The Lula City Council discussed a donation from the Vision 2030 art program Monday during a city work session.
The Gainesville-based art program donated bird-shaped bike racks and wall art that will be placed around the city of Lula. Vision 2030 is a community development project that collaborates with government, education, business, and non-profit organizations. One way they hope to bolster the community is by sharing the region’s love of art.
Mayor Joe Thomas says that the addition of art into the public spaces of downtown Lula will liven up the city.
“It can’t hurt us. It’s definitely going to help us,” Thomas said. “But we’ve got some places in Lula that are not real pretty. I won’t deny it. But we’ve got some places that can really be highlighted, too. We’ve got some good-looking spaces and some spaces that need work. This is a step in the right direction.”
Thomas says that the art displays will be placed in various locations, including public restrooms, the concession stand at the Lula City baseball field and around the local walking trails. He hopes that some of the displays are interactive, allowing children to add to the paintings.
The possibility of additional donations made by Vision 2030 was also discussed, but required further consideration before moving forward.
The Vision 2030 Public Art Committee was created to provide opportunities for local artists to display their work and develop the visual arts culture in Hall County. You may have seen some of their projects at the Open Air Gallery next to Hunt Tower in downtown Gainesville. Since 2013, they have completed 172 new public art pieces. The committee also conducts fundraisers and works in conjunction with Brenau University, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Lake Lanier Olympic Venue and other public and private entities.
