First Public Art Installed In Douglasville

DOUGLASVILLE, GA – The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/ Douglas County is launching a new initiative to use public art to further establish the community as a dynamic center of creativity and a destination for visitors.

The first public art piece was unveiled and installed at the CAC’s ribbon cutting in September. The new public art bench now resides in front of the arts center building and was inspired by the CAC’s Butterfly Garden that is maintained by the Douglas County Master Gardeners and the Ama-Kanasta Garden Club. The bench depicts an array of flowers, hydrangeas, and butterflies with a quote stating, ‘Love One Another.’ Executive Director Emily Lightner noted that the bench is just the first of many public art pieces coming to the community.

The beautiful bench was hand painted by local and renowned artist, Ann Cockerill. She discovered the world of painting at the age of four and now owns the Red Cockerill Gallery located in Austell, GA. Cockerill was commissioned by the State of Georgia to paint Oglethorpe, Jefferson, Washington, and Lafayette’s life-size portraits for the newly remodeled “Old Capital” in Milledgeville. Her painting of Kennesaw Mountain was included in the “Spirit of America Exhibition from Winslow Homer to Andrew Wyeth,” and toured the nation’s museums. Cockerill was eager to be part of such a great public art initiative when given the opportunity.

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The purpose of public art is not only to enrich the community and improve our quality of life through its ability to enrich an environment but also to ignite the imagination, encourage thought and to prompt discourse. Public art benefits the community through placemaking, bringing people together, and can be used as a tool in economic development. Public art can also strengthen personal connections to one’s community.

According to Lightner, studies have looked at the economic development benefits of art, but only just recently have there been wider examinations of the effect of art on a community’s sense of place. Public art is a distinguishing part of our public history and our evolving culture. It reflects and reveals our society, adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness to our communities. Public art humanizes the built environment and invigorates public spaces. It provides an intersection between past, present, and future, between disciplines, and between ideas. Public art is freely accessible to enjoy.

The Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/ Douglas County, located at 8652 Campbellton Street in historic downtown Douglasville, Georgia, is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For directions, more information, or to make your reservations, visit www.artsdouglas.org or contact the Cultural Arts Council at 770-949-2787.

Photo courtesy Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/ Douglas County