MILLER COUNTY, GA -- Colquitt, Georgia has a story to tell. It's a town that is centered on its history. That history has been passed down for generations through stories.
But as times changed, people in Colquitt began forgetting these stories. The people in the town decided to tell the stories on the sides of their buildings.
Colquitt is known as Georgia's first mural city. There are murals throughout the city that each tells a different story of the three dominant cultures of the South - Native America, African America and White. But more mural stands out. It tells the story of the American Farmer and his tie to the land.
"It's a face that captured the moment that a farmer goes out and pulls out some peanuts and he's deciding is it time to harvest, am I going to be able to feed my family this year, am I going to make it? That's a very serious moment for a farmer," said mural committee chairperson Pat Bush.
Canadian artist Charlie Johnston was picked through a selection process because of his ability to paint detailed, large-scale faces. The members of the committee wanted to ensure that this mural would be done correctly and be a beautiful landmark for the town.
Johnston captured the farm life on the three silos which the mural covers. As you circle the silos you see everything you would see driving down a country road in Southwest Georgia.
The mural can be seen from the highway driving into town and stand as a symbol of pride to the people of Colquitt.
"Defiantly reflects the most important parts of our culture and our local economy which is farming and the struggles that we've had and also the joys we've had through doing that," said production manager Kate Willis of the Colquitt-Miller Arts Council.
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