On The Road With Georgia Sign Hunters Extraordinaire

Art is about discovery and experiencing something in a new or unanticipated way. That’s what makes street art so much fun.

It’s an unexpected treat that captures your eye when and where you least expect it.

From small towns to big cities, blank walls are doubling as artists’ canvases, sprouting scenes of commerce, hope, and inspiration all over Georgia. Murals on buildings are powerful ways to tell a community’s story or explore an artist’s vision.

A driving tour searching for building murals gets you out of the house while exposing you to something new. As is the case for Bert and Laura Nagy, it’s a way to explore, bond, and enjoy their Corvette together.

We first got to talking to Bert and Laura last summer after we published the popular Must-See Murals Of Athens and Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign articles. Long story short, we asked them to capture their hobby of mural hunting with photos.

Here is a small sample of their adventurers.

Community Expression

You quickly discover that public art reflects how we see the world – the artist’s response to our time and place combined with our sense of who we are.

This art is out in the open for everyone, a form of collective community expression.

Georgia has some fantastic indoor art museums, but building murals create the perfect “where am I?” selfie. Even in the simplest of commissioned murals, you can glean a great deal about the community’s character and self-image.

Often what a community deems essential is boiled down and encapsulated into a single building mural.

Starting Your Adventure

For those looking to start their mural hunting adventure, some online sites will make the job easier. Explore Georgia is a good state resource that can get you started.

Hidden Gems: The Murals of Athens is another good source. Often it’s as easy as searching for “Georgia Street Art” or Georgia Outdoor Murals” to start the journey.

If your exploration takes you into Atlanta, you won’t be disappointed. Atlanta has become one of America’s best cities for street art.

According to Atlanta Street Art Map, there are more than 1,000 murals throughout the metro area. This website documents as much of the city’s street art as possible.

Street artists have prominently created murals in Krog Street Tunnel, along the BeltLine, and neighborhoods across the city.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign

In talking with Bert about his experiences, he will tell you it’s essential to do your homework online before you ever slide behind the wheel of your car. Layout your course in advance to make the best use of your drive time.

Bert says, “Sometimes you come across something around the next bend that wasn’t on a website.” “Other times,” he remarks, “it pays to stop and talk to the people staffing the town’s tourist information center.”

“Patience, luck, and timing also are important,” Bert was quick to add. “Sometimes you’ll find the perfect mural, but there’s a truck parked there, so you’ll either have to grab lunch and wait them out or move on.”

So get out of the house, fire up your Chevy small block and start tracking down the building murals in your area. You may be surprised to see the street art in your own backyard.