Before Buc-ees, there was Stuckey’s. It’s a short trip down Highway 1 to Wrens, Georgia, in case you need a Stuckey’s pecan log roll fix or to feast your eyes on some award-winning art.
The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Stuckey’s Corporation have unveiled the artists chosen to adorn the candy plant’s exterior walls, Pash Lima and the team behind “Color the World Bright,” a collaborative project led by Joseph Norman, Professor of Art at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, and Katie Brannen, Artist and Project Manager.
The two murals will grace the exterior walls of the Stuckey’s candy plant in Wrens, Georgia. Pash Lima was selected to paint the mural celebrating the pecan as America’s native nut, with Georgia reigning supreme as the top producer. Meanwhile, the second mural, an ode to the spirit of the road trip and Georgia’s roadside wonders, will be spearheaded by the UGA team.
“Art is the lifeblood of the community,” Stephanie Stuckey, Chair of Stuckey’s Corporation, declared. “These murals will not only honor Stuckey’s legacy, but also beckon travelers to experience Wrens. We are deeply grateful to our partners at Jefferson County for funding and supporting this project.”
Pash Lima is an Atlanta-based artist who attended the University of the Arts and the Hussian School of Art, both in Philadelphia, PA. His mural art has graced the walls of numerous buildings and businesses, including The Twelve Hotel in Atlanta and Clark Atlanta University. Lima was selected to paint a mural celebrating the pecan, including its history and cultural importance to our state. “As an artist, having the privilege of being chosen to do what you love in the service of good people and the community is an amazing feeling. I am honored to have the opportunity to capture the pecan’s essence in my art, weaving together its rich history and cultural significance,” stated Lima.
“Color the World Bright” will be creating a road trip-inspired mural. The organization is the inspiration of Professor Norman in the early 2000’s, with a goal to create a mural organization to fund UGA’s art students’ study abroad program in Italy. CTWB provides on-the-job, quality instruction to a diverse pool of UGA students who represent its student body’s multicultural heritage, educating them in the art of painting, finance, public relations, and business management. “We are thrilled to add Wrens to our growing portfolio of cities in Georgia whose walls we have graced with student-led murals, including Conyers, Commerce, Griffin, and Bowman,” said Norman. “Our organization believes that through art you can change the lives of a community and change the lives of students. In so doing that, you can change the world.”
Stay tuned as Stuckey’s announces the exact dates for the mural painting displays projected for May. The public will be invited to witness their creation, as well as explore Wrens and Jefferson County. Follow Stuckey’s on Facebook or visit their website.
If you would like an autographed copy of Stephanie Stuckey’s new book, Unstuck: Rebirth of an American Icon, look no further than April 30 and ABD’s Inspire 2024 Spring Conference. Did we mention pecan log rolls? They can be included with your registration. For more info or to register for the conference, click here.
