In celebration of Judge Realty’s 10 year anniversary, they’re joining forces with Art Rise Savannah to showcase the ever-growing need and desire to exhibit public art in Savannah. Throughout the month of June the duo invites you to watch the face of public art in Savannah grow ...literally. Savannah's Mossterpiece, is the first eco-friendly public art project in Savannah that will be completely comprised of moss placed on the facade of the Judge Realty building, located at 347 Abercorn Street in downtown Savannah. SCAD alumni, and local Savannah artist Jamie Bourgeois,will be taking on the challenge of creating a mural that represents growth, community,and art.

Both Judge Realty and Art Rise Savannah pride themselves on enhancing the community through public art and community involvement. The facade of the Judge Realty building will provide a blank canvas for Bourgeois to work with. Given the themes of growth, community, and art, the mural will not only encompass the themes but the moss will also enhance the overall natural green space that Savannah was designed to be.

“We really wanted to showcase that supporting the economic growth of the art community here in Savannah is vital to the City’s advancement. I want this project to act as a stepping stone for artists to see that job growth, economic stability and impactful public art have a place here. It also helps that the art is eco­-friendly,” Lori Judge of Judge Realty stated.

Judge Realty recently installed solar panels on the building in order to completely take Judge Realty off the electric grid, making them one of the only downtown companies to rely solely on solar energy. It is this kind of commitment to sustainability that attracted Art Rise to the project. Art Rise wanted to harness this vision and create a union between art and sustainability.

“We are excited by the moss medium due to it's close thematic relationship to the Judge Realty's recent build­ out of solar energy generators on the top of their building. We feel strongly that by using the moss­ medium and solar energy together, we will be able to educate and highlight the benefits of renewable resources in an open, articulate, and accessible manner. The concept is beneficial not only to the beauty of the neighborhood, but also Savannah's character as a progressive future­ thinking city,” stated Clinton Edminster, Executive Director of Art Rise Savannah.

Moss graffiti is a recent trend in street, or mural, art that uses living moss to paint on the walls of public spaces. Moss is blended and painted onto a wall, then allowed to grow in position. After application, the moss grows, adding a new dimension to the art medium as well as extending the concept of guerilla gardening.

Kristopher Monroe, President of Art Rise Savannah stated, "As the City of Savannah increasingly recognizes the importance of public art, we're excited to be working with Judge Realty in realizing this eco­-friendly themed project to bring more awareness of what the possibilities of public art can and should be about."

Savannah's beauty has for centuries been enhanced by the natural green spaces and trees cared for, nurtured, and beloved by both the city and the citizens who walk beneath them. The chosen mural design and the medium that is being used speaks to the continued admiration for nature in its strength and diversity.

Edminster continued by stating, "One of the amazing benefits of public art is the feedback loop that it creates in the community. Our city’s members are able to see the investments being made in the arts on an accessible and public level."