On Saturday, February 11, NewTown and Dashboard US will launch SHINE, an immersive public art experience activating vacant storefronts in the heart of downtown Macon. The exhibition features light and projection installations by Atlanta-based artist Darya Fard and local Macon artist Craig Coleman. The installations transform the Bibb Theatre and Newberry building into temporary works of art, activating and engaging passersby and showing new possibilities for these historic spaces.

“We are thrilled to partner with Dashboard on another project in downtown Macon,” said Emily Hopkins, Director of Place at NewTown Macon. “Dashboard brings a level of professionalism to public art installations that is unmatched and they worked with our Main Street board to bring our idea of transforming vacant downtown buildings and storefronts into beautiful and meaningful works of art.”

SHINE directly supports one of the strategies of MAP (Macon Action Plan) 2.0 –to enliven vacant storefronts of iconic buildings, or ones that are located within target blocks, with art. This public art project will transform the Bibb Theatre, downtown’s only remaining vacant historic theater, into an illuminated and moving installation created by Mercer University professor Craig Coleman. Additionally, Georgia State University professor Darya Fard will activate the storefront of the historic Newberry building with a gallery-like installation featuring screen-printed plexiglass panels and video projection art.

“SHINE was created out of a desire to bring attention to some of our most iconic vacant downtown buildings through lighted art and projection,” said Scott Mitchell, owner of The Bohemian Den and treasurer of NewTown’s Main Street board.

SHINE will open with a launch party on Saturday, February 11 from 7pm to 9pm in Third Street Park, between Poplar Street and Cherry Street. The launch party will feature music by Bootz and Katz and the artists will be present to answer questions and discuss their work. Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen will be on-site to sell beverages. The launch party is free and open to the public and will occur rain or shine.

“We are honored to be working once more with NewTown Macon and Macon stakeholders on activating the downtown area,” said Abigail Justman, Senior Project Manager at Dashboard. “It’s such a privilege to collaborate with local artists, creatives, and the community to breathe life into these historic spaces and buildings. It’s through activations like this that we can continue to engage the City of Macon as a whole, and invigorate local Georgia arts.”

SHINE is made possible with a Downtown Challenge 2.0 Grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia with funding by Knight Foundation and Peyton Anderson Foundation.

The installation will run through Friday, April 7, 2023.