On June 1, 2006, Macon Arts, in cooperation with NewTown Macon, the Macon/ Bibb County Parks and Recreation Department and Chris R. Sheridan and Company opened the outdoor sculpture exhibit "Art on the Trail."  The exhibit was funded by a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to promote public art.  Macon Arts hopes that this exhibit will increase interest in public art and support for public art.

The exhibit is curated by John Henry, known worldwide for his large-scale public works of art.  He selected five sculptures and their installation locations along the trail, beginning at Spring Street and stretching all the way to Central City Park.

Friends of the Trail members enjoyed an evening of Art and Appetizers on the trail immediately following the final installation.  Curator John Henry gave an introduction to the sculptures and their creators.  Three of the sculptors were also on hand mingling with the crowd.  Henry and the sculptors later fielded many interesting questions from the intimate group of attendees.  The group then enjoyed being the first to view the newly installed pieces by walking the trail.

The five pieces of sculpture will be on display until December, but Macon Arts hopes that generous donors will see the value in these pieces of public art and donate the funds to purchase all of the sculptures so that generations of trail users can enjoy them.

1) John Clement, "Chewy" (Installed at Spring St.)- This red tubular sculpture catches the eye of interstate traffic and trail users alike.  Clement attempts with this piece "to achieve the quickness and lightness of a five second gestural sketch."  Mr. Clement has public installations in twenty cities across America.

2) Peter Lundberg, "Life After Oil" (Installed at Spring St.)- Mr. Lundberg is widely acclaimed for his monumental concrete and steel sculptures.  His works are displayed across the world.  The bases of these pillars were cast in oil barrels, citing contemporary political issues.

3) Bret Price, "Rollup" (Installed North of Otis Redding Bridge)- A native of Palo Alto, California, Mr. Price uses heating chambers around large pieces of steel to bend the steel into interesting and beautiful sculptures.

4) Gordon Chandler, "Kid's Bench" (Installed on an Overlook South of Gateway Park)- Mr. Chandler has "a very practical bent" in his own words.  His bench in this exhibit is both provocative and functional-- a beautiful place to rest and watch the river.

5) Verina Baxter, "Big Red Tumpkin" (Installed at Central City Park)- Ms. Baxter's red "tumpkin" is an example of her first all metal sculptures.  Working from Flintstone, Georgia, Baxter's works are exhibited nationally and included in many private and corporate collections.