MACON – As a continuation of Mercer University's Art in the Park series, a new temporary public art installation will be unveiled Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
The project, titled “Francar's Frames,” consists of a series of three 5-foot by 7-foot frames on the exterior wall of Francar's Wings in Mercer Village where a different artist's work will be featured every three months.
“The Art Department at Mercer sees this project as a way to highlight the work of local and regional artists while also bringing public art to Mercer Village, where Mercer students, faculty, staff and members of the Macon community frequently visit,” said Craig Coleman, associate professor of art.
The Art Department hosted a call for entries for the project, and photographs by recent Macon transplant Chris Smith were selected for the first three-month installation.
“These images are part of an ongoing body of work created within the Ocmulgee National Monument area,” said Smith.
The Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is currently seeking to expand the prehistoric Native American site's status to become not only Georgia's first National Park and Preserve, but the first east of the Mississippi River. “This will help preserve historical, cultural and environmental values while simultaneously providing economic and other benefits to Macon,” added Smith.
The unveiling will take place outside of Francar's. Smith will be in attendance to answer questions about his work. The event coincides with Christmas in the Village from 6-7:30 p.m. Free photos with Santa will be available at Indigo Salon, with complimentary hot chocolate and other specials throughout Mercer Village.
About Christopher Ian Smith
Christopher Smith is a contemporary landscape photographer with a focus on documenting natural subjects with political, economic, and environmental significance. Graduating with a B.F.A. in fine art photography from California State University, Long Beach, his work has been published and exhibited internationally, with a focus in the United States and Southeast Asia. He has recently relocated to Georgia, where he photographs for Mercer University, freelances and continues to explore Macon through personal projects.
About the Artist's Work for “Francar's Frames”
Smith's images in the “Francar's Frames” project are part of an ongoing body of work created within the Ocmulgee National Monument area. Postproduction has been restrained to only modifying the contrast and colors. The form is original, created by using strobes, kinetic movement and long exposures.
Each image is a fleeting interaction. Light, motion, angle, speed, and even mood, dictate the form captured during the experience. The resulting mixture of abstraction and detail bring into consideration how different reality can be portrayed, with even the slightest change in perspective.
The ONPPI is currently seeking to expand the prehistoric Native American site's status to become not only Georgia's first National Park and Preserve, but the first east of the Mississippi River. This will help preserve historical, cultural, and environmental values, while simultaneously providing economic and other benefits to Macon. Learn more about this initiative at www.ocmulgeepark.org.
