Macon Magazine

October/November 2026 | maconmagazine.com 39 What do you think the boundaries of public art should be? Submit your thoughts (anonymous or not) to hello@ maconmagazine.com downtown residence in the upper floors. "I thought that these murals were supposed to be for locations that were sort of dilapidated, or have graffiti, or like the tunnel at the end of Poplar Street, not buildings that have been restored," Adams said. He doesn't want to be known as the "Grinch" that stole the mural festival for raising what he believes are some important questions the community needs to navigate. Macon Arts Alliance Executive Director Julie Wilkerson is pleased to have this conversation in the open because Macon's Cultural Plan recommended a cultural officer to oversee and and be a liaison for film, music, and public art. "It really is a position for the county to fund," Wilkerson said. "That person's office needs to be in the government center. They need to be attending city council meetings. They need to be accessible to planning and zoning, and to be security when there's a film here, to talk to for licensing and what they need." Through this experience, Wilkinson realizes she "didn't know what she didn't know." She plans for the Arts Alliance to host P&Z staff to explain the rules for murals and renovations to artists and historic district property owners. Mural festival organizers did not realize they needed a Certificate of Appropriateness until it was too late to meet legal deadlines and postponed the event until May. In the spring, P&Z made artists from Franklin St. Studios paint over parts of their "All out Mayhem" mural that paid tribute to the city's hockey team, the Macon Mayhem. Because of the words on the sides of the building, the mascot logo, and the address, the painting was classified as a sign that was out of line with size requirements. Adams said he supports local art but doesn't want downtown saturated and the character of the historic district to be compromised. "I don't know that I want to walk out my door and see Puff the Magic Dragon or whoever or whatever," Adams said. The Arts Alliance wants to find sponsors for future murals outside of downtown. Right now, It's the sponsor and the artist who approve the designs, but that could change. In 2018, Macon-Bibb created a public art board to coordinate local projects and determine compatibility for placement, but it sputtered out over the pandemic. Wilkerson believes there's a need for that type of oversight, especially for sculptures or other metal artwork that could potentially injure someone. "Not really judging on whether or not they like the art, but on whether or not it's appropriate for the place that it is," she said. ABOVE This independently commissioned mural by Stephen Teller prominently shares the story of H&H and the Allman Brothers downtown. Photo by Matt Odom. ABOVE RIGHT A meeting of the Design Review Board, part of the Planning and Zoning apparatus. Photo by Liz Fabian. "Mural festival organizers did not realize they needed a Certificate of Appropriateness until it was too late to meet legal deadlines and postponed the event until May."

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