Smyrna Public Art Committee — HTML Minutes
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Meeting Subscribe Enter your email address below to receive updates related to this item Invalid E-mail Cancel Subscribe Success You will now receive updates related to this item Close Hide Video Show Video SMYRNA PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Minutes - Final Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr., Council Member/Chair Leah Barnes, Committee Member Vanya Foote, Committee Member Robert Harrison, Committee Member Meg Quigley, Committee Member Burke Scott, Committee Member Imani Thomas, Committee Member Anna Talarico, Designing Local Consultant A. Max Bacon City Hall HR Training Room 2800 King Street SE Smyrna, GA 30080 City Attorney Scott Cochran City Administrator Mike L. Jones Deputy City Administrator / CFO Kristin Robinson City Clerk Heather K. Peacon-Corn June 24, 2026 11:30 AM 1. Roll Call Present: 6 – Councilmember/Chair Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr., Committee Member Leah Barnes, Committee Member Vanya Foote, Committee Member Robert Harrison, Committee Member Burke Scott, Committee Member Imani Thomas Also Present: 1 – Anna Talarico Absent: 1 – Committee Member Meg Quigley Staff: 2 – Carson Haynie, Jill Head 2. Call to Order Chairperson Rickey N. Oglesby Jr. called to order the June 24, 2026 Smyrna Public Art Committee held at A. Max Bacon City Hall in the HR Training Room at 11:33 AM. 3. Chairperson Instruction and Comment Chairperson Oglesby welcomed all of the committee members and a visiting resident to the meeting. He stated that there are many art projects moving forward that he is excited about. 4. Formal Business A. 2026-252 Project Updates Brush & Box Fest Vinyl Projects (Traffic Boxes and Bike Tunnels) View Item Details Carson Haynie, Special Projects Manager, stated that the Brush & Box Fest is taking place this Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM on the Village Green. Twenty local artists will be participating. The location has changed from the road to under the Cup Daze tent because of the chance of rain. On Monday, June 29, 2026, the boxes will be moved from underneath the tent and displayed. Committee Member Thomas asked if the boxes will be sealed after being painted. Ms. Haynie stated the boxes will be primed, but these are meant to be temporary exhibits lasting maybe six months, so it is up to the individual artists if they want to seal their artwork. Discussion took place concerning what happens to the boxes once they are ‘expired’ or the exhibit is completed. Anna Talarico, Designing Local Consultant, stated that the artists are fully aware that the boxes are temporary, and as part of the policy, these are not to be pieces of art for gain, meaning they cannot be sold. The artists can request their box if they choose. Ms. Haynie stated that if the boxes are salvageable, the hope is that they can be painted over and used for a future similar project. Committee Member Barnes asked if there is any information with the boxes, like a flyer, signs, or a QR code, to let the public know what this project is and to explicitly explain that these are temporary installations . It could also include information about the artist. Ms. Talarico explained that whatever the city moves forward with would need to get artists’ consent to include information about them, and it would need to be something that is branded with the city logo. Chairperson Oglesby said he wants the new PR team to be involved. Committee Member Thomas brought up the screens being used for Cup Daze and wondered if the information about this project could be projected on the screens during break times. Ms. Haynie stated she will ask, but she does not feel that permission will be granted because they are being used for a specific purpose. Ms. Haynie thanked those who participated in selecting the design for the vinyl projects. She hopes to have pictures of the art for the traffic boxes and the bike tunnel at the next meeting. B. 2026-254 Upcoming Projects ARTery Sidewalk Murals ARTery Wall Mural ARTery Easement Updates Library Mural View Item Details Carson Haynie, Special Projects Manager, stated that the RFP will go out to the artists that have been selected. The designs will be selected at the next meeting for the Belmont wall mural and the two sidewalk murals at StillFire. Discussion took place about the guidelines for the Belmont wall mural. Anna Talarico, Designing Local Consultant, warned that the committee needs to be careful with text and signage so it does not trigger any sign code reviews. All members were supportive of the idea of having the wall mural be some sort of ARTery entrance to indicate one is entering the ARTery and maybe include a directional. Ms. Haynie stated she will confirm the sign code. The requirements for the art need to be defined before the RFP goes out, so Ms. Haynie suggested they brainstorm ideas to bring to the next meeting, set the guidelines, then send out the RFP. After brief discussion, they agreed the only parameter they want to set for the RFP is to have at least “The ARTery” be part of the art for the wall. They further discussed that they could also add either “the creative vein that runs through the heart of Smyrna” or a shortened version “the heart of Smyrna.” Committee Member Barnes asked if the RFP could say at a minimum your example must include “The ARTery”, and at a maximum “The ARTery, the creative vein that runs through the heart of Smyrna.” Ms. Talarico suggested that they commit to one artist from the pre-qualified list. Then the committee can lay out those minimum and maximum options and tell them what they would like to see in the artwork. Ms. Haynie updated the committee on the CSX easement. She discovered that CSX leases that land from the state of Georgia DOT. Chairperson Oglesby will reach out to a contact at the Georgia DOT. The other easement at StillFire – the half wall visible from Atlanta Rd. – Scott Cochran, the city attorney, stated that there is no problem with the easement there. Discussion took place about possible easements at the CVS and SouthState Bank and the wall there. Ms. Haynie explained that it is currently undetermined if the city has access to that wall at that location, and it would need a survey to determine ownership. The city does not want to commit funds to that right now. She will speak with the attorney. She asked if there was a particular kind of art the committee wanted to see there. Committee Member Harrison said he was hoping to see 2D aluminum art. Ms. Haynie explained that Public Works is not comfortable drilling into the wall because it could compromise the integrity of the wall. Ms. Haynie said she will come to the next meeting with answers regarding easement access at that location. Ms. Haynie said the RFQ for the library mural will be released in July. There will be lots of art to review at the next meetings. Chairperson Oglesby reminded everyone that the original mural that is currently there was done in conjunction with the Education Foundation. Ms. Haynie stated that after thorough research, no one has been able to determine how much the original artist was paid nor how much the Education Foundation contributed. Ms. Haynie did find the original artist who was completely fine retiring that mural, and she said she would be interested in submitting and applying for the new mural. C. 2026-256 ARTery Sculpture Locations View Item Details Carson Haynie, Special Projects Manager, reminded everyone that the committee narrowed down the locations for a sculpture. Once they decide on a final location, it will be contingent on budget specifics and what might be underground at the location. Chairperson Oglesby stated that for whichever location is chosen, the artwork needs to make sense in that location as far as historical context. They discussed two locations at Taylor-Brawner Park close to Atlanta Road and one location at the Reed House. If the Reed House location is chosen, it was recommended that a pathway also be added to connect the sidewalk from the road to the sculpture area to encourage visitors. Committee Member Barnes stated that choosing the location would also be based on what the sculpture looks like, for example, a tall and slim sculpture versus a short and wide one. Anna Talarico, Designing Local Consultant, explained that because this is a commissioned piece, the parameters can be defined. First the RFQ will go out asking for a portfolio of work from those artists interested. The committee will narrow the submissions down to three artists. In the RFP, with the information and concept direction this committee determines, the artists will submit proposals that meet the criteria outlined –shape, size, historical reflection, tall, short, wide, etc. Committee Member Foote expressed that she prefers Taylor-Brawner Park for the location because it is very visible, and there is already a lot of activity there; and though it would be nice to believe an art sculpture placed at the Reed House would bring more people there, she knows that art does not necessarily bring foot traffic to areas that are not already trafficked. The committee chose the eastern location at Taylor-Brawner Park as the first location with which to begin due diligence. Committee Member Harrison asked if the patch of concrete that used to house a bike rack could be another location for a mural since it is not in the pathway and is not a sidewalk that is traversed. Ms. Haynie explained that Richard Garland, Community Services Administrator, does not want to see murals in this area, but she will double check to confirm. D. 2026-258 Public Artwork Plan View Item Details Carson Haynie, Special Projects Manager, explained that the FY 27 budget was passed. The budget for public art is $100,000. She would like the committee to put forward their priorities for the Public Art Plan. She did note that there are already several items that will hit this budget: $20K – Library Mural $25K – For Anna Talarico / Designing Local and team $25K – Redoing both crosswalk murals It was mentioned that the committee could ask if Parks & Recreation could cost share with some of these projects. Ms. Haynie also reminded the committee that they wanted to see more pop-up art events, so there may need to be money set aside for those. With all of those listed projects, the entirety of the budget is spent. Chairperson Oglesby stated this is why he does not like talking about the budget within the committee because he worries it will stifle their creativity. He wants to see the ideas flow, and there are ways to see if money can be saved or added throughout the year. Anna Talarico reminded everyone that this is just the start of the conversation for the Art Plan. The committee’s role is to brainstorm ideas and present them to the committee while she and Ms. Haynie deal with placing the budget parameters on those ideas. She also reminded everyone that a goal for this committee is that they want to see art in every ward, and that should be something to keep in mind when prioritizing their ideas. Chairperson Oglesby brought up sponsorships as a potential resource that could be tapped for budget purposes. 5. Approval of Minutes A. MIN2026-129 Approval of the May 29, 2026 Smyrna Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-05-29 May 29, 2026 Smyrna Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes - FINAL View Item Details Committee Member Burke Scott made a motion to approve item MIN2026-129; seconded by Committee Member Robert Harrison. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 6 – Chairperson / Councilmember Oglesby, Committee Member Barnes, Committee Member Foote, Committee Member Harrison, Committee Member Scott, Committee Member Thomas Nay: 0 – None Absent: 1 – Committee Member Quigley 6. Other Business / Staff Comment Committee Member Scott reiterated Committee Member Foote’s statement that the committee cannot expect art to attract people to an area. He suggested that when talking about placing art in all of the wards, the committee should look primarily at areas that already have a lot of activity. Chairperson Oglesby said the River is an underappreciated area and would be a great location for art. There is a lot of foot traffic, there are restaurants, and a brewery. The city has partnered with the Trust for Public Land, and a new river walk is being constructed. There will be a lot of green space. 7. Adjournment Chairperson Rickey N. Oglesby Jr. adjourned the June 24, 2026 Smyrna Public Art Committee at 12:56 PM. Facilities are provided throughout City Hall for the convenience of persons with disabilities. ******************************* THIS MEETING WAS PROPERLY NOTICED AND POSTED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NOTICING STANDARDS AS OUTLINED IN O.C.G.A. 50-14-3: The City of Smyrna website – www.smyrnaga.gov City Hall, 2800 King Street SE, Notice Boards Attachments