August 20, 2023 – A local artist and NowDecatur’s own Nick Smith is encouraging Decatur to “dream big” with a new mural on the side of the Knights of Columbus Hall.
The 36-foot mural, supported by the Community Foundation of Macon County’s Macon County Beautification Fund, was dedicated on Saturday. Designed by Smith and painted with the help of his family, friends and members of the Community Foundation’s Young Leaders in Action program, the wall-sized artwork is intended to be interactive and display a positive image of a “limitless community,” Smith said.
“This community has embraced public art as an important part of its makeup” said Smith. “The momentum for the city is real and the celebration of art reflects the positivity. I’m very honored to be able to share this mural with the people of Decatur and look forward to see more public art in our community.”
Natalie Beck of the Community Foundation said the message is at the heart of what the community is all about. “When you let community into your dreams, you give others a chance to catch your vision and run along side you, to support you, to see that when we work together, our wildest dreams can come true” Beck said. “The Community Foundation serves as a champion for others, to make people feel seen, believed in, to make dreams come true and to challenge us all to dream bigger. We are honored to present another mural to our city and we are thankful to artist Nick Smith for his dedication and passion.”
The mural is located at 520 E. North St. Smith’s mural is a block away from another art project funded by the Foundation—the Kelsey Montague Wings, painted on the Decatur Civic Center in 2020.
Check out the photo gallery below!