This bas-relief triptych is located on the Athens-Clarke County Information Technology office at 596 Prince Avenue. It’s titled Morning, Noon, and Evening of Life and was created by Nashville sculptor Thomas Puryear Mims. There were at least three of these works, including the Athens example: one was located in Jackson, Mississippi, and has since been removed, and another is still extant, in Chattanooga. They were commissioned by Interstate Life and Accident Company in the 1950s, so my presumption is that this building was originally home to a branch of Interstate Life and Accident Company.
This sort of work was commonly found on structures built a bit earlier, during the New Deal, and later was common on Medical Arts buildings and doctor’s offices.
This is an important Mid-Century sculpture and should be preserved.
The relief is called the morning, noon, and evening of life by Thomas Puryear Mims of Nashville. There’s also one at 540 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee. There was one in Jackson, Ms but it was removed during renovations of the building. It looks like these were commissioned by the Interstate Life and accident Co. back in the 1950s. https://collections.chattlibrary.org/s/localhistory/item/11275#lg=1&slide=0
https://www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/Public/prop.aspx?id=2145893423&view=facts&y=1176
Thanks. So glad to have and identification. I’ll update soon, perhaps with a new post!
This used to be the water department building, but not sure if that was its original use.
Thanks.
The Michael Brothers twin mansions were razed for this and one other small office building !! Sad !