in the country and still keeps almost perfect standard time. Two statues surround the sundial, a little girl and boy playing, and the boy’s shoes resting on the side of the monument.
Public art benefits the beautification of a community by promoting economic growth, cultural understanding, cultural identity, and a sense of belonging. Overall, the strategy of putting public art in our region is helping to continue to keep it a cleaner and more beautiful place for those of us who live, work, and play here!
