Artists ready to paint downtown during Macon’s annual mural festival

“I love the idea of bringing out an outside perspective of your town. So, all these artists are from all over the country, and I think that’s so cool bringing different cultures and everything to your town.”

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Downtown Macon is transforming into a dazzling painting as the third annual Macon Mural Festival gets underway, bringing four artists from across the country to Macon as they put their creative touch on a few Macon walls.

Taylor Shaw from Oxford, Mississippi, is one of the artists coming to Macon this weekend. He noted the murals do more than just brighten neighborhoods, they help support local businesses.

“If we can beautify that, it usually brings tourism in. It brings money to local businesses. It really helps downtowns flourish,” he explained.

Bobby Magee, another artist who will be in Macon this weekend is from Denver, Colorado. He echoed those sentiments.

“You get a beautification. You get recognition of the architecture that it’s on. And then you also get to share ideas through a different medium that I think still has a lot of power behind it,” he said. 

Magee added that he’s honored to be apart of the festival.

“We’re really stoked to be a part of the collection because there is a ton of good murals here. It looks like you guys have been doing this for years and you’re good at it. So, I’m just proud to be out here representing this festival,” shared Magee.

The festival’s four featured artists were selected from nearly 100 applicants. Layton Scarborough from Culpeper, Virginia, is painting the Georgia state bird at Petals, Flowers & Market in downtown Macon. He spoke about the importance of collaboration.

“I love the idea of bringing out an outside perspective of your town. So, all these artists are from all over the country, and I think that’s so cool bringing different cultures and everything to your town,” said Scarborough.

Festivalgoers can view the murals at four different downtown locations:

ARTIST: Bobby MaGee Lopez (Denver, CO)

LOCATION #1: 240 Second Street (Northeast facing wall)

SPONSOR: Macon-Bibb Health Department 

ARTIST: Taylor Shaw 

LOCATION #2: 240 Second Street (Southwest facing wall)

SPONSOR: Heart of Georgia Rheumatology

ARTIST: Layton Scarborough (Culpeper, VA)

LOCATION #3: Petals, Flowers & Market (592 Second Street)

SPONSOR: 7th Street Salvage

ARTIST: Courtney Hicks & Chris Alvarez (FoxySwine

Murals,Tucker, GA)

LOCATION #4: Hotel 45 (401 Cotton Ave.)

SPONSOR: Hotel 45

The Macon Mural Festival runs through Sunday.