Mauldin unveils latest public art installation embracing industry

The City of Mauldin unveiled The Groundbreaking – the fourth installation along its Public Art Trail – on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Artist Arrington Matthews’ sculpture exemplifies the theme “Industry of the Upstate” by portraying the ever-changing face of industry – from where we began to where we are heading. Matthews has been a metalsmith with John Boyd Smith Metal Studios since 2012, where he designs, creates, and finishes architectural commissions. Skilled in design, welding, forging, and metal fabrication, his work is represented in Florida, Maryland, California, Hilton Head, Savannah, and now Mauldin.

Matthews is also a firefighter with the Mauldin Fire Department. Being an employee of the city, he is intimately aware of the growth Mauldin has seen recently and chose to focus his piece on the city’s industry.

The focal point of The Groundbreaking is a six-foot-tall shovel rooted in a chunk of actual railroad track and painted with a skyline graphic. The overall effect is a representation of the changing face of Mauldin from a railroad-rooted city to one that has expanded to include a variety of industries. Large metal gears round out the piece, indicating the combination of Mauldin’s current businesses and tourism efforts working to create a forward-moving city.

The Mauldin Public Art Trail was established in December 2014 as a way to beautify the community with artworks created by South Carolina artists. This year’s sculpture will join three others outside of the Mauldin Cultural Center — 2015’s The Depot, 2016’s Palmetto with Flowers, and 2017’s We Are All One.

To learn more about the installations along the Public Art Trail or how you can submit an application, please visit MauldinCulturalCenter.org/public-art-trail.

About the City of Mauldin

The city of Mauldin is located in the Upstate of South Carolina and in the heart of Greenville County. It is the 17th largest city in South Carolina out of 270 municipalities and one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Mauldin was first charted in 1820 and has grown to a population of more than 25,000. More information about the city of Mauldin can be found online at CityOfMauldin.org.