Here’s your last chance to marvel at a 2-story creation by a local artist at Macon Mall
December is the final month to visit Wini McQueen’s Canopy Gallery on the top level of Macon Mall and see her mammoth, hand-dyed, 25-piece fabric creation, “The Canopy Project,” hanging from the mall’s top-level skylight to its lower level.
It’s the last chance to see McQueen’s work locally for a while, the work of a local artist who, during her 80 years, has gone from making quilts from scraps as a youngster to being a globally known creator of textile art whose sought-after work has been displayed from Middle Georgia to Africa to Japan.
“I’ve been fortunate to have items shown all over the country and the world,” McQueen said. “Having the gallery and ‘The Canopy Project’ on display during 2023 has been so wonderful because I was at home. We’ve had visitors come from all over but it’s been so nice having people who live here come see it, especially people who’ve said they’ve never been in an actual museum or gallery. It’s been nice taking our time to explain the origins and idea behind the project and then be able to listen to other people’s stories”
The gallery and year-long “Canopy” exhibition have been part of the 2023 Macon200 bicentennial celebration. In addition, on the lower level of the mall, gallery space was created for The Bicentennial Art Show featuring local visual artists in three successive exhibitions with works related to themes of the 200-year celebration. The current and final show calls to mind what makes Macon unique past, present and potentially in the future. The last show is called “A Sense of Place” and on Dec. 29, gallery doors are set to close for good, just like they will at McQueen’s gallery. Her textile canopy creation will come down then, too.
Until then, the hanging project can be seen near the food court during regular Macon Mall hours. McQueen’s gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from noon until 4 p.m. The best way to reach it on the second level is to enter from the mall’s Mercer University Boulevard side which brings you straight into the top level. Find the gallery roughly between the old Belk and JCPenney locations midway in the mall.
The gallery displays many of McQueen’s larger wall hangings, fashion designs and other creations and offers for sale her handcrafted scarfs, gloves, shawls, socks, jewelry and other accessories as well as paintings, fabric art pieces and souvenir posters and notecards created as part of the project’s connection to the bicentennial.
It’s also a good chance to meet and talk with McQueen if things aren’t too busy. And it’s not a bad time to buy remarkable, unique and appreciated Christmas gifts. Trust me on that.
Also, make sure to get in on another project McQueen has going by signing your name or nickname on a scroll that will be encapsulated and not opened for 100 years — the end of Macon’s third century. McQueen said she wondered after that passage of time if people would be amazed at the oddity of handwritten signatures or even handwriting itself.
As we talked she asked, “Is that coming to an end due to things like electronic signatures?”
What’s ahead for McQueen as 2023 closes?
“I have commissioned work but otherwise I’d like to be still for a minute, get some rest and consider the future,” she said. “After all, I’m into at least my fourth year creating Canopy materials, all by hand at my home. It had an initial showing at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in 2020 and now this. There’s more than 200 yards of material on display at the mall for the project but I’ve created about 800 for it.”
The separate Bicentennial Art Show gallery on the lower level, best accessed by coming through the food court from the Eisenhower Parkway side of Macon Mall, keeps its own weekend hours. It’s located near the food court, separated by open mall space where “The Canopy Project” hangs.
“The exhibit will wrap up at the end of the year having shown 50 different local artists,” said Julia Morrison, a member of the bicentennial commission, its marketing chairperson and project manager for the bicentennial art show.
“It’s been exciting to see how Macon Mall transformed space to accommodate art and artists as we looked at Macon this year and reenvisioned so many things. It brought people to enjoy art at the mall and enjoy the mall itself in a new way while giving voice to so many local creators.”
As the mall is being transformed by an amphitheater and the world’s largest indoor pickleball facility, there are many saying the arts, artists and galleries shouldn’t be counted out in the facility’s future.
Other things going on
December is off to a busy start with lots to get out and about for.
Friday is Dec. 1 so it’s First Friday celebrations downtown. Start at NewTown Macon on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ntmacon) for a good guide to all events, including December’s main attraction: the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza.
On Poplar Street between Second and Third streets, NewTown will provide individually packaged s’more ingredients for roasting. More importantly, they’ll also collect donated items to help folks served by the Brookdale Resource Center. Specifically needed: new travel-sized deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner and soap.
Take advantage of what there is to see at galleries and in shops with a view to Christmas gift-giving and take time to enjoy downtown’s eateries, clubs and music venues.
A large handful of other notable, often seasonal, goings on includes:
▪ Friday: The Tubman Museum presents A Pan African Christmas and Holiday Traditions Exhibit with an opening celebration and artist market from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. It’s $5 but free for members. At 7 p.m., there’s tree lightings and storytelling. The exhibit runs through Jan. 3. www.tubmanmuseum.com
▪ Friday and Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Choral Society of Middle Georgia and Mercer University Choir present Handel’s “Messiah” conducted by Mercer University Dean of the Townsend School of Music, Gary Gerber. It’s $10 but free for Mercer students and staff with ID. www.choralsocietymga.com
▪ Sunday: “Dark Chocolate Nutcracker,” a blend of ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary dance reimagines the classic tale at The Douglass Theatre at 3:30 p.m. Produced by Vision Elite Royalty, it features local and touring performers. www.douglasstheatre.org
▪ Monday: His birthday is Tuesday but early activities start Monday honoring Little Richard. Starting the week is a 5 p.m. reception and Q&A at The Douglass Theatre with “Here’s Little Richard” author Jordan Bassett followed at 6 p.m. by a free showing of “I Am Little Richard.” See www.visitmacon.org/littlerichard-bday for other events through Wednesday.
▪ Monday: McDuffie Center for Strings Young Artists Concert at the Bell House, 315 College St. Free at 7 p.m., seating is first come, first seated. www.mcduffie.mercer.edu/concerts
▪ Thursday: The popular holiday Allman Betts Family Revival comes to Macon City Auditorium with a 7:30 p.m. show. Ticketing and information are at www.maconcentreplex.org.
▪ Thursday: The holiday tradition continues with the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia opening at The Grand Opera House with a 7:30 p.m. showing. Performances continue through Dec. 10 with tickets selling fast. Information and ticket links are at www.midganutcracker.com.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
