BRIGHAM CITY -- Birds migrate through Brigham City each spring, but you don't have to spend hours bird-watching to see some of your favorite feathered friends -- their beauty has been captured in art.
The Brigham City Heritage and Cultural Arts Board unveils the Main Street Flyway Project at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26. The Main Street Flyway Project is made up of eight pieces of original art, hanging from lampposts along the street, from 100 South to Forest Street. The unveiling ceremony starts near the Main Street archway.
"These bird images represent birds we have in our area, and especially around our bird refuge," said Susan Neidert, chairwoman of the Brigham City Heritage and Cultural Arts Board.
Brigham City is just east of the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, where wetlands support millions of birds. A large arch over the town's Main Street reads, "Welcome to Brigham: Gateway to the World's Greatest Wild Bird Refuge."
The art was designed by locals who entered a contest. Winners were James Essler and his daughter Natalya, of Perry, and Brigham City residents Colette Bradford, Beth Gurrister, Susan Neidert and 9-year-old Harrison Clark. Some of the artists had more than one piece of artwork selected for the project.
The images were cut from wood, with help from local artist Dave Kafton and woodworker R.J. Rucker. Volunteers painted the pieces, and framing was done by Box Elder High School shop class students Kyler Hardman and James Burger. The custom hardware for hanging the art was made by the school's industrial arts class and Ace Hardware.
The finished pieces will hang from lampposts through the summer, and into the fall.
The project was paid for with a Random Acts of Art grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.
"Our goal is to make it an annual event, and every year add more," said Neidert. "There are at least 45 lampposts."
For more information, call 435-723-0740.