“Vista Lights” by Esther Melton Six local artists are going big, really big — As in “14 x 48 feet” big — and Columbia commuters will have the chance to appreciate that talent every time they take to the roadways.

At a press conference held Tuesday, the Cultural Council and Lamar Advertising revealed the six pieces of artwork that will adorn various billboard locations throughout Richland and Lexington Counties. The six Street Gallery selections were chosen by a three–person committee from about 40 entries and will be rotated around the city in various high–profile locations.

The first billboard, entitled “Vista Lights” by Esther Melton, located behind Lamar’s Atlas Road offices on I–77 between the Garner’s Ferry and Shop Road exits, was installed Monday. The rest will be up by week’s end.

The annual market value of the donated billboard space exceeds $120,000, which the Cultural Council acknowledges is a valuable gift in itself. But the exposure, say the artists, is invaluable.

“Pagliacci” by Roy Paschal “You can’t get any better exposure than a 40–foot billboard,” Melton said. “We will truly see the power of advertising.”

Melton said she modified her entry, which is one of a series highlighting the Vista at night, to make the colors more vivid.

Lee Monts, whose entry entitled “Coastal Awakening” begins its year–long journey on the west side of Columbia at 4762 Sunset Boulevard, said he didn’t deviate much from his usual style but said he knew that he wanted to keep the design simple and the colors vivid.

“You have to stay true to yourself,” Monts said. “I decided to enter the contest the day before, so I just started out as I always do without a clear plan other than to start painting and let the art come out.”

“Lines” by Edward Shmunes In creating “Lines,” which will be located at 2256 Airport Boulevard at Lownsdale Road, Ed Shmunes said he worked to resize his artwork “to make sure that the perspective worked.”

“The format added a fun component,” Shmunes said. “It was like a puzzle, like Soduku, that you had to work out. I really enjoyed it.”

Rob Shaw said he deviated from his usual impressionistic style to create “In Sequence,” which depicts a group of chefs working on a meal in a restaurant kitchen.

“I wanted to create a picture of everyday life with people cooking,” he said. “I put some of the cooks together and another in isolation. I thought the copper pots in the background were a nice background element.”

“In Sequence” by Rob Shaw Shaw’s artwork begins its yearlong journey around the city at 5317 Forest Drive.

“Pagliacci” by Roy Paschal, which is named after an 1893 opera with a clown as its main character, had its origins very close to Paschal, in fact as close as one can get.

“I stuck a camera out and took my own picture, and that’s how it began,” Paschal said. “People say that every painting is a self-portrait because you bring so much of yourself to your art.”

Paschel took his image and then enhanced it with “the tears of a clown.”

“It was a contrast that seemed to work,” he said of his artwork, which will be displayed on Parklane at Claudia Drive.

The final winner, Randall McKissack, who created “Miniatus,” was not present at the press conference. His art has been installed on a billboard on Millwood at King.

Not only will the work of these six artists be spread throughout the city, the original 7–by–20– inch entries will be displayed and sold at the Cultural Council’s “Color The Arts” spring fundraiser on April 23 at First Citizen’s Plaza.

This is the third round of Street Gallery displays sponsored by Lamar, the first two being in 1997 and 2001.

“We are pleased to once again present Street Gallery,” said Scott Shockley, VP/GM of Lamar. “Outdoor advertising provides a powerful medium to showcase the diverse talents of our local artists.”

All six images and locations will be listed on the Cultural Council’s website www.Smart- Arts.info.