31 Jan City Committee approves placement for “Art Cart” in Downtown Augusta
At the January 30 meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission, the Public Service Committee approved a request by the Greater Augusta Arts Council to place the “Art Cart” installation on the campus of the Law Office of the Public Defender. The Art Cart, developed and donated by Textron Specialized Vehicles in Fall 2017, is an installation created out of an actual golf cart that will provide public shaded seating, a bike rack, a way-finding map, and a solar-powered phone charging station.
The surfaces of the Art Cart feature artwork by local artist Richard Worth, who painted notable Augustans and landmarks to bring life to the chassis of the golf cart used in the installation. Passersby will be able to view portraits of James Brown, Bobby Jones, Jessye Norman and Butterfly McQueen, as well as a rendering of the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. The artwork is titled, “City of Stars”
Worth responded to a call for art released by the Arts Council in August 2017, and a panel of artists, community members and city leaders made the selection. From his artist statement, Worth states that he, “believes in creating realistic art that is easily understood.” Worth also said he, “strives to make his work interesting by creating work with meaning that people can relate to.”
The Art Cart installation was donated by the Textron Specialized Vehicles manufacturing facility in Augusta and conceptualized by their engineers. It gives a nod to Augusta’s status as “Golf Cart Capital of the World,” while existing as a functional piece for downtown pedestrians and bikers. The artwork by Richard Worth will be displayed on the the surfaces of the golf cart chassis via a vinyl vehicle wrap created by Keen Signs.
The campus of the Law Office of the Public Defender was considered as a location by recommendation of Alexia Davis. Davis, a criminal defense attorney with the Law Office of the Public Defender and Board member of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, participated in the original selection panel. She believes the Public Defender’s office will offer a secure location for the Art Cart, as well as being well-placed for patrons of both the Public Defendant’s office and the Augusta Library.
“The Law Office of the Public Defender is pleased to partner with the Arts Council. “ Davis states. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be a launch location for an Art Cart and look forward to more public art projects around town. ”
The Art Cart is scheduled to be installed in its location at the Law Office of the Public Defender at 902 Greene St in Spring 2018.