The UnVacant Lot

Banner| Wooden Quilts by Marlo Ransdell

Located in heart of Thomasville’s downtown Creative District at 217 West Jackson Street, this space provides a unique opportunity to showcase public art year-round and serves to actively engage our neighbors through experiences which feature unexpected ideas. The UnVacant Lot is equipped with outdoor furniture, Wi-Fi, and shade sales and is accessible to everyone at no charge.

My Side of the Story

Public Art Exhibition + Competition

April 2 – June 2, 2026 | The UnVacant Lot + Jackson Street

The My Side of the Story public art experience aims to highlight the Southern tradition of narrative quilting while supporting artists from across the South, giving them a platform to showcase their talents.

About My Side of the Story

31 artists will create 4×4 custom narrative quilts that depict People, Places, and Things related to Thomasville. Their work will be showcased during Due South and the 105th Rose Show in Spring 2026.

Another public art exhibit supporting this experience will take place at The UnVacant Lot, showcasing work by Tallahassee artist Marlo Ransdell, featuring a 15-block section of historic quilt blocks made of wood.

Alongside Ransdell, Tallahassee folk artist Mary Proctor will display two narrative pieces related to her own story, growing up and quilting by her grandmother’s side.

Finally, along Jackson Street on both the East and West sides, a parade of flags featuring images of the beloved quilts from our local families and the History Center, along with the stories that make them so special, will decorate the streets from April 2 – May 14, 2026. Stay tuned for community opportunities related to this project.

Quilt Competition Artists at Grassroots

Community Quilts on Jackson Street

Colorful yarn installations adorning public spaces in the Creative District, adding a whimsical touch to the urban landscape.

Art installations in the Creative District as part of the 'Stop & Smell the Roses!' exhibition, celebrating Thomasville's rose heritage with creative displays

For the Love of You | Trish Land

Painted LIVE in 2025 during Stop and Smell the Roses! | Ongoing

Trish Land’s For the Love of You is her very own love letter to Thomasville, Ga. Full of Thomasville’s famous roses, Land is not only inspired by the beloved flower, but also by the people of Thomasville. The mural stems from a story of love and loss found amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Land, who hails from Albany, Ga., initially got involved with the Thomasville Center for the Arts when she applied for the Wildlife Arts Festival show four years ago.

Morning in the Red Hills

Joe Cowdrey
Installed 2020 + 2022 | Ongoing
Morning in the Tall Pines + Morning at the Fresh Spring

In Morning at the Fresh Spring, Joe Cowdrey draws inspiration from the iconic attributes of the Red Hills Region and portrays the fresh and clean water of our region. Cowdrey’s other project, Morning in the Tall Pines, uses similar inspiration from the surrounding forested areas setting the scene for a misty morning in the longleaf pine forest.

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A mural depicting a serene scene of a fresh spring surrounded by the iconic longleaf pine forest of the Red Hills Region, capturing the essence of a misty morning.

"An artistic representation of the Red Hills region, showcasing two vistas: one of a water scene with pitcher plants and water lilies, and another of a field and forest landscape.

On Location

katherine sandoz
Installed 2021 | Ongoing

Field studies of the Red Hills region are documented in this installation of two vistas: one water and one field + forest. Creating a sense of one being at the bottom of a field, pond or swamp, this view depicts a high bluff, and a lower-lying lake with a constellation of water loving flora: pitcher plants, sagittaria, and water lilies.

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