Smyrna Public Art Committee - A. Max Bacon City Hall - HR Training Room — Minutes
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January 23, 2026 11:30 AM City of Smyrna Smyrna Public Art Committee Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 3 of 6 F. 2026-048 The ARTery Chairperson Oglesby said near the end of last year there was a specific project that Committee Member Robert Harrison shared that he would like to re-address. Chairperson Oglesby reminded the committee this was the retaining wall along Concord Road that needs a mural or another form of artwork to beautify the area. The committee agreed that the wall needs to be painted and would be a great opportunity for a mural. Community Services Administrator Richard Garland said he spoke with the Public Works Director and received confirmation to proceed. Administrative Coordinator Evie Ramsey said the city attorney has also given permission for this space to be painted. Richard Garland said the retaining wall needs to be pressure washed, coated with a block sealant and cleaned well prior to art being installed. Committee Member Robert Harrison said there are additives that could be included to the sealant that are anti-microbial to prevent molding. Richard Garland recommended contracting out a company to handle the pre-artwork cleaning treatment of the wall to avoid tasking Smyrna Public Works with the job. Richard Garland proposed getting a measurement of the wall to let the artist know the scale of the art project when an RFP is being drafted. Committee Member Imani Thomas said it might be helpful to include in the initial RFP that multiple artists could paint a mural as a group. Chairperson Oglesby said he would like to see the art emulate or represent its specific ward. The committee agreed. Committee Member Vanya Foote mentioned that the retaining wall is right next to two daycare centers which could be something to keep in mind. Special Projects Manager Carson Haynie said she could reach out to the Smyrna History Museum and see if there might be potential with the artwork to reflect historical expressions. Committee Member Robert Harrison said the mill could also be a subject matter of choice. Carson Haynie said she would investigate the mill option. Chairperson Oglesby asked if anyone has inspected the retaining wall to see if it is stable. Richard Garland recommended the city’s building inspector to inspect the wall prior to its cleaning. Carson Haynie said she will reach out to the building inspector. Chairperson Oglesby confirmed the first few steps of the process will begin with inspecting the wall, scheduling a contractor to clean it, and putting out an RFP for artists. Before the group vote, Chairperson Oglesby asked for any further questions or discussion regarding the retaining wall. Carson Haynie asked if the committee would like to wait for the city’s primary public art consultant to return from maternity leave before an RFP is released or if they would like to determine the mural specifications during the meeting and get an RFP out sooner than later. Chairperson Oglesby said he would like to move forward as soon as possible. Committee Member Robert Harrison asked if there will be a budget for the project included in the RFP so that artists can send in their proposals based on the financial scale of the project. Carson Haynie said typically the budget has been shared, but it depends on the nature of the project, and she will ask Designing Local for their recommendation with this specific mural. Deputy City Administrator Kristin Robinson asked how much a project of this caliber would cost. Committee Member Robert Harrison said typically murals cost $15 to $30 per square foot. Chairperson Oglesby reminded the committee a motion is still on the floor that needed to be finalized. Committee Member Burke Scott made a motion to approve the release of an RFP once the wall has been thoroughly inspected and cleaned; seconded by Committee Member Imani Thomas. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: