ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Uniting Orangeburg Through Art is a 2025 initiative by the city of Orangeburg, Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center and the South Carolina Rural Arts Project to bring the community together.
The first project is a 1,630-square-foot mural on a wall along historic Russell Street in the heart of downtown Orangeburg.
City Councilwoman Annette Dees Grevious said this being the city's first public art piece speaks volumes.
“Public art is extremely important to any community," said Dees Grevious. "As we know it has the ability to energize a community, enrich a community, engage a community and probably most importantly unite a community.”
Local businesses and donations from the community are funding the wall.
Grevious said this project would help beautify the downtown area.
“This is just a launch of a public art initiative so the mural is the first in this particular initiative," said Grevious. "But the vision is to see public art throughout downtown Orangeburg that attracts of course current residents but also those that might be passing through Orangeburg as well.”
This mural will consist of 65 squared panels that are 5X5 foot squares, and each member of the community is welcome to paint their part.
Vivian Glover, the director of community arts and development at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center, said this is a community effort.
“It means that anyone who wants to be involved in the painting of those panels can be," said Glover. "We’re going to look to the schools, to the churches to our senior community to our artists of which we have many here in Orangeburg. So anytime anyone walks past that mural chances are they’re going to have a connection to it and that’s what we’re proud of as well that this is a community project.”
Herman Keith is spearheading the project and said this will capture the history of Orangeburg.
“We’ve been doing it throughout history; we look at the story of the Egyptians through their art; we look at the stories of the Romans through their art," Keith said. "People can see the story of Orangeburg through their art.”
The mural features several roses from the Edisto Memorial Gardens and other Orangeburg community staples. The final mural will be revealed early next year before the Rose Festival.