As a continuation of Mercer’s Art in the Park ongoing series, a new temporary public art installation will be unveiled Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. The project titled Francar’s Frames is a series of three 5’x7’ frames on the exterior wall of Francar’s Wings in Mercer Village where an artist’s work will be on display for 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,” says Craig Coleman, Associate professor of Art.

The Art Department hosted a call for entries for the project, and the photographs by a recent Macon transplant, Chris Smith, were selected. “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 Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve 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 about the public art project.

The unveiling will take place Wednesday, Dec. 21 outside of Francar’s at 6 p.m. Smith will be in attendance to answer any 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.

Artist Bio: 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 BFA in Fine Art Photography from California State University Long Beach, his work has been published and exhibited internationally, with a focus in the U.S.A. and S.E. Asia. He has recently relocated to Georgia, where he photographs for Mercer University, freelances, and continues to explore Macon through personal projects.

Artist Statement on the Ocmulgee Project
These images 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. 
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The Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is currently seeking to expand the prehistoric Native American site’s status to become Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve east of the Mississippi River. This will help preserve historical, cultural, and environmental values, while simultaneously providing economic and other benefits to Macon.

You can find out how to help this initiative by going towww.ocmulgeepark.org, or by contacting your local representative or senator to express your support for this initiative.