The Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee
(PAAC) will meet on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at Noon, at the Valdosta
Regional Airport. The meeting will take place in the airport conference room located
in the airport’s main terminal.
Following
the business meeting, the PAAC will host a Mural Unveiling Reception in the
baggage claim area of the airport, at 1 p.m. The mural, painted by local artist
Ethan Abbott, features various iconic events and people within each letter of
the word “Valdosta.” It’s the first major piece of public art at the Valdosta
Regional Airport, and it will warmly welcome visitors and returning community
members to the area when they retrieve their luggage.
The
PAAC, funded by the City of Valdosta, commissioned Abbott to paint the mural
that celebrates life in the city. He is Valdosta homegrown, a graduate of
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in graphic arts, a member of the Regional
Artists Community, and his works can be seen in various restaurants, businesses
and homes across the community.
“This
is one of 15 public art pieces that has been placed within the City Central
Arts District (CCAD) as well as other community locations for people’s enjoyment
and appreciation,” said Bruce Smith, PAAC Chair. “Our committee is pleased to
unveil the mural at the airport, which will extend the warm South Georgia welcome
that people have come to expect from Valdosta and that will also let our guests
know that we are a thriving arts community. We invite the community to
celebrate along with us at this Feb. 21 event.”
The
mural at the airport also features a hashtag—a user-generated social media tag which makes it possible for people to post and
find similarly-themed photos and content in one location using #ArtsValdosta. The
committee hopes people will be inspired to take a photo of themselves in front
of the airport mural, as well as any other art locations in the community, and
then post them to the social media site.
The purpose of PAAC is to further the purchase,
creation and appreciation of public art for its aesthetic value to the
community. The PAAC also encourages the preservation and protection of works of
public art which play a vital role in the economic development of the
community.
For more information about the PAAC,
call 229-247-2787.
