Sculpture from the 2021 Macon Sculpture Walk by Alex Mendez
The 6th Annual Macon Sculpture Walk will kick off with new sculptures on Friday, April 12. This year’s sculpture walk will feature three new sculptures by both local and national artists. The sculptures will be installed throughout downtown Macon.
The Macon Sculpture Walk started in 2018 to exhibit high-quality public sculptures in downtown Macon. The sculptures come from different artists and remain on exhibit for one year. Some of the sculptures from previous years have been purchased by local businesses and organizations and remain on display permanently.
Five different artists submitted pieces for this year’s sculpture walk. Out of them, the selection committee chose sculptures by 3 artists: Alex Mendez, Flaminio Antonio and James R. Bodell.
“It’s always exciting to see the new sculptures,” says coordinator Melissa Macker. “Downtown Macon continues to grow as a public art destination, and visitors and locals alike will enjoy engaging with these sculptures. The artists have done an incredible job creating works that people will stop and notice.”
Alex Mendez began is based in Indiana, but he is not new to Macon. He was one of the first artists to participate in the Macon Sculpture Walk. Some of his large-scale metal sculptures are now permanently on display downtown. Mendez’s lighthearted, optimistic, carefree nature is reflected in every piece of his work.
Flaminio Antonio is based in Ocala, Florida, but he was born in Colombia. He learned welding at a young age and quickly became interested in sculpting with scrap metal. He enjoys creating public sculpture because he gets to put his own message into the work and see the impact it has on the viewer. This will be the first time his work art has been displayed in Macon.
Macon-based artist James R. Bodell is returning to Macon Sculpture Walk after last participating in 2022. He began sculpting at a young age and worked in art settings for many years. He then mastered his welding skills by working in industrial settings for 25 years. When he retired, he became a full-time sculptor. His works are influenced by the various places he has worked, from art museums to chemical plants.
The Downtown Macon Community Association started Macon Sculpture Walk as a way to beautify downtown Macon and attract visitors. Since then, The 567 Center for Renewal has continued the annual exhibit alongside community partners as part of its mission to bring creative life to downtown Macon. This year’s sculpture walk is made possible by the support of the Linda Harriett Lane Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.
About The 567 Center for Renewal
The 567 Center for Renewal is a non-profit community space for artists who bring collaboratively creative life to downtown Macon and surrounding areas through events, exhibits, and classes. For more, visit the567center.org.
Contacts:
The 567 Center for Renewal: Melissa Macker, Executive Director, phone: 478.238.6051, e-mail: melissa@the567.org