HUSK Savannah

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Simon Cooper is an artist with a passion for history. Blending art and history, Simon creates engaging and informative works that celebrate past figures and events. This collection was created specifically for Husk Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. All works are original paintings based on site-specific, historical research.

Along the east wall are three portraits depicting James Edward Oglethorpe, Mary Musgrove, and Tomochichi. Each are prominent figures in the founding of Savannah. Oglethorpe, a British colonist, and Tomochichi, a Savannah native and leader of the Yamacraw, formed what would become the city of Savannah and the Georgia Colony. Mary Musgrove, who was of both Yamacraw and English descent, communicated on behalf of both leaders and played an essential role in building their alliance.

The west wall shows a vision of Savannah, both past and present. The largest painting depicts a 1732 plan for the future colony. It is based on an original engraving by John Pine, who illustrated the layout of the city and colony’s extension from the Savannah River to the Appalachian Mountains in the distance. Below is a map of present-day Savannah split down the middle by the iconic Bull Street. Both works highlight Oglethorpe’s ingenuity in city planning, most notably the “Oglethorpe Plan.” Its efficient use of a grid system in harmony with an abundance of squares and parks has truly stood the test of time.

-Simon Cooper