When Bryan Cohn makes his rounds for Borden Pest Control, he regularly gets stopped at a red light at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Wrightsboro Road.
His wait has become a little friendlier lately with the placement of a mural that depicts the Savannah River on the wall near the city's water treatment plant.
The Highland Avenue wall will soon have a neighbor, with six new murals set to appear along the Wrightsboro Road side in the coming months.
"It's definitely better than what it was for the area," said Cohn, who frequently travels the neighborhood. "This light loves people. It definitely has a way of making people stop and look around at the scenery."
Six artists were chosen last week in the second phase of a competition sponsored by the Augusta Utilities Department and the Arts Factory Inc. Each will get a section of the Wrightsboro wall to depict a water theme.
Leonard Zimmerman, one of the artists, said he hopes to make passers-by smile when they see the robot, inner tube, duck and yellow submarine he plans to paint.
"I've seen that wall ever since I was a kid and just pictured something bright and happy on it," said Zimmerman, an Augusta artist and graphic designer who signs his work as "Porkchop."
The other winners were Cyndy Epps, Joseph Hart, Steve Krecskay, Steve Snyder and Brian Stewart.
"I am just hoping that it really brings a sense of beauty to the area," Snyder said. "It is a pretty busy intersection."
Art Factory Executive Director Cindy O'Brien said her goal for the project is to help make art accessible to the whole community.
"I used to sit at that intersection a lot and dream that there could be something else there," O'Brien said.
A third stage of the "Art on the Wall" mural project will begin this spring and include work by teenagers and students in an Augusta State painting class.
O'Brien said a "walk the wall" event is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 20 and will include a scavenger hunt for children.
"Once you stop and really walk the wall, you see so much more," she said.
The list of "things to do" in Augusta just keeps growing!
I love the mural and can't wait to see the next phase.
This was supposed to be a competition for art that represents Augusta.To bad the that a "few select" individuals were the ones to choose the winners and the people of Augusta did not have any input.
I have been hearing on R&R about the wall...these photos are the first time I have seen it.....I like all of them except the "man" and the pipes...reminds me of the propaganda murals the communist used to paint......................
I've always enjoyed murals in various cities and landmarks. Is there a preview of the murals on a web site?
Cool idea but who is paying for this? The taxpayers? That's something that this article is seriously missing. Hopefully this is all donated work and paint because govt spending must decrease!
They look great. But do we really need to pay for this during a recession? What a waste.
I passed by there today, and it is beautiful.
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.
Everybody needs a brighter am.. this is beautiful.. Maybe some other walls could have spring flowers.
I think the murals look nice, but don't overdo it.
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