Macon Magazine

T hose not familiar with Triangle Arts Macon – with its non- mainstream location and graffiti everywhere – may wonder just what it is. Those who are familiar with it may also wonder at times. In the midst of wondering, each may be curious what a little lady tugging at Ric Geyer's arm in a blighted Detroit neighborhood has to do with art in Macon and Triangle Arts' mission. True, it can be confusing because Triangle Arts doesn't fit an ordinary mold — even in the art world. Truer still because COVID-19 setbacks and shutdowns stalled permits, renovations and original plans for its intended full operation by now. And yet, much has happened. Put most simply in physical terms, Triangle Arts Macon is 3.5 acres of buildings and woods that was once home to Triangle Chemical Co. at 206 Lower Elm St., several blocks east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Macon's old industrial area. Triangle Chemical Co. began at the location in 1947 and was focused on developing and manufacturing fertilizers and agricultural products. It then shi ed away from manufacturing to concentrate on the distribution of industrial agricultural needs such as seeds, fertilizers and crop protection products throughout the Southeast via a network of rural service personnel and 50 stores. Though Macon is not a market for the family-run business, it maintains its headquarters here and continued growth necessitated a move from Lower Elm to larger offices on Preston Court in 2018. Geyer bought the property in 2019 to create a unique space for artists and other creatives to rent studios and offices and for promoters and community members to have indoor and outdoor spaces for concerts, festivals, parties, corporate events, weddings, receptions and more. What did happen — despite pandemic delays — was that high- profile and lesser-known urban artists and local graffitists began decorating buildings. There was even an early-on Graffiti Ball to help put artful paint on walls — a hallmark of Triangle Arts' persona. Besides using existing buildings as canvases, other spots have been created for art and portraits, and there have been drive-through art shows and low-key happenings that meet pandemic restrictions. Unofficially, many have wandered onto the grounds to view and create art, hang out, ask what's going on and at times become part of what's going on — another Triangle Arts hallmark. Still, part of the problem of explaining exactly what Triangle Arts does is that its goal is an idea, not a physical space or series of events. Geyer said the underlying purpose of Triangle Arts, its fundamental 'I I FELL IN LOVE WITH MACON, MOVED HERE AND BOUGHT THE TRIANGLE ARTS PROPERTY. I STARTED WORKING ON SOMETHING SIMILAR TO DETROIT AND ATLANTA.' – RIC GEYER 38 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2021

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