Greater Augusta Arts Council to Celebrate New Public Sculptures at Pendleton King Park with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Wednesday, July 15th, 2026
The Greater Augusta Arts Council invites the public to a ribbon cutting celebrating four new public sculptures at Pendleton King Park on Saturday, July 25, at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the park entrance, 1600 Troupe Street, Augusta, GA 30904, and is free to attend.
The installation features “Hydrangeas” by Colleen Beyer-Stewart and Wesley L. Stewart of September Art Studios, installed in late 2025, and “Morning Interlude,” a new sculpture by Florida based artist Aisling Millar McDonald.
September Art Studios has created works installed throughout Augusta, Georgia, while sculptor Aisling McDonald most recently exhibited a featured work on the 2024–2025 Augusta Sculpture Trail. An accomplished sculptor and Adjunct Professor of Art at the University of North Florida, McDonald's large-scale public artworks can be found across the Southeast. Collaborators Colleen Beyer-Stewart and Wesley Stewart, both Augusta-based artists, were also selected to create Augusta's first Gateway Sculpture, scheduled for installation this fall at Sand Bar Ferry Road and I-520 in October 2026.
Inspired by Pendleton King Park's gardens, native plants, and bird sanctuary, the sculptures celebrate the park's natural beauty while welcoming visitors to one of Augusta's most beloved green spaces. “Morning Interlude” incorporates a native bird perched among blooming flowers, reflecting the park's thriving bird sanctuary, while “Hydrangeas” echoes the colorful blooms found throughout the park's historic gardens.
Commissioned by the Greater Augusta Arts Council and funded by a generous grant from the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute (GRI) in partnership with the Pendleton King Park Foundation & Board, the installations represent the first new public art added to the park following its reopening after Hurricane Helene. They also mark the next chapter of the Garden City Forever Flowers initiative funded by GRI, which celebrates Augusta's identity through public art inspired by its native flowers and plants.
Pendleton King Park is located at 1600 Troupe Street, Augusta, GA 30904, and is open seven days a week. Speakers for this event include city officials, the artists, the Public Art Advisory Panel, and the Arts Council. To learn more about Augusta's public art, visit www.augustaarts.com.
