Macon Arts Alliance and the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority are pleased to announce the completion of Macon’s first ‘Art Stop’ at the intersection of Cherry Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in downtown Macon. The work was generously funded by Downtown Challenge 2019, a project of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. The Downtown Challenge Fund was made possible thanks to generous grants from the Peyton Anderson Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.  

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, February 15 at 2 pm at the Art Stop location on the corner of MLK and Cherry.  

Titled “Diversity in Motion,” the work was designed and fabricated by Macon artist Jim Bodell of JR Bodell Sculpture, Inc.

“The tall sculptural element on the right represents a vortex pulling colors up, then spilling them over into the horizontal plane at the back of the bus stop,” Bodell explained. “I used various shapes and colors and created the illusion of the spheres floating in space to reflect the diversity of people and modes of transportation in our community,” he said. “I hope this work will enliven the core of the city and also establish one more landmark reference for Macon.” 

“The intent of the project was to use public art to improve the visual appeal of a bus shelter in the urban core”, said Julie Wilkerson, Executive Director of Macon Arts Alliance. “This intersection is a highly visible gateway to downtown and the installation conveys to residents, visitors, and bus riders alike that Macon is a creative community”. 

“Art and transit have something in common, they both move people,” said Weston Stroud, Transit Planner for Macon-Bibb Transit Authority. “The purpose of this initiative is to reclaim public infrastructure and design it for rider experience as well as function. For someone who is transit dependent, transit, like art, is invaluable so we believe the union between art and transit will resonate with riders and passersby alike.”